Medical educators: the rich symbiosis between clinical and teaching roles

Although many medical educators now undertake formal courses in education, some to a high academic level, there has been little investigation into the ways in which their clinical and educational roles interact. In this qualitative study, we investigate these links and consider their importance.

We carried out semi-structured interviews with 18 medical educators from a variety of backgrounds and specialties to investigate the links between clinical and educational roles. Data were analysed for recurring themes.

We found an intuitive sharing of professional skills between the clinical and educational roles of doctors. Doctors came to see their practice as more complex and nuanced through their teaching, giving them a route to deepen their understanding of their own professional practice and enhance their self-worth. When teaching, doctors drew upon clinical experience, particularly their communication and problem-solving skills, to develop their practice in a holistic way. We found an intuitive sharing of professional skills between the clinical and educational roles of doctors

We have found that medical practitioners bring their experience and expertise in clinical medicine to their work as educators. In addition, developing as a medical educator affects and enhances clinical practice. These findings have important implications for those charged with the development of medical education and medical educators themselves, as well as the patients that they care for.