Peer coaching in clinical teaching: a case report

Peer coaching is a method for improving teaching skills that was developed for use in general educational classroom settings. Key elements of peer coaching include the identification of specific goals for improving teaching skills, focused observation of teaching by colleagues, and the provision of feedback, analysis, and support. As part of a faculty development project, we adapted peer-coaching methodology to the clinical teaching setting. This report describes the experiences of two family physicians who have served as peer coaches for each other over the past 2 years. The participating physicians report enthusiastically about their experiences with peer coaching as a method for personalized faculty development. They report more self-awareness of their clinical teaching behaviors, the ability to improve specific teaching skills, and the rewards of a collaborative relationship between colleagues.