Abstract

Diffusion of GIS Innovation at a National Non-Profit Organization
Track: Education and Training
Authors: Lutheria Peters

This presentation aims to highlight the planning process and results of reference and point maps as well as spatial join analysis by one national non-profit organization, the Association of American Medical Colleges. These analyses were used to enhance discussions about: potential strategies for growing an academic enrichment program for freshman and sophomore college students preparing for medical and dental school and displaying areas of innovation throughout the academic medicine community. The products were created using Arc Map and other GIS software in conveying stakeholder stories in innovative ways. Preliminary results include high spatial concentration of student participants and health and health care innovations in the north eastern and western US, and in health profession shortage areas. These spatial products set in motion plans to formalize map creation across the entire association. Examples of the planning, coordination, production, and lessons learned in the overall process will be shared with the audience.