Medical students often face challenges transitioning from classroom to clerkships due to limited preparation materials. A group of researchers from Yale introduced a student-led Internal Medicine clerkship orientation bootcamp and accompanying survival guide, and assessed its efficacy in improving student confidence prior to clerkships.
The bootcamp covered topics such as clerkship logistics, the basics of gathering and presenting clinical information, and how to effectively contribute to the medical team. Students found that the bootcamp and survival guide were highly beneficial, particularly for understanding clinical presentations and expectations for student contributions to the team.
This bootcamp was uniquely impactful due to it being led primarily by medical students and residents, helping to enhance clerkship preparation and foster a supportive learning environment. The bootcamp's success led to its integration into mandatory clerkship training, with plans to expand its content both within the internal medicine clerkship and to other specialties like surgery and obstetrics/gynecology as well.
To learn more, read the study, “Teaching Sideways: Implementing a Peer-Led Medical Student Orientation Bootcamp and Survival Guide for Internal Medicine Clerkship.”
Ramakrishnan, D., Ilagan-Ying, Y. C., Bollinger, B., & Dunne, D. (2024). Teaching Sideways: Implementing a Peer-Led Medical Student Orientation Bootcamp and Survival Guide for Internal Medicine Clerkship. SMJ, 117(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.14423/smj.0000000000001638