Teaching by Residents

This paper stresses the importance to students and residents of committed and competent teaching by residents who nationwide provide 20% to 70% of the clinical teaching for medical students. The obstacles to teaching effectiveness by residents are the lack of: (1) sufficient role modeling by faculty; (2) time (and money); (3) knowledge of the principles of adult learning and teaching techniques; (4) service-specific learning objectives; (5) recognition of teaching efforts; and (6) resident interest in teaching. Overcoming these obstacles will require increased faculty commitment to teaching, compensation for structured educational activities, more effective use of potential teaching moments, teaching workshops for residents, development of service-specific educational objectives, and recognition of exemplary teaching by residents and faculty.