Maurice Clifton

He has over two decades' experience as an educator, researcher, and clinician. His background includes many years as a university professor and administrator in several medical schools focusing on both student and academic affairs. Additionally, Dr. Clifton has extensive clinical training and experience as an Internist and Adolescent Medicine Specialist. 

Previously he was the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, Pennsylvania where he was responsible for admissions, student affairs, curriculum, faculty affairs and development, and oversight of the three regional clinical campuses. Prior to that, he was Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia, and he was Director of Student Advising and the Standardized Patient program while at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. 

Dr. Clifton’s research has been published in the Medical Education, Journal of Interprofessional Healthcare, American Journal of Critical Care, and Journal of Cancer Education. He has presented at numerous medical education conferences, including the American Educational Research Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Ottawa Conference, International Association for Medical Education, Association of Standardized Patient Educators, and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine.

Dr. Clifton’s research interests centers on the use of simulation to teach and assess communication skills, the development of expertise, and interprofessional education.

• Assessment
• Standardized Patients
• Curriculum Design
• Medical Expertise
• Clinical Reasoning
• Adolescent Medicine

• Student Recognition Award, TCMC, 2013 
• Charter Member, Academy of Master Educators, UPSOM, 2006 
• Most Outstanding Live CME Activity, Alliance for CME, 2006 
• Faculty Recognition Award for Continued Devotion to the Education of Medical Students, UPSOM, 2006 
• Faculty Recognition Award for mentoring students, UPSOM, 2005 
• Honorable Mention for Research Poster Presentation, NEGEA, 2005 

Peer Reviewed Publications:

• Foote E, Clifton M, Shenberger K, A Required Interprofessional Clerkship for Fourth Year Medical Students at the Commonwealth Medical College.  Journal of Interprofessional Healthcare: Vol 1. Iss. 1, Article 6. 
• Clifton M, Thompson T, Donner R, Mercer University School of Medicine.  Academic Medicine 2010 Sept;85(9 suppl):S176-9 
• Howley L, Szauter K, Perkowski L, Clifton M, McNaughton N, Quality of Standardized Patient Research Reports in the Medical Education Literature: Review and Recommendations.  Medical Education 2008: 42: 350-358. 
• Rosenzweig M, Hravnak M, Magdic K, Beach M, Clifton M, Arnold R, Patient Communication Simulation Laboratory for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Students. American Journal of Critical Care 2008; 17: 364-372. 
• Rosenzweig M, Clifton M, Arnold R. (2007) Development of communication Skills Workshop for Oncology Advanced Practice Nursing Students.  Journal of Cancer Education.  2007; Fall;22(3):149-53. 
• Clifton M, Gonzaga AM, Adolescent Medicine Training for Medical Students, Virtual Mentor 2005 1:7(3). Epub 2005 Mar 1. 
• Kubota M, Sly W, Santarsiero B, Clifton M, Kuo L:"Photoisomerism of  (Dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate)-bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum.  Structure of  (Ethoxycarbonyl) (methoxy-carbonyl)acetylido)bis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(II)".   Organometallics 1987; 6:1257-1259 
• Peer Reviewed Publications – American Educational Research Association (AERA) 
• Clifton M, Fung CC, Wimmers P, Investigating Diagnostic Errors in Medical Students, presented at the American Educational Research Meeting, March 25, 2008.  New York, NY. 
• Wimmers P, Clifton M, The Advancement of Four Decades of Medical School Admission Requirements, presented at the American Educational Research Meeting, March 28, 2008.  New York, NY. 
• Clifton M, Mahoney J, Faculty Observation and Feedback to Medical Students Increases Confidence But Not Performance in Clinical Skills, presented at the American Educational Research Association, April 10, 2007, Chicago, IL 

Peer Reviewed Educational Materials:

• Clifton M, Adolescent Pelvic inflammatory Disease Problem Based Learning (PBL). MedEdPORTAL; 2007 Available from: http://services.aamc.org/jsp/mededportal/retrieveSubmissionDetailByld.do?subld=264 
• Clifton M, Teen Substance Abuse Problem Based Learning (PBL). MedEdPORTAL; 2007 Available from: http://services.aamc.org/jsp/mededportal/retrieveSubmissionDetailByld.do?subld=263 
• Mahoney JF, Vitale F, Eibling D, Campbell P, Clifton MS, Standardized Patient Cases for Teaching Tobacco Cessation, 2008, Available from: http://services.aamc.org/30/mededportal/servlet/s/segment/mededportal/find_resources/browse/?subid=1075 

Reviews and Book Chapters:

• Perlis SM, Adonizio C, Clifton MS, The Commonwealth Medical College, A Snapshot of the New and Developing Medical Schools in the United States and Canada, AAMC. November 2012, p. 112-119.  
• Clifton, MS, Thompson, T, Donner R, Mercer University School of Medicine, Academic Medicine, September 2010 Vol. 85, No 9. 
• Clifton, MS, Mylona E, Assessment: Practical Strategies Applied to the Profession.  Extraordinary Learning in the Workplace.  Singer. 2011 p. 101-128 
• Clifton, MS, What Types of Residency Programs Exist? In CHOICES, the Careers in Medicine Newsletter, AAMC, October 2009. 
• Diane Kittredge, Constance Baldwin, Miriam Bar-on, Patricia Beach, and Franklin Trimm (Eds.), APA Educational Guidelines for Pediatric Residency.  Available at Ambulatory Pediatric Association website, ambpeds.org/guidelines. [Accessed 02/02/2004] 
• Clifton, MS. Tobacco. In: Holland-Hall C, Brown RT, eds. Adolescent Medicine Secrets. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, Inc. 2002:245-249. 

Electronic Media – Other: 

• Clifton, M, Gonzaga AM, Adolescent medicine Training for Medical Students.  Virtual Mentor, March 2005.  Available at: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/14694.html Accessed March 2, 2005. 

• Assessment
• Standardized Patients
• Curriculum Design
• Medical Expertise
• Clinical Reasoning

• Perlis S, Vaskalis Z, Clifton M, Evaluation and Assessment in a New Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship: Preliminary Results.  Submitted to the NEGEA Educational Retreat, Spring 2013, New York, NY. 
• Perlis S, Adonizio C, Vaskalis Z, Clifton M, Taggart J, Strzelecki J, Staskiel P, Fawcett D.  Evaluation and Assessment in the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship at The Commonwealth Medical College: Charter Class of 2013 Preliminary Results, Presented as a poster at the Innovations in Medical Education Session of the Association of American Medical Colleges national meeting, November 3, 2012.  San Francisco, CA. 
• Adonizio C, Clifton M, Perlis S, Townsend J, Weber V, Supporting and Tracking Students over a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship.  Presented at the Consortium of Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships meeting, October 2012.  Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario, Canada. 
• Weber V, Adonizio C, Townsend J, Perlis S, Clifton M, Implementing a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship for the third year at The Commonwealth Medical College, Presented as a poster presentation at the American Association of Medical Colleges, November 4 -9, 2011 Denver, CO  
• Jackson, LS, Putnam MC, Clifton, MS, AMCAS Preparation Course – Enhancing the Application of Disadvantaged Students, Presented as a poster presentation at the Innovations in Medical Education session of the Association of American Medical Colleges national meeting, November 8, 2009.  Boston, MA. 
• Clifton MS, Defining Obstacles to the Practice of Medicine in Rural Areas by Women Physicians.  Presented as an oral presentation at the Women in Medicine Section of the American Medical Association, June 13, 2009. Chicago, IL  
• Dent M, Clifton MS, Morgan SJ, Imprinting the Mission: a Road Trip During Medical School Orientation.  Presented as a poster presentation at the Annual Conference of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, April 29, 2009.  Denver, CO 
• Prince EA, Schauer A, Clifton MS, Evaluating Sleep Hygiene: Empowering Teens to Take Charge, Presented as a poster presentation at the Society of Adolescent Medicine Conference, March, 25, 2009. Los Angeles, CA 
• Huang YM, Fung CC, Stevens C, Clifton M, Wilkerson L, Steadman R, Using Simulation to Assess medical Student’s basic Life Supporting Skills during the Clinical Performance Exam, Presented as a poster presentation at the Ottawa Conference, March 6, 2008. Melbourne, Australia. 
• Howley L, Szauter K, Perkowski L, Bell J, Clifton M, McNaughton N, Reporting Quality of Standardized Patient Research Reports in the Medical Education Literature: Review and Recommendations.  Presented as oral presentation at the RIME session of the Association of American Medical Colleges national meeting, November 7, 2007.  Washington, DC. 
• Russell J, Barnard D, Clifton M, Application of Ethical Principles during the Informed Consent Process for Clinical Trials. Presented at the ORI Research of Research Integrity Conference, December 2, 2006, Miami, FL. 
• Mahoney J, Shetty P, Clifton M, Medical Student Automated External Defibrillator Skills – Can We Predict Performance?”  Presented at the Mid-Atlantic Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Regional Research Meeting, November 3, 2006, Washington DC. 
• Clifton MS, Wimmers PF, Mahoney JF.  Can factor analysis in OSCEs help us learn about clinical skills?  Presented as an oral presentation at the Ottawa Conference, May 22, 2006, New York, NY. 
• Clifton M, Russell J, Williams J, Barnard D.  Communication Skills Training for Informed Consent to Research.  Presented as oral presentation at the RIME session of the Association of American Medical Colleges national meeting, November 9, 2005.  Washington, DC. 
• Clifton M, Campbell P, Mahoney J. Exposing Japanese Medical Students to SPs. presented at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators national meeting, September 11, 2005. Chicago, IL 
• Clifton M, Fulmer V, Campbell P, Mahoney J. Providing Written Feedback During an OSCE. presented at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators national meeting, September 11, 2005. Chicago, IL 
• Clifton M, Russell J, Barnard D, Use of Standardized Patients for Improving the Informed Consent Process for Clinical Trials. presented at the International Association for Medical Education, September 2, 2005, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 
• Gonzaga A, McNeil M, Clifton M.  “Internal Medicine Residents' Comfort in Caring for Adolescents at a Large University-Based Program.” Journal of General Internal Medicine (2005) 20 (Supplement 1): 157 - 158.  Poster presentation at the National Meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, New Orleans, LA, May 2005. 
• Mahoney JF, Leone F, Clifton MS, Evers-Casey S, Tobacco Treatment Education:  Strategic Planning for Successful Curricula, presented at the 2005 Association of American Medical Colleges Northeast Group on Educational Affairs Regional Meeting, Washington, D.C., March 5, 2005.  Received Honorable Mention Award for Research Poster Presentation.   
• Mahoney JF, Clifton MS, Rogers PL, Middleton DB “Integration of Patient Simulation Into a Comprehensive Standardized Patient OSCE”, presented at the 5th Annual International Meeting on Medical Simulation, Miami, FL, January 14-15, 2005.   
• Clifton MS, Mahoney JF, Ryan K, Campbell P, Eibling D, Integration of Content on Tobacco Cessation into the Medical School Curriculum, presented as an IME presentation at the Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Meeting, November 7, 2004, Boston, MA. 
• Clifton MS, Harvey J, Four Year Comprehensive Career and Academic Advising System, presented as an IME presentation at the Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Meeting, November 7, 2004, Boston, MA. 
• Clifton MS, Mahoney JF, Campbell PJ, Middleton DB, Rogers PL Comparison of SP and Faculty Member Responses on Long Checklists, presented as a poster at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators, September 19, 2004, New Orleans, LA 
• Mahoney JF, Clifton MS, Campbell PJ, Middleton DB, Rogers PL, Clinical Skills Assessment Impact on Student Performance, presented as a poster at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators, September 19, 2004, New Orleans, LA 
• Clifton MS, Mahoney JF, Vacca JL, Vitale F, Eibling DE, Standardized Patients Teaching Tobacco Cessation to Medical Students Using Clinical Practice Guidelines on Smoking Cessation.  Presented as a poster presentation at the Northeast Group on Educational Affairs meeting, April 30, 2004.  Pittsburgh, PA. 
• Clifton MS, Mahoney J, Middleton D, Rogers P, Campbell P, The Effect of a Performance Based Assessment on Physical Exam Skills: Two Years Later.  Presented as a poster presentation at the Innovations in Medical Education meeting, February 28, 2004. Los Angeles, CA. 
• Clifton MS, Campbell PJ, Mahoney JF, Middleton DB, Rogers PL. 
• Integration of a Comprehensive Evaluation of Smoking Cessation Skills into an OSCE. Presented at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators, July 20, 2003, Virginia Beach, VA. 
• Mahoney JF, Campbell PJ, Clifton MS, Middleton DB, Rogers PL. A Cost and Time Effective Standardized Patient Training Program – Design and Implementation. Presented at the Association of Standardized Patient Educators, July 20, 2003, Virginia Beach, VA. 
• Clifton MS, Kithas JA, Buzzini SRB, Mahoney JF, Using Standardized Patients to explore Biases in Medical Students.  Presented as an oral presentation at the Innovations in Medical Education meeting, March 1, 2003. Los Angeles, CA. 
• Clifton MS, Mahoney JF, Elnicki DM, Middleton DB, Rogers PL, Breneman K, The Effects Of Shortening A Standardized Patient Checklist. Presented as a poster presentation at the Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Meeting, November 10, 2002, San Francisco, CA. 
• Clifton MS, Mahoney JF, Elnicki DM, Rogers PL, Middleton DB, Breneman K, Effects of Shortening Standardized Patient Checklists.  Presented as a poster at The 10th Ottawa Conference on Medical Education, July 13, 2002, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  
• Clifton M, The Effect of a Performance Based Assessment on Physical Exam Skills. Presented as a poster as completion of Masters Project at the New Approaches in Medical Education conference, May 11, 2002, Los Angeles, CA. 
• Clifton MS, Mahoney JF, Middleton DB, Rogers PL, Student Practice Improves Confidence on a Standardized Patient H&P.  Presented as a poster at the Northeast Group on Educational Affairs (NEGEA) Regional Meeting, May 5, 2002, Rochester, NY. 
• Syed T, Clifton M, Bogen D, Roth E, D’Amico F, Adolescent Smoking Cessation: Responses to a Behavioral Intervention Based on Clinical Practice Guidelines, Journal of Adolescent Health. 2002;30:123. Presented as a poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Medicine annual conference on March 7, 2002, Boston, MA. 
• Clifton M, Sedgwick L, Ammerman S, Neinstein L, Intervention in a College Health Clinic to Implement the AHCPR Smoking Cessation Guidelines. Presented as a poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco annual conference on March 26, 2001, Seattle, WA. 
• Syed T, Clifton M, D’Amico F, Developing an Adolescent Smoking Cessation Program, Presented as a poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco annual conference on March 26, 2001, Seattle, WA. 
• Tolentino G, Gold M, Murray PJ, Clifton MS, Body Piercing Practices and attitudes among Inner-City Adolescents, Journal of Adolescent Health. 2001;28:107. Presented as a platform presentation at the Society for Adolescent Medicine annual conference on March 26, 2001, San Diego, CA. 
• Clifton MS, Murray PJ, DiNardo D, Cohen WI, Rubin R, Feldman HM, Needs Assessment for Continuing Medical Education in Adolescent Medicine. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2001;28:140. Presented as a poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Medicine annual conference on March 24, 2001, San Diego, CA. 
• Clifton MS, Karp L, Association of High School Graduation with Smoking Status in a Low Income, Young Adult Population.  Journal of Adolescent Health. 2000;26:142. Presented as a poster presentation at the Society for Adolescent Medicine annual conference on March 23, 2000, Arlington, VA.