2026 MMCGME Quality Forum
Join us for the 14th Annual MMCGME Quality Forum on Wednesday, May 27, 2026! This year’s event features a poster competition open to residents, fellows, and medical students, highlighting projects in Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, and Research. Whether your project is complete or still in progress, we welcome your participation. Submissions will be reviewed by expert judges who will provide both feedback and scores—plus, you’ll have a chance to win up to $500 and connect with peers across the medical education community.
*The steering committee is in the planning stages for the forum. More information will be added to the website as details are finalized.
*The steering committee is in the planning stages for the forum. More information will be added to the website as details are finalized.
EVENT DETAILS |
University of MN Bruininks Hall
222 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 |
*Showcase begins at 5pm sharp Register here to attend as a guest! |
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
We welcome submissions for digital poster presentations on Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, and Research Projects. Projects at any stage—planning to completion—are welcome. Submissions should show innovation, measurable impact, and potential for lasting improvement. This is a great opportunity to showcase your build, build your network, and meet ACGME Competencies. Click here to learn more about ACGME requirements related to QI projects.
Project Requirements and Guidelines:
To participate in the event, you must submit the following by the April 30:
Content Guidelines:
Abstract Guidelines:
Digital Presentation/Poster Guidelines:
Video Recording Guidelines:
Submission Deadline:
Additional Information:
To participate in the event, you must submit the following by the April 30:
- Complete the Participation Form
- Submit an Abstract (250 to 1000 words)
- Submit a Digital Poster (max of 5 slides)
- Submit a recording of your presentation (2 to 5 minutes)
Content Guidelines:
- Define the problem or research question clearly
- Explain interventions or strategies used
- Present relevant data and results (preferably through charts/graphs)
- Describe the outcomes so far and, if the project is ongoing, outline anticipated results or future direction
Abstract Guidelines:
- Limit your abstract to 250 to 1000 words
- Describe the scope, goals, methods, findings (if applicable), and significance of your project
- A clear problem definition or research question
- A description of interventions (if applicable)
- Data analysis and outcomes
- A discussion of the impact and future steps of the project
Digital Presentation/Poster Guidelines:
- Submit as a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation
- Can be a single slide or multi-slide (maximum of 5 slides)
- Use clear headings, minimal text, and visuals (graphics, charts, run charts)
- Ensure legibility with a font size easy to read from a distance
Video Recording Guidelines:
- Submit a 2 to 5 minute recording of your presentation
- Share your presentation during the recording
- Click here to view the video submission instructions document
Submission Deadline:
- The final project title, presenter and poster deadline: April 30, 2025
- Late submissions or poster changes will not be allowed after the deadline
- The presenter/s can be changed up to 1-week prior to the event
Additional Information:
- Three finalists will be selected to present their projects at the event
- The top-scoring projects will win a cash prize
- 1-2 presenters per project; they must attend the full event. The presenter/s can be changed up to 1-week prior to the event
- Projects that have been used for past Quality Forum events (excluding winning projects) or other events can be submitted
Presentation Format:
Projects will be evaluated by a panel of experienced judges prior to the event. The winning projects will be announced at the event, and the winners will present in person on May 28. Finalists are required to attend the full duration of the event. Cash prizes of up to $500 will be distributed at the end of the event.
Link to the Evaluation and Scoring Form
Evaluation Criteria:
The evaluation criteria will be based on the following anchors: Not Applicable, Strongly Disagree, Somewhat Disagree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Somewhat Agree, and Strongly Agree, with each criterion scored out of 50 points. See resources below for a link to the evaluation and scoring form.
Problem Identification & Relevance:
Projects will be evaluated by a panel of experienced judges prior to the event. The winning projects will be announced at the event, and the winners will present in person on May 28. Finalists are required to attend the full duration of the event. Cash prizes of up to $500 will be distributed at the end of the event.
Link to the Evaluation and Scoring Form
Evaluation Criteria:
The evaluation criteria will be based on the following anchors: Not Applicable, Strongly Disagree, Somewhat Disagree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Somewhat Agree, and Strongly Agree, with each criterion scored out of 50 points. See resources below for a link to the evaluation and scoring form.
Problem Identification & Relevance:
- The problem is clearly defined
- The problem is relevant to healthcare improvement
- The intervention is evidence-based
- The methods used to address the problem are appropriate and rigorous
- The data is well-organized, accurate, and supports the findings
- Clear presentation of measurable outcomes and results
- The project demonstrates a meaningful contribution to patient care or system efficiency
- The solution has potential for long-term impact or broader implementation
- The presentation is well-structured and easy to follow
- The proposed solution is realistic and practical in a healthcare setting
Getting Started Tools:
Quality and Safety Tools:
- Before Your Start
- 5 Suggested Resources Compiled by the Biomedical Library
- Complete CITI Training
- Beware Predatory Journals
- Read If You Are Obtaining Informed Consent in a clinical trial
- ETHOS Study Determination Protocol - Contact IRB Office with questions 612-626-5654 or [email protected]
- Addressing Authorship Issues Prospectively
- Use Mendeley - A free citation manager to store PDFs of articled and export properly formatted citations into Word Documents
- Creating Effective Posters
- Find UMN Medical student collaborators - Post your study
- Poster in editable format *Please make a copy before editing
- *New Style of poster formatting #BetterPosters
- University Digital Conservancy (check publishing agreement first)
- Take the Scholarly Impact Challenge
Quality and Safety Tools:
- Read "To Err is Human"
- Read "Crossing the Quality Chasm"
- Free IHI Tutorials
- Read "How to Write up Quality Improvement
- See Example Poster
- See Example Manuscript
- Just Culture Primer
We strongly encourage you to attend the entire event. If your project is selected as one of the winners, you must remain for the full event to be eligible for the cash prize.
If you're interested in participating in the competition, please use the poster submission link below. We kindly ask that you contact the other project authors to inform them of your submission to help prevent duplicates. Note that 1-2 presenters per project is allowed, but other authors are welcome to attend as guests.
TESTIMONIALS
Zachary Davidson MD, Hennepin Healthcare
“I realized as a trainee, I was on the front lines of care in my health system, and my co-residents and I saw opportunities for good changes on behalf of our patients and colleagues. We received recognition for our work in ED discharge instruction readability and primary care clinic continuity at the Forum, which has encouraged me to incorporate quality improvement into my career. I'm now working on a publication to share my project with the greater medical community.” |
Austin Hoeg, UMN Medical School
“If we aim to address inequities head-on, deliver better patient outcomes, improve efficiency, and reduce unnecessary costs within the system, engaging in QI is nothing short of paramount in making good on the opportunities we've been given as future healthcare practitioners. Healthcare is a team sport. At last year's Forum, our team was recognized for addressing racial disparities in cardiac rehab referrals for patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction. The beauty of the work is this: we're not in it alone. Gatherings like The Forum offer a collaborative space where trainees can rally and highlight their work tackling complex issues together.” |
Jessica Makori, UMN Medical School
“The Quality Forum was an inspiring event that broadened my understanding of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement projects aimed at enhancing patient care. As a medical student, it was encouraging to learn from fellow students, residents, and fellows about the outcomes of their efforts and to receive feedback from both them and faculty. This experience showed me that early involvement in quality improvement is both feasible and impactful, and it boosted my confidence in my ability to contribute to positive healthcare changes. I look forward to applying these skills in residency and beyond!” |