Thomas J. Beckman, M.D.

The primary research interest of Thomas J. Beckman, M.D., is medical education with concentrations in clinical teaching, assessment and scale design.

His studies have addressed professionalism, physician well-being, quality improvement, graduate medical education, continuing medical education (CME) and quality of reporting in the literature.

Dr. Beckman's clinical experience began as a U.S. Navy Diving Medical Officer. While on active duty, he graduated from the Navy dive school and served with three dive commands in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; treated decompression illness, near drowning and other diving injuries; and educated physicians and technicians on diving and undersea medicine.

Dr. Beckman's current clinical focus is men's health. His interests are benign prostatic hyperplasia, sexual dysfunction and interpretation of elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Focus areas

• Medical education research. Clinical teaching, assessment, graduate medical education, CME and physician well-being.

Significance to patient care

The goals of research in medical education are to improve the understanding of best teaching practices and enhance learning across the spectrum of education, from medical school to continuous professional development.

Ultimately, research in medical education should improve health care and serve the needs of patients.

Professional highlights

• Diving and Undersea Medical Officer, U.S. Navy, 1993-1997
• Award of Excellence for Research, Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) Fall Meeting, 2011
• Associate Editor, Mayo Clinic Proceedings
• Member, Mayo Fellows Association Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame