Development of a joint clerkship sponsored by two departments: Lessons learned

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe the problems and associated solutions involved in the development and implementation of a 3rd‐year clerkship jointly operated by the Department of Surgery and the Department of Internal Medicine.

Summary: Both departments had previously conducted their own clerkships, and each had different degrees of experiences with problem‐based learning in undergraduate education. During the development of the joint clerkship, several problems arose; solutions required compromise and communication.

Conclusions: The authors make the following recommendations for others who may be planning such a joint effort: open sharing of different experiences; sufficient staff support; flexibility and respect for other perspectives; adequate training and assistance for faculty members; development of a core content curriculum; support from administrators, chairpersons, and faculty members; and communication within and between departments.