Student Observership Policy, revised, Sept. 28, 2011
Approved by MD-PEC on October 28, 2010
Revisions proposed to UGME Curriculum Committee, and accepted by UGME Curriculum Committee, Sept. 28, 2011
1.0 Background
Queen’s medical students can derive many benefits from participation in self-directed clinical experiences early in their training. The observership program is designed to make such opportunities available to all pre-clerkship students.
1.1 Definition
A student observership is defined as a minimum half-day (4 hours) self-directed learning experience spent with a Queen’s University faculty member in a clinical setting. Observerships only occur during Year 1 or 2 of undergraduate medical training.
1.2 Purpose
The Student Observership policy sets forth the guiding principles that shall govern participation in an observership. It makes explicit the responsibility of students and articulates the rules and procedures to be followed.
1.3 Learning Objectives
Exposure to clinical practice settings through observerships is very valuable to students in the first and second medical years. Participation fulfills these objectives:
1) Integrate observations from authentic clinical settings into career planning and goal setting
2) Learn appropriate professional behaviours through observation of practicing physicians
3) Provide opportunities for self-directed independent learning through implementation of personal choices for observership selection and reflection upon observerships
4) Re-enforce interest/motivation for pursuing a career in medicine by providing exposure to authentic clinical settings
5) Provide opportunities to understand, apply and synthesize prior learning in authentic clinical settings
1.4 Procedure for Participating in an Observership
It is the sole responsibility of students to set specific learning objectives and goals for observerships and to make arrangements to participate in an observership. This is done by contacting a clinician and arranging a mutually convenient time for the observership to occur.
Students are required to use the appropriate forms (see Forms on UGME website) to request and confirm attendance at observerships. Confirmation of Attendance forms are submitted within one week of observerships.
Students participating in Observerships outside Canada are required to follow the International Process Guidelines located on the UGME website and to obtain approval prior to commencement of any activity.
1.5 Regulations
a) Participation in observerships is compulsory. Students must complete eight observerships in different medical specialties by the end of Year 2. The Family Medicine After Hours Clinic Observership may count as one of these observerships. (Application procedure for this is through Dept. of Family Medicine.) Students may participate in additional observerships beyond eight, but these will not be officially recognized. Suggestions regarding eligible experiences are provided on the form.
b) Two of the eight observerships should have a primarily interprofessional focus. This means that the observership should be completed with a view to better understanding the approach of a non-physician health professional (e.g. nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dentist, pharmacist, paramedic, social worker, dietician, etc.) to healthcare delivery.
c) For-credit observerships may only be undertaken with Queen’s clinical faculty members, with the exception of the Interprofessional Observerships. If a student wishes to complete an observership in a medical specialty not available at Queen’s, students should seek permission from the UGME Office.
d) Students are not expected to participate in an observership during compulsory curriculum time or learning events.
e) Students cannot complete more than one official observership in any given discipline (specialty or subspecialty).
f) While extended observerships lasting longer than one half day are possible, any single observership can only be counted as one of eight.
g) Student activities are under the direction of the attending physician. The students are not expected to perform any clinical duties during an observership.
h) It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that eight observerships are completed and all Confirmation of Attendance forms are submitted before the end of second year.
1.6 Assessment
The UGME Office is responsible for tracking and collating Observership Confirmation of Attendance Forms. Eight of the forms will be included in the student MSPR. Additional analyses and reflections of the observerships will be submitted through the Portfolio process.
1.7 Oversight
With the support of the UGME Office, the Observership Program is supervised by the Director of Career Counseling who will review and deal individually with any incidents of noncompliance as well as any other concerns or issues that may arise.
