Doctors as Educators: Choice or Necessity in Medical Training

Medical doctors are not inherently required to teach college or medical students. While many do take up teaching roles voluntarily, this choice is typically driven by individual interests, career goals, and institutional requirements. Let's explore the nuances of this decision and the roles doctors can play in medical education.

The Choice to Teach

The decision to teach in medicine is voluntary and can vary widely. Doctors in academic settings often have a combination of clinical, research, and teaching responsibilities. However, the extent of teaching can differ greatly based on personal preferences, institutional expectations, and career paths.

Some doctors choose to focus solely on clinical practice, dedicating their time and energy entirely to patient care. Others, particularly those in academic medical centers, may be deeply involved in education and training. Teaching faculty members often hold advanced degrees like MPhil or PhD, which provide them with the necessary academic background and research experience to excel in educational roles. Conversely, consultants may or may not have such degrees but are distinguished by their specialized clinical expertise.

A Detailed Look at My Practice

My own career has been focused on the Cardiac Cath Lab, where we work tirelessly to save heart attack victims around the clock. The Cath Lab has a critical mission, requiring us to adhere to rigorous standards for prompt and effective care. Our "door to balloon" time goal is to reopen a blocked artery within 90 minutes of a patient's arrival, which often means a significant portion of that time is spent transporting patients, evaluations, and preparations.

I collaborate closely with three other Interventional Cardiologists who ensure 24/7 coverage in the lab for both elective and urgent/emergent cardiac procedures. My responsibilities also include supervising and training a staff of around 35 Cardiac techs and RNs. This role leaves me with little time to oversee or teach medical students, residents, or fellows. Occasionally, I do work with Cardiology Fellows, but this is far from my primary teaching burden.

My main teaching responsibilities focus on advanced training of recently trained, more experienced Interventional Cardiologists. This involved hands-on mentoring rather than formal classroom instruction.

A Shared Responsibility in Medical Education

The training of medical students, residents, fellows, and younger attending physicians is a shared responsibility among the experienced medical staff. Different roles and levels of experience contribute to the training process, reflecting the diverse nature of medical practice.

Most individuals, ideally, have minimal need to understand or be part of the medical world on a routine basis. The best advice for healthy individuals or those with controlled chronic medical conditions is to maintain regular visits to their physicians in the office.

Conclusion

The decision to teach in medicine is a personal choice that aligns with individual career aspirations and responsibilities. For doctors who do choose to teach, it often comes with advanced degrees and a deep commitment to both clinical and educational pursuits. However, for those focused on clinical practice, the heavy demands of their work leave little time for teaching responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some doctors choose to teach? Doctors who choose to teach often have a strong passion for education and enjoy sharing their knowledge with the next generation of healthcare professionals. What is the role of experienced medical staff in teaching? Experienced doctors play a crucial role in training by guiding, mentoring, and providing practical experience to medical students, residents, fellows, and younger attending physicians. Do all doctors have the same teaching responsibilities? No, the extent of teaching responsibilities varies among doctors based on their individual focus, career paths, and institutional requirements.