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Education FAQs for Faculty

Whether you teach in the classroom, clinic, laboratory, or operating room, Yale School of Medicine (YSM) offers resources to help you grow as an educator. These FAQs answer common questions about educator development, education scholarship, educational technology, teaching and mentoring roles, and community engagement.

  • Educator skills

    Where can I find support to improve my teaching?

    The Center for Medical Education is the home of educator development at YSM. It offers workshops, discussion groups, teaching observations, and one-on-one consultations for educators at every career stage, from novice to expert. Email centerformeded@yale.edu with questions.

    Is there a regular workshop I can join to learn practical skills for engaging learners?

    Yes. The Yale Educator Series (YES) is a year-long series of bi-monthly Friday workshops held on Zoom. Sessions offer practical ways to engage learners in lab, clinical, and classroom settings, and are open to everyone who teaches our students and trainees. Register for YES.

    Is there a group where I can discuss medical education topics with colleagues?

    Yes. The Medical Education Discussion Group (MEDG) is a monthly Thursday session on Zoom for anyone at Yale involved in, or interested in, medical education. Each session explores a timely topic through group discussion. Register for MEDG.

    Can I earn CME credit for attending these sessions?

    Yes. All YES and MEDG sessions are accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits at no cost. Recordings of past sessions are available on the Center for Medical Education website.

    Is there an event where I can connect with other educators and see their work?

    Yes. Medical Education Day at Yale is an annual, in-person event held on the first Thursday in June. It spotlights excellence, scholarship, and innovation in health professions education through a keynote, poster sessions, and awards. Registration opens in April. Learn about Medical Education Day.

    Can someone observe my teaching and give me feedback?

    Yes. Trained Center for Medical Education faculty can observe a teaching session in person, remotely, or by recording. Your observer records feedback and then meets with you privately to discuss it. Request a teaching observation.

    I direct a course. Can I use the Center’s observation tool with my faculty?

    Yes. Course directors can use the Center for Medical Education’s teaching observation form to guide feedback conversations with faculty in their course. Email centerformeded@yale.edu to schedule a one-on-one orientation to the tool.

    Can I get help designing a curriculum or assessment?

    Yes. The Center for Medical Education offers consultations on developing curricula, choosing and tailoring assessment methods, using technology to enhance teaching, and more. Request a consultation.

    I’m a clinical fellow. Is there a program to help me build my teaching skills?

    Yes. Fellows as Medical Educators (FAME) is a one-year certificate course for fellows in all departments who are interested in clinician educator careers. It runs September to April, with most sessions held virtually on Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m., and covers learning theory, teaching skills, curriculum development, and teaching observations. Learn about FAME.

    How can I get better at assessing the residents and fellows I teach?

    The Yale/ACGME Developing Faculty Competency in Assessment course helps faculty design and implement effective assessment programs for residents and fellows. The course is offered annually in the fall and combines virtual and in-person sessions. Check the CME calendar for the next session.

  • Coaching for faculty

    What coaching options can I choose from?

    The Office of Academic and Professional Development (OAPD) offers four coaching programs that support professional growth, well-being, and leadership. Two build your coaching skills (α-LEAP and The Extraordinary Coach), and two offer coaching for you (Better Together and Torch). Explore OAPD coaching programs.

    What coaching options can I choose from?

    The Office of Academic and Professional Development (OAPD) offers four coaching programs that support professional growth, well-being, and leadership. Two build your coaching skills (α-LEAP and The Extraordinary Coach), and two offer coaching for you (Better Together and Torch). Explore OAPD coaching programs.

    How can I learn to coach students and trainees?

    The α-LEAP Coaching Skills Program teaches faculty to coach through four two-hour sessions on the mindsets and communication skills of a coaching approach. No prior experience is needed. Graduates join the α-LEAP Collaborative for ongoing materials, peer mentorship, and an annual retreat. Email aleap@yale.edu to learn more.

    Can my department build its own coaching program?

    Yes. The α-LEAP team consults with department and program leaders to build internal coaching programs, such as matching trained faculty with residents or strengthening mentorship in labs. Trainees in participating departments can take a three-hour “Ready to Receive Coaching” training. Email aleap@yale.edu.

    Can I get confidential coaching for myself?

    Yes. Better Together is a free, confidential, evidence-based coaching program for all YSM faculty, including ladder, non-ladder, and research ranks. Each semester includes group coaching calls twice a week, up to four individual sessions, webinars, and self-study resources. It addresses challenges such as burnout, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism. You can enroll in fall and spring.

    Can I get one-on-one coaching to grow as a leader?

    Yes. Torch Coaching matches faculty with certified external leadership coaches for six months of unlimited one-on-one coaching. Engagements may include self and 360 assessments and an alignment meeting with your faculty leader. Torch has a cost, typically covered by faculty or department funds. Email oapd.acadprof@yale.edu to learn about fees.

    How can I build coaching skills as a faculty leader?

    The Extraordinary Coach: Coaching Skills for Faculty Leaders is a free, one-day, in-person program developed with Zenger Folkman. Leaders complete a coaching self-assessment, practice the FUEL conversation framework, and receive follow-up support. Sessions are offered several times a year. Contact Jessica Cloud at jessica.cloud@yale.edu to register.

  • Faculty mentorship

    What mentoring relationships should I have as a faculty member?

    OAPD recommends three types of relationships with senior faculty at YSM: a job supervisor, an appointment and promotion (A&P) advisor or committee, and a career mentor. These roles may be filled by one person or several, and different individuals can be helpful at different phases of your career . Learn about mentorship at YSM.

    What can I expect from each type of mentor?
    • Job supervisor: meets with you regularly about your responsibilities and gives formative feedback during the year and an annual evaluation.
    • A&P advisor or committee: advises you on activities that support reappointment or promotion, often through an annual planning meeting.
    • Career mentor: offers broader perspective and guidance on your career direction through ongoing check-ins or a focused series of meetings for a specific task or transition.
    Can mentors outside my department or Yale help?

    Yes. Many faculty benefit from mentors at other institutions. Peer and group mentoring, such as writing accountability groups, can also help with specific goals. These relationships work best as a supplement to mentoring from senior faculty at YSM, not a substitute.

    How can I find a mentor for educational scholarship?

    OAPD maintains a list of faculty across departments who are willing to mentor colleagues in educational scholarship. It includes each mentor’s department, contact information, and areas of expertise. View education scholarship mentors.

    Where can I learn to be a better mentor?

    You can watch OAPD’s mentoring workshop, presented by Sam Ball, PhD, for guidance on mentoring and being mentored.

  • Educational scholarship

    Is there a program that can help me develop an educational scholarship project?

    Yes. The Education Scholar Fellowship (ESF) is a year-long, tuition-free faculty development program in educational strategies, curriculum design, and education scholarship. Each fellow completes a mentored scholarly project and presents a poster at Medical Education Day. Fellows meet Mondays, 2:30 to 5 p.m., from mid-July to mid-May, mostly on Zoom. Learn about the fellowship.

    As a faculty member, can I earn a degree in medical education?

    Yes. The Master of Health Science in Medical Education (MHS-Med Ed) is a two-year Yale degree overseen by the Center for Medical Education, available to YSM residents, fellows, faculty, as well as those interested in mentored research at YSM with an identified Yale mentor. It is designed for those who want to build a career in medical education, such as leading courses or programs, designing curricula, or conducting and publishing education research. The program combines coursework in teaching, learning theory, and research with a mentored education research project. Explore the MHS in Medical Education.

    How can I present my work at Medical Education Day?

    Medical Education Day welcomes oral presentation and poster abstracts from Yale educators. The call for oral presentation abstracts is generally open from mid-October through mid-December, and the call for posters opens in January. Review the abstract guidelines and submit.

    I have an idea for an educational project. Can I get help studying and publishing it?

    Yes. The Center for Medical Education offers consultations to help you develop, study, and publish an educational project. Request a consultation.

    The Educational Technology & Innovation team welcomes consultations on educational technology projects. Book an ETI consultation

  • Technology

    Who can help me use technology, including AI, in my teaching?

    The Educational Technology & Innovation (ETI) team works with faculty, staff, and students to enhance teaching and learning through technology, including artificial intelligence. ETI partners with the Center for Medical Education to offer consultations and educator development sessions.

    How do I book a consultation with the ETI team?

    Email innovate.meded@yale.edu to learn more or book a 30-minute consultation.

    Are there hands-on events where I can try new teaching technology?

    Yes. ETI hosts events such as Ideathons, where faculty, staff, students, and residents build prototypes using AI and extended reality, and Citizen Developer Workshops, where non-coders learn to build practical tools within Yale’s privacy and security standards. See upcoming ETI events.

    How can I use simulation in my teaching?

    The Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation (YCHS) partners with faculty to design simulation-based curricula, scenarios, and assessment tools, delivered in the simulation lab or in clinical settings.

    Can I learn to teach with virtual or augmented reality?

    Yes. YCHS offers a Virtual Reality Instructor Course and other faculty development programs for using virtual and augmented reality in classroom and clinical teaching. View simulation faculty development.

    How do I get started teaching with simulation?

    YCHS recommends that all faculty take Fundamentals of Simulation Design and Debriefing, a half-day course for YSM and Yale New Haven Health faculty and staff. It covers scenario design, adult learning principles, and effective debriefing. View simulation faculty development.

    Can I use simulated participants in my teaching?

    Yes. YSM’s Simulated Participant (SP) Program trains people to portray patients so learners at any level can practice clinical and communication skills. The program helps design scenarios and cases to meet your learning objectives and supports simulation education research. Submit an SP Program request.

  • Teaching in our programs

    How can I teach in the MD or PA Program?

    Faculty teach across the MD Program curriculum and the Physician Associate (PA) Program, in classrooms, small groups, clinical skills sessions, and clerkships. Visit each program’s site to meet curriculum leaders and learn where faculty are needed.

    Which system will I use to collect student assessments and feedback?

    You’ll use Elentra, the learning management system, for the MD and PA programs. Faculty, preceptors, and longitudinal coaches use it to collect student assessments and feedback. This is just one of Elentra’s many uses in education, which also include sharing course materials, scheduling, and attendance tracking.

    How can I teach residents and fellows in my specialty?

    YSM sponsors residency and fellowship programs across many specialties. Explore residencies and fellowships to connect with the program director in your field.

    Can I serve on an MD Program committee?

    Yes. Faculty serve on MD Program committees, including admissions, academic progress, thesis, educational policy and curriculum, and curriculum review committees. Curriculum review committees, for example, work with course, clerkship, and elective directors to review and improve the curriculum. The deputy dean for education solicits nominations for MD Program committee membership annually in the spring. See MD Program committees.

    Can I coach an MD student throughout medical school?

    Yes. Each MD student is assigned a longitudinal coach. Coaches review a student’s assessments, feedback, and self-reflections with them, track progress toward the MD Program competencies, and help set goals and action plans. Learn about the Coaching Program.

    How can I advise and connect with MD and PA students outside the classroom?

    YSM’s six advisory houses are a home base for MD and PA students’ advising and community building. As an Advisory House affiliate, you can connect with students as advisors and mentors, and take part in house events and career conversations. Learn about the Advisory Houses.

    Can I advise a student interest group?

    Yes. Student interest groups connect medical students with faculty mentors in a specialty or area of interest. Faculty advisors help guide group activities, research, and hands-on learning. Find student group opportunities.

  • Mentoring and advising students

    How can I become a thesis advisor or research mentor?

    Every YSM MD student completes a thesis, and faculty mentors guide them from research question to final approval. Mentors help shape a feasible project, meet with students regularly, give feedback on proposals and drafts, and attend Student Research Day. Review mentor responsibilities and resources.

    Can I mentor an incoming medical student over the summer?

    Yes. START@Yale (Summer To Advance Research Training @ Yale) pairs incoming medical students with faculty research mentors during the summer before their first year. The program runs from mid-June to early August and includes lab work, journal clubs, and a final symposium. Mentors should be available during the summer. Learn about mentoring for START@Yale.

    Can I host a Yale undergraduate in my clinic?

    Yes. The Yale Undergraduate Ambulatory Observership Program places Yale undergraduates interested in health professions careers with clinicians in ambulatory settings. Clinicians from all specialties are welcome. Sign up to host a student.

    Can I mentor students in a concentration?

    Yes. MD and MD-PhD students can choose concentrations in Biomedical Ethics, Medical Education, or Medical Humanities. Each includes coursework, a practicum, and a scholarly project guided by a faculty mentor. For example, Medical Education Concentration students complete teaching practicums with mentorship from faculty experienced in education scholarship.

    Who can help me with questions about my student’s thesis?

    Your Departmental Thesis Chair can help. Thesis chairs lead student research within their departments. They help connect students with mentors, review theses, and approve deadline extensions, working with the Office of Student Research.

  • Continuing education

    Where can I find continuing education in my field?

    Yale Continuing Education for Healthcare Professionals, part of the Center for Medical Education, is accredited by the ACCME. It offers regularly scheduled series, conferences, online courses, and in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs for health professionals. Explore Continuing Education or subscribe to alerts in your field.

    Can I develop a CME-accredited series or conference?

    Yes. Yale Continuing Education for Healthcare Professionals works with departments to plan accredited activities, including grand rounds and other regularly scheduled series. Contact Continuing Education to get started.

  • Special interests

    How can I get involved in biomedical ethics?

    The Program for Biomedical Ethics hosts lectures, seminars, and events, such as the annual Thomas P. Duffy Lecture in Medical Ethics. Faculty can attend events, teach, and guide scholarly projects for students in the Biomedical Ethics Concentration.

    How can I get involved in the medical humanities?

    The Program for Humanities in Medicine uses art, music, literature, writing, history, and more to enrich the practice of medicine. Faculty can join events and workshops, and mentor students in the Medical Humanities Concentration.

    How can I bring health equity content into my teaching?

    Health equity content is woven throughout the YSM curriculum. The Health Equity team partners with course leaders and faculty to integrate this content and offers faculty development through retreats, workshops, and one-on-one consultations.

    How can I bring global health into my teaching?

    The Office of Global Health Education supports students pursuing global health through the Global Health Certificate, global clinical electives, and research fellowships. Faculty can teach, advise, and host events with student groups. Designated Global Health Faculty Advisors in several departments also help students find mentors for global health projects. Learn about global health at YSM or become a Global Health mentor or advisor.

    How can I bring nutrition into my teaching?

    YSM has formalized nutrition education across the MD curriculum, with longitudinal content on diet and disease, dietary counseling, and patient education. The Nutrition discipline leader works with course directors to integrate this content across the curriculum. Read about nutrition in the curriculum.

    How can I teach palliative and end-of-life care?

    The Yale Interprofessional Palliative Care Educational Program combines online clinical cases with faculty-led workshops. All second-year students also observe an experienced hospice or palliative care clinician evaluate a patient with terminal illness. Faculty can lead workshops or host student observations.

  • Document your contributions

    How do I get credit for my teaching on my CV?

    List your teaching and educational roles, such as courses taught, mentoring, advising, and committee service, in Part 2 of your Yale CV (CV2). CV2 is part of the materials reviewed for appointment and promotion. Review CV2 guidance.

    Why should I keep my teaching evaluations?

    Teaching evaluations document the quality and impact of your teaching and can support your appointment and promotion. Save them as you receive them so they are easy to find when you need them. Learn about teaching evaluations.

    Can I be recognized for excellent teaching?

    Yes. YSM presents annual teaching awards at MD Commencement, such as the Charles W. Bohmfalk Prizes, the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, and the Alvan R. Feinstein Award. A selection committee of faculty, staff, past winners, and students chooses recipients from nominations. See teaching awards and eligibility.

  • Supporting students

    How do I report a concern about the learning environment?

    The Learning Environment Subcommittee reviews reports of curriculum-based harassment, mistreatment, and bias, and recommends improvements. Learn more about addressing concerns.

    Where can I refer a student who needs support?

    The Office of Student Affairs is the central resource for MD students on academic, career, and well-being concerns. Students can also connect with Student Mental Health and Wellness and Student Accessibility Services.

  • Community

    How can I support pathway programs for local students?

    Faculty can mentor New Haven students who are interested in health careers. The Simulation Academy at Yale (SAY-YES!) is a two-year afterschool program for New Haven high school students, with mentoring from students, fellows, and faculty. The Office of Collaborative Excellence and Student Engagement offers additional pathway programs.

    How can I support the HAVEN Free Clinic?

    HAVEN is a student-run free clinic that provides free healthcare to New Haven residents. Faculty can support the clinic by volunteering and helping supervise student care teams. Learn about the HAVEN Free Clinic.

    Can I volunteer with a community health screening program?

    Yes. The Neighborhood Health Project (NHP) offers free hypertension and diabetes screenings and education for underserved New Haven residents. Faculty oversee student volunteers on Saturdays at 57 Olive Street. Get involved with NHP.

  • Support offices

    Which offices support me as an educator?
    • PA Program: teaching, student advising, mentorship
    Can I find teaching support beyond YSM?

    Yes. The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning offers university-wide teaching resources for Yale faculty. Visit its website to learn more.

    How can I stay informed about educator events and news?

    The Medical Education newsletter shares upcoming workshops, deadlines, and news from across YSM education programs. You can also browse upcoming events on the Center for Medical Education website.

    Other ways to stay informed:

    Can the Medical Library help with my teaching and scholarship?

    Yes. The Cushing/Whitney Medical Library offers trainings, such as protocol writing for systematic and scoping reviews, along with research and education resources. See library training sessions.