The Academic Detective

Amy Lee, M.D. (’88), M.P.H., M.B.A., is an award-winning peer reviewer who helps provide feedback for others who are developing new teaching and learning materials. However, it isn’t just about evaluating what is in front of her. Rather, it’s about determining what isn’t included.

“A good reviewer has to play detective,” said Dr. Lee, a professor of family and community medicine at NEOMED. “Even when you review an outstanding, well-researched and thorough piece, there’s typically a few items that could also be included to really help the educational experience for the student.”

Dr. Lee spends about two to three hours per review, and sometimes much more depending on the complexity of the materials. She judges materials based on goals, preparation, the use of proper methodology, academic research strengths and overall weaknesses before offering recommendations. She began serving as a peer reviewer in 2013 as a way of giving back to the field of academia.

“Reviewers do so on a purely volunteer basis,” noted Dr. Lee, who must find time for reviews on top of an already demanding schedule, where she teaches several classes at NEOMED in addition to serving as program director for the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health degree program. “It’s something we do to help support other educators in the pursuit of knowledge.”