Celebrating Our Clinical Faculty
On August 28, the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine brought together clinical teaching faculty and preceptors from across the Fraser region for an afternoon of learning, connection and preparation for the year ahead.
As members of the School's inaugural clinical teaching cohort, these educators will play an important role in supporting the first class of medical students. The onboarding session was designed to provide preceptors and clinical teaching faculty with a shared understanding of the MD program and the learning experiences students will encounter across a range of settings, including classroom-based learning, clinical environments, and community-engaged learning. It also created opportunities for participants to connect with one another, build relationships, and foster collaboration across different areas of the school and curriculum.
The afternoon began with lunch and informal conversation before moving into an overview of the school’s philosophy, values, curriculum and approach to teaching. Participants also heard from teams supporting education across the school, including assessment, research, Indigenous Health and faculty education and support.
The group then moved into smaller rotations, giving participants the opportunity to learn more about the different teaching approaches that will shape students’ learning. Sessions covered all nine learning modalities within the MD program, providing participants with an overview of how students learn across diverse educational settings, including case-based learning, small circle learning, large group learning, clinical skills and simulation, lab learning, community-engaged learning, continuity clinic, the scholarly curriculum and independent learning.
The format was intentionally interactive. Moving between spaces and working in smaller groups gave participants opportunities to ask questions, share ideas and connect with colleagues in a more informal setting. They also had the chance to explore the Surrey campus and some of the spaces where they will teach, including hands-on opportunities to engage with tools used in clinical skills and simulation.
Throughout the afternoon, there was a strong sense of curiosity and enthusiasm as educators learned more about the school and one another. By the end of the session, participants had a clearer picture of the year ahead and the many ways they will contribute to the learning experience of the school’s inaugural class.
