The SGIM TEACH Program: A Curriculum for Teachers of Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Demand for faculty with teaching expertise is increasing as medical education is becoming well established as a career pathway. Junior faculty may be expected to take on teaching responsibilities with minimal training in teaching skills. Aim: To address the faculty development needs of junior clinician-educators with teaching responsibilities and those changing their career focus to include teaching. Setting: Sessions at two Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) annual meetings combined with local coaching and online learning during the intervening year. Participants: Eighty-nine faculty scholars in four consecutive annual cohorts from 2013 to 2016. Program Description: Scholars participate in a full-day core teaching course as well as selective workshops at the annual meetings. Between meetings they receive direct observation and feedback on their teaching from a local coach and participate in an online discussion group. Program Evaluation: Sessions were evaluated using a post-session survey. Overall content rating was 4.48 (out of 5). Eighty-nine percent of participants completed all requirements. Of these, 100% agreed that they had gained valuable knowledge and skills. Discussion: The TEACH certificate program provides inexperienced faculty teachers an opportunity to develop core skills. Satisfaction is high. Future research should focus on the impact that this and similar programs have on teaching skills.