Prepare graduate students for teaching responsibilities

During graduate training, students often undertake some teaching responsibilities, which provides useful experience for a future career in academia. However, they receive little guidance to prepare them for this role. This article describes some of the attempts that have been made to overcome this deficiency, with emphasis on the specially developed teaching course offered to graduate students at the University of Kentucky; this provides instruction on planning, implementing and evaluating instruction, and classroom training in instructional skills. Evaluation suggests that the programme is relevant and effective, and provides a useful model for other medical schools.