Oct 3, 2019
Dr. Bruce Morgenstern is the Vice Dean of Academic and Clinical Affairs at Roseman University College of Medicine and President for the Alliance for Clinical Education (ACE). His medical history as a board-certified pediatric nephrologist led him on his path to becoming the Clerkship Director for Pediatrics at Mayo, working with The Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics (COMSEP), and he eventually became the President of ACE which collaborates with numerous medical education associations.
Preceptors: Dr. Morgenstern believes in medical education and the importance of precepting for healthcare students. Physicians should be encouraged to seek out faculty development training if available to them if they wish to continue to progress in their mentorship roles. However, the most important aspect of any student-teacher relationship is setting clear expectations early on. He also confirms the importance of a basic education model, such as the one-minute preceptor model, in medical education. Though many preceptors may not be aware of the exact model, they often implement a similar structure into their educational environment.
Students: Dr. Morgenstern feels students should also express their level of education to preceptors early on. This helps to facilitate material being disseminated in a manner appropriate for each individual’s level of education. Students that lay out their hopes for the rotation or that discuss topics they would like to learn more about are more likely to receive specific training. Those that don’t may fall the wayside.
When asking for a Letter of Recommendation (LoR), it is best to ask a preceptor that knows the “unwritten code” of a strong letter. Many physicians may have good intentions, but do not always know what current residency directors are looking for. Also, do not ask “will you write me an” LoR, but instead specify that you are looking for a “strong” LoR. This can make all the difference in the preceptor's interpretation of your desire for that field and the letter.
Keep updated with education meetings via the ACE Calendar.
For more education information, check out the Medical Mnemonist Podcast or other shows in the network via the InsideTheBoards (ITB) website. For those earlier in their education, we recommend our book, Read This Before Medical School. For board-review and q-bank questions, iOS users can download the freemium ITB Audio Q-bank or join the conversation via the ITB Slack Community!
*Please note my mistake in calling it the Alliance for Clinical EducatORS in the audio when, in fact, it is the Alliance for Clinical EducatION.