Julianna Lau | Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education

Julianna Lau, MD, is a third-year pediatric hospital medicine fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and a full-time student in the Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education program at Harvard Medical School. With a passion for medical education, research methodology, and curriculum development, she balances clinical practice and academic pursuits while exploring innovative ways to support trainees and advance teaching in medicine.

Before beginning her fellowship, Lau completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and earned her medical degree from the University of Connecticut. Her dedication to teaching began before medical school when, as a Fulbright Scholar, she took a gap year to teach English to elementary students in Taiwan. This experience reinforced her decision to specialize in pediatrics.

“Educating elementary students blended perfectly with my love for teaching and my future in pediatrics,” Lau says. “It was a perfect stepping stone before I went back to school.”

Lau chose the Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education program to enhance her understanding of teaching theory, medical education scholarship, and research methodology. She appreciates the program’s flexibility and its diverse virtual community of peers from around the globe.

Based in the Greater Boston area, Lau had many options for a master’s degree, but the Harvard Medical School program aligned best with her interest in medical education, scholarship, and teaching. “As someone who wants to be a medical educator, I think [the program] blends all aspects of education to prepare us to be well-rounded and productive medical educators.”

Lau’s thesis focuses on pediatric hospital medicine fellowship programs and assessing how prepared attendings are to supervise fellows in a clinical setting. Using a combination of national and local studies, she is exploring the current need for further professional development.

To that end, Lau aims to create a curriculum or workshop for attending physicians that addresses how to best support fellows in their leadership roles on clinical teams. She hopes that educating attending physicians will have a “trickle-down effect where fellows have autonomy and feel supported, which then allows them to better support residents.”

Her thesis mentor, Susan E. Farrell, MD, EdM, Associate Dean for Assessment and Evaluation at Harvard Medical School, has been instrumental in guiding her work. Lau also works closely with Sarah McBride, MD, her fellowship program director at Boston Children’s Hospital. “The mentorship in this program has been wonderful,” Lau says. “It’s a very diverse group and super cool to get perspectives from everyone.”

For Lau, one of the program’s most surprising and rewarding aspects has been the sense of community among her cohort. “I was skeptical about how much we could bond as a cohort over Zoom,” she admits, “but it’s been amazing. We’re constantly in touch through WhatsApp, collaborating on projects, sharing updates, and supporting each other’s growth.” Even though the students have only met in person a couple of times, the connections are strong and lasting, opening doors for opportunities beyond the program.

Lau’s cohort consists of professionals at varying stages of their careers, from medical students to seasoned medical educators. “It’s inspiring to learn from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives,” she says. The virtual nature of the program also allows for global collaboration. “Hearing about different medical education systems and projects from classmates around the world has broadened my understanding of what’s possible in this field.”

As she prepares for graduation in May, Lau credits the program with not only expanding her professional skill set but also reinforcing her commitment to the academic realm. “This program teaches you how to turn your teaching and projects into scholarly work,” she says. “For someone who wants to stay in academic medicine, that’s essential.”

For prospective students considering the Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education program, Lau offers clear advice: “Be intentional about your time and understand what you want to get out of it. The program is time-intensive but incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about learning—it’s about connecting, collaborating, and building a foundation for your future in medical education.”

With her passion for teaching, commitment to scholarship, and innovative vision for change in graduate medical education, Julianna Lau is poised to make a lasting impact on the field—one learner at a time.

Written by Bailey Merlin