Email this pageMedical Education Pathway (MEP)
Goal:
To prepare students to become academic medical educators.
Objectives of Teaching Pathway:
After successful completion of the MEP, the student will be able to describe and apply relevant aspects of teaching and learning theory and methods of assessment, and will be able to discuss effective ways of giving feedback.
The student will be able to demonstrate the following skills:
Skill A:
Preparing and delivering a lecture to a large group (e.g. lectures for basic science courses, ACE, & 3rd year basic science blocks.)
Skill B:
Serving as a PBL tutor
Skill C:
Leading a small group teaching session.
Skill D:
Writing high quality learning objectives
Skill E:
Writing high quality exam questions in a number of formats
Skill F:
Providing effective feedback
Specific Teaching Requirements for completion of the pathway
- Prepare and deliver a lecture to a large group (Skill A). In most cases, the same lecture is to be given in two consecutive years, with incorporation of audience and mentor feedback and relective self-assessment for the second year. The student will also be expected to write high quality learning objectives for the lecture (Skill D) as well as exam questions related to the lecture material, including MCQ, essay, short answer, etc.(Skill E).
- Serve as a PBL tutor (Skill B). In most cases, the student is expected to participate in formal PBL tutor training, and to serve as a PBL tutor for at least two cases. The student will be asked to complete a self-assessment after the first case, and to incorporate both self assessment issues and student feedback during the second and subsequent cases.
- Lead a small group teaching session (Skill C). Examples could include: basic science laboratory teaching, medical humanities seminar, physiology problem sets, clinical skills and bedside teaching, and ACE or ICM small groups. In most cases, the student is expected to formulate specific learning objectives and/or oral exam questions for each small group session.
A total of 40 contact hours (typically 20 hours/year over a two year period) will meet the teaching requirements of the pathway.
Additional Requirements for completion of the pathway
Participate in a Teaching Workshop/Seminar Program, the goals of which are:
- To acquaint students with teaching/learning theories and educational methods through formal presentations by experts
- To expose students to hands-on opportunities for development as teachers/educators through workshop formats
- To engage students in critical assessment of the medical education literature through student-directed seminar series
The program is separated into a Fall Seminar/Workshop Series and a Spring Journal Club. For the Seminar/Workshop Series, we will have invited speakers/facilitators.
Topics will focus on practical aspects of teaching (syllabus prep, learning objectives, exam writing, giving feedback, etc.), learning theories and incorporation of domains of excellence into teaching.
For the Spring Journal Club, faculty will assign a relevant paper and students will discuss it, with one student serving as facilitator.
Activities that do not qualify:
Any teaching activity for which a student receives reimbursement (serving as a tutor, high school or other special programs teaching)
Teaching activities with an audience that does not include medical students
Preliminary Application:
To apply, please send the following information by April 1 of your Second Year*.
Click here to complete web form application.
- Name and anticipated date of graduation
- Write a statement of intent which should include a brief description of a meaningful personal teaching encounter (either as a student or as a teacher)
- Indicate proposed area of teaching interest (examples: anatomy, clinical skills, ethics, etc. and state whether you have a specific subject area or topic in mind.
- Identify a faculty mentor
Please click here to view a list of faculty members who have indicated a willingness to serve as a mentor. Do not hesitate to suggest a mentor of your choosing.
Review of preliminary applications by the Pathway Committee (Barbara J. Davis, Ph.D., Chin-To Fong, M.D., Stephanie Brown-Clark, M.D., Ph.D., Anne Nofziger, M.D., Scott Tripler, M.D. and Denham S. Ward, M.D., Ph.D.) will be completed by April 15. Successful preliminary applicants will be invited to submit a formal proposal and Teaching Activities Checklist after a discussion with their mentor. The formal proposal will be due on May 15.
Satisfactory completion of the Medical Education Pathway will be determined by the Pathway Committee. Those students who meet all Pathway requirements will have Pathway information included in their Dean’s Letter. Completion of the Pathway will be recorded on students’ permanent transcript, and they will also receive a certificate of completion in fourth year.
If you are a faculty member interested in serving as a mentor to a pathway student, please complete a prospective mentor form.
*Please contact the mentor that you have identified, they should agree to serve as your mentor prior to submitting your application.
*MD/PhD students and those students taking a year out may complete the preliminary application by April 1 in any year, but must have at least 2 years of study remaining.
For additional information:
Barbara J. Davis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Neurobiology & Anatomy
Associate Director, Faculty Development
barbara_davis@urmc.rochester.edu
