A framework for developing excellence as a clinical educator

The current emphasis on providing quality undergraduate and postgraduate me dical education has focused attention on the educational responsibilities o f all doctors. There is a greater awareness of the need to train doctors as educators and courses have been set up to satisfy this need. Some courses, such as those on how to conduct appraisal, are specific to one task facing a medical educator. Other courses take a broader view and relate education al theory to practice. In this paper we describe an outcome-based approach in which competence in teaching is defined in terms of 12 learning outcomes . The framework provides a holistic approach to the roles of the teacher an d supports the professionalism of teaching. Such a framework provides the b asis for the development of a curriculum for teaching excellence. It helps to define important competences for different categories of teachers, commu nicate the areas to be addressed in a course, identify gaps in course provi sion, evaluate courses, assist in staff planning and allow individuals to a ssess their personal learning needs. The framework is presented to encourag e wider debate.