Why We Find It Worthwhile to Teach Medical Students

By Williams, Alex

There are many benefits to teaching medical students in the practice, explains Dr Alex Williams

With the development of a medical school in the south west peninsula, there was a need for an additional teaching facility in the local community.

Because we have a longestablished record as a training practice, it seemed a natural extension of our work to include training medical students.

The students adopt a problem-based-learning approach, and so are keen to see patients with particular problems to build up a portfolio of learning around that particular topic.

The students spend several days at a practice during which they sit in on surgeries with the partners.

Learning for ourselves

There is considerable opportunity for learning and teaching with young, enthusiastic, intelligent individuals around.

The question ‘why do you do that?’ will lead you to question the origins of your own clinical practice.

Students may be more upto-date with anatomy, physiology or biochemistry and may themselves be able to impart knowledge.

There is, however, a downside because young, freshfaced students can make you feel your age.

Practice benefits

Apart from putting something back, there are a number of benefits for the practice including laying the seeds for future GP registrars and, ultimately, partners which, in a time of dwindling enthusiasm for a career in primary care, may be invaluable for recruiting in the future.

If the students like our practice they may tell their friends, and word soon gets around.

The financial rewards are not great but each student attracts a fee of 170 per session. Not huge, but every little helps.

This allows partners who are teaching to have protected time to attend courses and educational events. Teachers of medical students attract the same five full days of ‘special’ study leave to attend trainers workshops as are available to those training GP registrars.

Career development

Because the medical school is in the early stages of development, there may be openings for positions in the educational hierarchy.

It is possible to obtain qualifications in education, such as the diploma of the Institute of Learning and Teaching.

One step ahead

Keeping up to date with new developments can be exciting, challenging and rewarding. We have a good track record as a practice because we are a research and development practice, a training practice, initially PMS and now holding our commissioning budgets.

New developments have a tendency to put you one step ahead and usually augment existing services.

Dr Alex Williams: ‘Teaching can lead you to question clinical practices’

Dr Williams is a GP in Exeter, Devon

Copyright Haymarket Business Publications Ltd. Oct 7, 2005