Dynamic Opportunities for Medical Students to Assume the Roles of “Medical Teacher”

Abstract

The traditional undergraduate medical education curriculum focuses on bolstering knowledge for practice and building clinical skills. However, as future clinicians, medical students will be tasked with teaching throughout their careers, first as residents and then as attendings. Here, we describe teaching opportunities for students that foster their development as future teachers and potential clinician educators. These offerings are diverse in their focus and duration and are offered across various levels of the curriculum — including course-based learning, longitudinal electives, and extra-curricular opportunities for medical students who have a passion for teaching.