Using formal evaluation sessions for case-based faculty development duringclinical clerkships

Developing housestaff and faculty in their roles as medical educators is a dynamic process. The rigorous clinical evaluation method used during the th ird-year internal medicine clerkship at the Uniformed Services University u niquely incorporates faculty development into the process of evaluation and generating feedback for students. Formal evaluation sessions are held mont hly at all clerkship sites throughout the 12-week clerkship and are moderat ed by either the internal medicine clerkship director or the on-site clerks hip directors, Although designed to provide an opportunity for faculty to e valuate student performance and prepare formative feedback, the sessions al so function as formal, planned, and longitudinal forums Of "real-time," "ca se-based" faculty development that address professional, instructional, and leadership development. The evaluation sessions are used as a means to mod el and teach the key concepts of the Stanford Faculty Development Program. Providing a unifying form of evaluation across multiple teaching sites and settings makes formal evaluation sessions a powerful, state-of-the-art tool for faculty development.