A Qualitative Study on the Outcomes of Participation in a Longitudinal Clinician Educator Curriculum During Internal Medicine Residency

Abstract

Background Despite increasing prevalence of longitudinal clinician educator tracks (CETs) within graduate medical education (GME) programs, the outcomes of these curricula and how participation in these tracks affects early career development remains incompletely understood. Objective To describe the experience and outcomes of participating in a CET and its effects on recent internal medicine residency graduates’ perceived educator skills and early career development. Methods We conducted a qualitative study between July 2019 and January 2020 using in-depth semi-structured interviews of recently graduated physicians from 3 internal medicine residencies at one academic institution who had participated in a CET, the Clinician Educator Distinction (CED). Iterative interviews and data analysis was performed via an inductive, constructionist, thematic analysis approach by 3 researchers to develop a coding and thematic structure. Results were sent electronically to participants for member checking. Results From 21 (out of 29 eligible) participants, thematic sufficiency was reached at 17 interviews. Four themes related to the CED experience were identified: (1) motivation to go beyond the expectations of residency; (2) educator development outcomes from Distinction participation; (3) factors enabling curricular efficacy; and (4) opportunities for program improvement. A flexible curriculum with experiential learning, observed teaching with feedback, and mentored scholarship allowed participants to enhance teaching and education scholarship skills, join a medical education community, transform professional identities from teachers to educators, and support clinician educator careers. Conclusions This qualitative study of internal medicine graduates identified key themes surrounding participation in a CET during training, including positively perceived educator development outcomes and themes surrounding educator identity formation.