Teaching in medicine: an elective course for third-year students.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Medical schools are expanding elective offerings to enhance student training.
• Developing effective clinical teaching skills is crucial for physicians.
• Physicians serve as educators for patients, students, and colleagues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the structure and outcomes of a "Teaching in Medicine" elective course.
• To evaluate student and teacher perceptions of the elective course.
• To assess the value of dedicated teacher training for medical students.

Main Methods:

• An elective course was designed for third-year medical students.
• Instructional methods included readings, discussions, microteaching, and audiovisual material development.
• Course assessment involved student-led teaching sessions and peer/instructor evaluation.

Main Results:

• Eight third-year medical students participated in the elective.
• All students rated the course as excellent.
• The course successfully addressed key teaching skills for physicians.

Conclusions:

• A "Teaching in Medicine" elective is a valuable addition to medical school curricula.
• Such courses equip future physicians with essential teaching competencies.
• Positive student and teacher feedback indicates the course's effectiveness and worth.