Strategies for Academic Advisors and Mentors to Support Medical Students Entering Clinical Rotations

Medical school offers comprehensive education and career development both in the classroom and clinical spaces. Much of the literature surrounding optimizing and navigating clinical rotations is directed towards faculty, such as clerkship directors. However, as advisors for medical students, we notice a large gap exists in peer-reviewed content focused on teaching medical students concrete skills of navigating clinical years. Here we offer actionable strategies that would guide both students, and their mentors and advisors, as they prepare for their upcoming clinical rotations. Suggestions are based on existing literature and our combined expert opinion. By breaking down success in the clinical space into fragmented components, we believe students will gain confidence in their own performance during clinical rotations.