Residents as Teachers

Pyramid showing heirarchy: Resident Teaching Skills to Teaching Resdient to DIME Pathway to Masters of Medical Education

Studies have estimated that residents spend up to 20% of their time on teaching activities regardless of their department or future career plans.  Despite this significant responsibility for teaching medical students and colleagues along with patients and their families, residents often have not received formal instruction on how to be effective teachers.

The Internal Medicine Residency Program values the important role that residents assume as teachers.  The program also recognizes how complex medical teaching can be when the teacher must meet the needs of the learner while providing care for the patient.

In an effort to help residents develop teaching skills as well as gain confidence as teachers, the program has designed opportuni9ties for residents to improve their teaching skills during their training.

 

Resident Teaching Skills Curriculum

Pyramid showing heirarchy: Resident Teaching Skills (highlighted) to Teaching Resdient to DIME Pathway to Masters of Medical Education

All residents participate in a 3-year longitudinal Resident Teaching Skills curriculum during the “Y” week block (Thursday afternoon ambulatory curriculum).  The goal of the curriculum is to introduce residents to a knowledge base and skill set used when serving in the role of a clinical educator.  The curriculum delivers an experiential skill-based teaching curriculum allowing all residents to acquire, practice and implement specific skills for effective teaching; 2) provides recurring spaced teaching skills instruction promoting deliberate practice and reflection; and 3) helps residents gain confidence in their teaching skills. 

Learn more about the Teaching Skills Curriculum.

Teaching Resident Rotation

Pyramid showing heirarchy: Resident Teaching Skills to Teaching Resdient (highihted) to DIME Pathway to Masters of Medical Education

The Teaching Resident rotation is designed as a 4-week experience to improve the teaching skills of participating third-year residents as well as prepare these residents for serving effectively in the role of medical educator.  The rotation also provides a dedicated educational venue to demonstrate skills obtained through participation in the longitudinal Resident Teaching Skills curriculum.

Learn more about the Teaching Resident Rotation.

Distinction in Medical Education

 

Pyramid showing heirarchy: Resident Teaching Skills to Teaching Resdient to DIME Pathway (highlighted) to Masters of Medical Education

The Internal Medicine Residency Distinction in Medical Education (DIME) pathway is designed for residents who are interested in becoming clinician educators or wish to include medical education as part of their professional career. The DIME curriculum provides experiences and further educational instruction beyond the current three-year longitudinal resident teaching skills curriculum by focusing on curriculum design and development, educational innovations and educational scholarship.

Learn more about the Distinction in Medical Education pathway.

 

Masters in Medical Education

Pyramid showing heirarchy: Resident Teaching Skills to Teaching Resdient to DIME Pathway to Masters of Medical Education (highlighted)The  purpose of the Master in Medical Education is to develop a community of academic medical faculty with formal training in education who will create and sustain a culture of educational excellence with the Carver College of Medicine, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, the university and the medical education community at-large.  The 30 semester hour degree brings together individuals across different departments in the Carver College of Medicine.  Learners take seven core courses, in addition to a summative educational portfolio project and electives.

Learn more about the Masters in Medical Education program.