Hilary J. Schmidt, Ph.D. received a BA Psychology from the University of British Columbia and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania specializing in human cognition. Her professional work is characterized by application of theoretical and research findings to the design and study of effective instructional and learning methods in health sciences education. She has published books and articles on various aspects of teaching and learning, with special emphasis on medical education. Dr. Schmidt is an Assistant Vice President and Associate Dean for Education and Evaluation as well as Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry and Dentistry at Columbia University. She is a member of the Curriculum Committee, and collaborates with several faculty members in education and evaluation projects