Mary Boyle, MD, Jacqueline Dziedzic, DO Course Directors of the Teaching Elective

Overseeing Surgery portion Kevin Brown, MD,  

Overseeing OB-Gyn Orientations Abbey Winder, MD

Pass/Fail ONLY. Open to SSOM students only.

Main elective coordinator is Alison Chastain (amccomb3@luc.edu). 

 Physicians teach many learners in their practice. Those learners include students, patients, nurses, and their medical colleagues.

• This elective will occur over the 12-month period of fourth year for two weeks elective credit.
• Periodic meetings to discuss medical education theory, methodology or practice will be required. You will be expected to attend three sessions. While we hope you attend all sessions, three will be required. These sessions will typically begin at 6 pm.
• The opportunity to implement that knowledge will be in the form of a teaching practicum through PCM II small groups, Department of Surgery clerkship educational sessions, Department of OB-GYN clerkship educational sessions, or other designated activities offered.
• The expectation is participation in 6 formal teaching encounters over twelve months. These sessions will include a minimum of five small group sessions in PCM2 (pre-clinical) plus one session in Surgery or one session in OB-GYN. The selection of which clerkship session will be based on availability.

At times, alternative opportunities may be offered as they arise as determined by the course directors. Preparation to teach sessions and follow up reflections are also expected. A final reflection is due at the end of the course.

General Surgery and OB/GYN Teaching Component:
· The opportunity to implement the knowledge will be in the form of a teaching practicum through PCM II small groups, Department of Surgery or OB/GYN clerkship educational sessions or proctoring a simulation session for students on the surgery clerkship in the Walgreens Virtual Hospital.
· Students will participate in a surgical skills workshop offered throughout the academic year during the orientation sessions for Surgery or OB/GYN. The sessions are proctored by physicians and students will help facilitate a skills introduction for the incoming students. The students will also provide mentoring for the third-year students focusing on expectations for history and physical exams, progress notes, presentations and operating room etiquette during the third-year clerkships.

In place of the required skills workshop a student may be assigned to proctor, along with a physician, a simulation session in the Walgreens Virtual Hospital for small groups of third year medical students on their surgery clerkship including briefing and debriefing before and after the encounter. This simulation is typically run three times to accommodate all of the clerkship students-- requiring a three-hour time commitment.

Note: Technical Skills Teaching, in either the General Surgery or Obstetrics and Gynecology component, is an introduction to the concepts, methodologies and foundation for basic technical skills, and the application of introducing a new learner to the operating room environment. This elective facilitates peer teaching and learning, using technical skills as its background. While an interest in technical skills and teaching is encouraged, this elective is not limited to General Surgery or Obstetrics and Gynecology bound students, but all students interested in developing teaching skills in medical education.

COMPETENCY-BASED GOALS AND OUTCOME
OBJECTIVES: SSOM offers an elective in Teaching in Medical School. This elective is an introduction to the concepts, methodologies and foundation for medical education, its role in the physician's practice, and its application to lifelong learning. Whether assuming a position as a medical educator or taking responsibility for one’s own Continuing Medical Education; this elective will provide a sound foundation for academic excellence, research, or scholarship.

COMPETENCY 1 – Knowledge:

• Identify adult learning theory and its application to academic medicine.
• Demonstrate application of those theories through a teaching practicum in PCM pre-clerkship course, Surgery or OB-GYN clerkships. Skills may be demonstrated through teaching:
  a. History and Physical exam skills
  b. Written record, charting skills
  c. EKG and CXR interpretation
  d. Oral presentations skills
  e. Procedural skills
  f. Operating room etiquette
  g. Critical thinking through simulation

COMPETENCY 2 – Communication: • Demonstrate group communication skills through their role as co-facilitator in pre-clinical small group sessions and peer presentations or as co-instructor on clerkships; • Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills in MS2 or MS3 student feedback and through mentoring roles they may assume during their teaching time in PCM or on the clerkships.

COMPETENCY 3 – Professionalism: • Work collaboratively with their students, colleagues, and facilitators. -Prepare for sessions as instructed •Demonstrate respect for their role as teacher by valuing the learner and the education profession.

COMPETENCY 4 – Patient Care: • Demonstrate their ability to teach patient assessment skills to students or procedural skills; • Demonstrate their ability to structure a safe learning environment where critical inquiry is encouraged and embraced. • Demonstrate Surgery or OB-GYN Technical Skills Teaching.

COMPETENCY 5 – Lifelong Learning, Problem-Solving and Personal Growth: • Demonstrate their ability to develop learning habits and strategies that will foster continuing development as physicians and learners. • Identify and use educational materials which support their role as a medical educator.

COMPETENCY 6 – Social and Community Context of Healthcare: • Recognize political and social issues that are pervasive in the current health care system. • Describe and implement a plan to effectively address the cultural, racial, and socio-economic barriers encountered when teaching patients or in the classroom setting.

1. Reflection: Keep a log at the end of each session which includes a) What went well during the session b) Challenges of the session c) Plans for any changes, improvements, or use of innovated ideas. Use the log to help you write a final summary reflection of your teaching experience which will be submitted at the end of the course.
2. Assessment: Assessment of teaching techniques is by direct observation of teaching methods. Formative or summative feedback will be provided on an ongoing basis by faculty and/or course directors and/or the student learners.
3. Assessment of the technical skills teaching on either the Surgery clerkship or OB-GYN clerkship will be assessed by residents and faculty involved in each.