Medical Student Perceptions of Effective and Ineffective Educators during their Surgical Clerkship

Purpose While the operative experience is a core component of the surgical clerkship, studies have suggested interactions with strong teachers and mentors have the most significant impact on a student’s decision to pursue a surgical career. The goal of this study was to identify qualities of effective and ineffective educators from a medical student’s perspective and clarify successful educational techniques that can significantly impact medical students’ surgery clerkship experiences. Methods We conducted a qualitative analysis of all medical student Surgery clerkship evaluations of resident physicians and surgery faculty from 2018 to 2022 at four HMS affiliated tertiary care centers. We utilized grounded theory as a means of exploring and interpreting our data. Qualitative analysis was conducted with two reviewers per the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist guidelines for qualitative research. Results A total of 1,378 faculty evaluations were analyzed with a Cohen’s Kappa of 0.85, indicating excellent inter-rater reliability. The analysis revealed six key themes that resonated with medical students during surgical clerkships: Enabling Student Involvement, Investment in Student Learners, Positive Team Environment, High Yield Teaching, Clinical Role Models, and Personal Connection. Students valued educators who allowed independence, advocated for their involvement, and engaged with them both inside and outside the operating room. Effective educators prioritized educational experiences, set clear expectations, and provided feedback. They also shaped the team environment by including students and acknowledging their contributions. Successful teaching strategies included high-yield chalk-talks, multi-modal activities, and personalized topics. Students appreciated educators who demonstrated clinical excellence and sought personal connections, valuing mentorship and efforts to know them as individuals. Conclusions Surgical residents and attendings play a significant role in shaping the educational experience of medical students on the surgical clerkship. Based on our findings, we developed the “Surgical Educator’s Compass” to provide practical guidelines for educator interventions to incorporate varied teaching strategies, involve medical students, and maximize student education during the surgical clerkship.