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

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Clinician educators in academic medicine require structured residency training.
• Training programs for clinician educators are rare in procedural specialties.
• Anesthesiology residency programs often lack dedicated educational tracks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a structured training program for anesthesiology residents interested in medical education.
• To foster professional identity formation and prepare residents for careers as clinician educators.
• To address the gap in educational training within procedural residency programs.

Main Methods:

• The Anesthesiology Clinician Educator Residency Track (ACE Track) is a longitudinal program for fourth-year residents.
• It integrates didactic instruction, teaching experience, mentorship, and educational scholarship.
• Participants complete coursework, lead teaching sessions, and develop scholarly projects with faculty guidance.

Main Results:

• Over three years, the ACE Track enhanced participant career development and educational programming.
• Graduates assumed leadership roles, developed curricula, and presented at national conferences.
• Survey data showed increased self-perceived competency in educational skills, professional identity, and career clarity.

Conclusions:

• The ACE Track equips anesthesiology residents with essential medical education skills.
• Positive feedback and increasing applications indicate the program's value for academic career development.
• This model provides a framework for clinician-educator training in procedural fields.