Preparation of GME Trainees, Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Fellows and Non-Faculty Instructors as Teachers

Date: February 21, 2024
Number: 4.300
Status: Final

Contact Office:
Assistant Dean for Medical Education
School of Medicine, Office of Educational Affairs
PO Box 800005
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0005
Phone: 434-243-2522

Oversight Executive:
Senior Associate Dean for Education
PO Box 800005
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0005
Phone: 434-243-2522

Applies to:
Graduate Medical Education (“GME”) trainees, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other non-faculty instructors who teach medical students in the required courses and clerkships.

Reason for Policy:
The faculty of the University of Virginia School of Medicine educates and trains physicians who will provide care and treatment that will assist others in attaining healthy lives and scientists who will conduct research to advance knowledge in the biomedical sciences. GME trainees, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other non-faculty instructors who supervise or teach medical students must be prepared for their roles in teaching and assessment, and must be familiar with the education program objectives and learning objectives of the course or clerkship where they supervise or teach in the curriculum.

Policy Statement:
All incoming GME trainees must receive residents-as-teachers training to prepare them for their roles in the teaching and assessment of medical students. The training must include educational program objectives and the learning objectives of the course or clerkship where they supervise or teach.

The Office of Educational Affairs, the Graduate Medical Education Office and the Curriculum Committee jointly monitor mandatory teaching preparation programs.

Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other non-faculty instructors who teach medical students must be oriented to that teaching by the faculty members who conduct the educational activity and who directly oversee the individuals performing the teaching. The orientation must include discussion of program objectives as well as content. No graduate students are involved in supervision or assessment of medical students.

Revision History: Implemented 11/9/15; reviewed without change 3/4/20, administrative updates 2/21/24.

Approved 2/21/24 by
Melina Kibbe, MD
Dean