Element 3.1 – Resident Participation in Medical Student Education

Each medical student in a medical education program participates in one or more required clinical experiences conducted in a health care setting in which he or she works with resident physicians currently enrolled in an accredited program of graduate medical education.

Hidden Curriculum

This element emphasizes the importance of medical students gaining insight into residency expectations before they apply. This means they should have a clear understanding of what is expected in their chosen specialty and ideally have had the opportunity to work with a resident in that field. If there is a required rotation with no residents – you are expected to provide a means for them to interact with residents – e.g. panel presentation, lunch etc.

Best Practice

Medical students should be exposed to the daily responsibilities and workload of residents, as this is the next step in their medical training. However, the LCME does not specify where or how this exposure should take place. It could happen in various settings, such as clinical rotations, mentorship programs, or shadowing experiences. Every medical student at your institution should complete multiple required clinical experiences working with residents.

Make sure your medical students have the opportunity to interact with residents in most of their required core clerkships. While residents may not be formally involved in some clerkships, students should still engage with them in various settings where they learn about residency expectations and requirements for different specialties. In certain clerkships, students can interact informally with residents, gaining insight into residency training through direct patient care, didactic sessions, and mentorship opportunities.

It is also recommended that your medical students have access to faculty members who can provide guidance on residency training. Make sure clerkship directors, residency program leadership, and designated faculty mentors are available to answer questions about specific specialties. Some institutions may also offer optional sessions during clerkships to help students understand residency expectations and prepare for the transition to postgraduate training.

Continuous Quality Improvement

As part of the clerkship annual review process, we propose adding a question to the annual review form to systematically collect data on resident participation in medical student education. This will help assess and enhance the integration of residents into student learning experiences.

Proposed Question for Annual Review Form:

1. Will all medical students have the opportunity to work with residents in the clinical setting?  Yes / No
2. If no, please describe how medical students are introduced to the expectations and requirements of the next phase of their training.

This data will support ongoing evaluation and improvements in clerkship experiences, ensuring that students receive adequate preparation for residency.