From Learners to Leaders: Developing Clinician Educators Through Specialized Residency Training

The growing responsibilities of clinician educators in academic medicine necessitates structured training opportunities during residency. However, such programs are uncommon in procedural specialties. We developed the Anesthesiology Clinician Educator Residency Track (ACE Track) at Washington University School of Medicine to bridge this gap by fostering professional identity formation and preparing residents for careers in medical education.

The ACE Track is a longitudinal program integrating didactic instruction, teaching, mentorship, and educational scholarship during the fourth postgraduate year. Participants engage in coursework on educational theory, lead medical student and resident teaching sessions, and develop scholarly projects under faculty mentorship. Residents receive protected time to focus on educational initiatives, and selection is competitive based on career interest and project proposals.

Over 3 years, the ACE Track has enhanced participant career development, expanded educational programming, and strengthened the department's educational culture. Graduates have taken on leadership roles, developed curricula, and contributed to national education conferences. Survey data indicate increased self-perceived competency in educational skills, professional identity formation, and career clarity.

The ACE Track is a novel program that equips anesthesiology residents with foundational skills in medical education. Positive participant feedback and increasing applications suggest its value in academic career development, offering a framework for clinician-educator training in procedural fields.