Residents learn teaching skills through new elective

The inaugural medical education elective for graduate medical education was held in mid-February, offering training in educator skills to residents across all programs at Penn State College of Medicine.

Ami DeWaters, MD, MSc, led the initiative, along with Rachel Cases, MD, MEd, and Amanda Cooper, MD. Support was provided by Jennifer Meka, PhD, and from many others who taught and helped with logistics.

The two-week curriculum covered the spectrum of medical education, including didactic and bedside teaching tools, curriculum development, scholarship in medical education, and professional development skills for future academic clinician educators.

The goals for the participants in the elective were to enhance existing teaching and curriculum development skills and to increase the feeling of preparation to embark on a career as an academic clinician educator.

Throughout the course, attendees participated in small- and large-group sessions, large-group simulations and observation of teaching activities used during the course. The culminating project was to create a 20- to 30-minute teaching session on a topic of the resident’s choice to present to the course participants and faculty at the end of the elective.

Dr. DeWaters thought the elective was successful because the learners were so engaged and excited to discuss education, which really made it a lot of fun. Among the feedback that was given by some of the participants in the course:

• “This has been the most transformative course in my career.”
• “I don’t know how you all did it, but every teacher was phenomenal.”
• “The course was one of the highlights of my residency career as I prepare for a career in academics.”
• “Overall this course was amazing and I went home every day just buzzing with ideas and thoughts. It helped me clarify my career goals, which I actually desperately needed. I think these topics are going to help me in so many areas in my career, as a senior, as a resident, as an attending, as a parent even.”
• “I would recommend this course to future chiefs, rising seniors, and anyone who may have interest in academic medicine. Thank you!!”

The facilitators and teachers look forward to continuing this course in the future.

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