Teaching Medical Students
Written by Alison Yarp, MD MPH
To all the residents and soon-to-be residents out there, I want you to think back to when you were a medical student on rotations.
How did residents improve your experience? For me, I appreciated when residents made the effort to teach medical students. This doesn’t mean a lengthy lecture. Teaching about a patient “in the moment”, helped me learn and made me feel a part of the team.
Based on personal experiences, ideas from other residents, and some research, here are teaching tips for residents working with medical students:
Ask what students want to learn. Every medical school is different, but many students have quizzes during didactic rotation lectures as well as a shelf exam at the end of the rotation. These quizzes may be focused on topics that aren’t commonly seen in clinics or the hospital, so review topics that they could see on a quiz or shelf exam.
Pearls. Think about the level of students you are teaching. They will need to know the order of diagnostic steps and treatments for various diseases. Medical students rarely need to know the dose of medications or specific steps of a surgical procedure.
Teach to their interests. Find ways to apply your specialty to whatever specialty they are most interested in. For example, not everyone wants to be a psychiatrist. However, most students will eventually see delirium in all specialties.
Quick teaching is possible. You can incorporate teaching when you give feedback on a presentation. If you give feedback immediately to a student, it will make it easier for them to make a connection to improve when presenting the next case.
Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know.” Not only are residents still training, but medicine is a field of life-long learning. There will be times when student questions stump you, so acknowledge limits to your current knowledge base. If you have time, look up the answer with the student!
Check-in with students daily and offer to answer any questions. When residents do this, it shows me they are comfortable answering questions and they seem more approachable.
Teaching doesn’t need to be a clinical topic. Residents are leaders and medical students look to them for guidance and support. Sometimes students may have questions related to topics like being a physician or applying to residency. As a resident, you can provide mentorship and form connections.
Patience. Learning takes time. This is why we call it “practicing” medicine after all! If students are struggling with their presentation, give them time, some encouragement, and tips to improve. Avoid interrupting a medical student during their presentation. You can provide feedback at the end of their presentation.
Consider timing. If they say the magical phrase, “can I help you with anything?” and it’s the end of the day, try to dismiss them. Medical students will be eternally grateful to get out on time to study.
Have fun! Residency is tough, and medical students are eager to learn from you.
