Office-based preceptorship: a creative approach to a learning and growth experience

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Clerkships

Background:

• Flexible 4-to-8-week medical student office rotations present unique pedagogical challenges.
• Balancing standardization with flexibility in medical training is an ongoing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the advantages and disadvantages of flexible medical student office rotations.
• To identify key teaching issues and considerations within these rotations.
• To examine preceptor recruitment, retention, and the preceptorship experience.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews existing literature and expert opinion on flexible medical student rotations.
• It analyzes the benefits and drawbacks for medical schools, students (preceptees), and attending physicians (preceptors).
• Methods for evaluating preceptorships and addressing unmet goals are discussed.

Main Results:

• Flexible rotations offer benefits and disadvantages for all parties involved: medical schools, students, and preceptors.
• Key issues include standardizing curriculum, ensuring meaningful student experiences, and managing preceptor involvement.
• Effective evaluation methods and recourse for unmet educational goals are crucial.

Conclusions:

• Flexible medical student office rotations require careful consideration of standardization, meaningful experiences, and preceptor engagement.
• Further research is needed to optimize these educational models and address identified challenges.
• Developing robust evaluation strategies is essential for successful preceptorships.