May 15, 2019

Call for preceptors for undergraduate Physician Experience course

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The Physician Scientist Development Office seeks volunteer preceptors to assist with its Physician Experience course (PSDO 230), which is designed for highly qualified undergraduates interested in careers in medicine and research. The purpose of the course is to provide practical information on what a career in medicine entails, the steps involved in becoming a physician and experiences to inform their potential interests. A portion of the course grade involves completing shadowing experiences in various clinical settings.

Unlike other types of trainees, this undergrad cohort does not require much of a preceptor’s time, and they do not need additional workspace when shadowing. The students are generally very excited just to get a look at what happens in the clinic/hospital. The students are required to complete all necessary documentation through UAB employee health. HIPAA and professionalism training are also built into the course.

There is no documentation required from the preceptor—just a designated time and place for the student to shadow. There is also no minimum commitment required for any potential preceptor. For this course, students are expected to shadow 20-40 hours over the semester, but they spread those hours across various clinical settings such as the ED, OR, ICU, radiology, etc. Each student is encouraged to shadow 2-4 times with one preceptor to get a bit more insight into a given specialty. At the end of the semester, they generate a poster characterizing the specialty the most interests them.

Nathan Erdmann, M.D., Ph.D., who created and currently leads the course, encourages physicians to participate. “We take a blunt approach with these students,” said Erdmann. “Rather than joining the chorus telling them to go and be a doctor, we’re showing them the challenges it involves and pushing them to understand the career path in a deeper way, blemishes and all.” Erdmann also points out that the course is significant in that it helps students who may not be from medical families connect with providers to gain experiences that will give them a better understanding of the field.

Setting up shadowing times is simple. The PSDO would email an interested preceptor, CC the student and summarize the student’s general availability. From there, the preceptor (or their administrative assistant) can communicate with the student to coordinate timing for the shadowing opportunity.

If you’re interested in participating as a preceptor, please send an email to Eve Markovitz at emarkovitz@uabmc.edu.

The PSDO asks that each interested clinician provide:

• A brief description of clinical duties (what type of patients and/or procedures you are typically involved with)

• When your clinical duties generally take place (OR days, clinic days, AM vs PM, weeks/months of ward service)

• The most convenient way for the PSDO to arrange a shadowing experience with you (directly, via an assistant, email, phone, etc.)