STFM Sponsors Predoctoral Directors Development Institute

Imagine yourself as a faculty member in a family medicine department tasked with administrative responsibilities consistent with the role of a predoctoral director, such as oversight of the courses and advising programs offered to medical students. Although you may have a few years of experience with predoctoral teaching, you may feel you need more help to develop in your role and advance in your career. Now you have an opportunity for this training through a program called the Predoctoral Directors Development Institute or PDDI, sponsored by STFM.

The inaugural session of the PDDI occurred in 2007. Twenty-six registrants were supported by their respective chairs to attend the institute, giving evidence for the importance of this program in meeting the needs of academic departments of family medicine. Roughly patterned after similar programs for residency program directors, the PDDI offered 2 separate days of instruction, scheduled in conjunction with the STFM Predoctoral Education Conference and with the STFM Annual Spring Conference. The topics covered included:

• Roles and activities of predoctoral directors

• Curriculum development and evaluation

• Learner observation, assessment, and feedback

• Care and feeding of preceptors

• Scholarship/promotion/publications

• Grant writing/extramural funding 101

• Promoting student interest and knowledge of family medicine

• Negotiation skills

In addition to the formal curriculum, fellows in the PDDI were tasked with developing a project unique to their home institution and their own personal needs. Through advising sessions and assigned counseling by experienced predoctoral faculty, the fellows developed their projects for submission to future STFM conferences. The combination of face-to-face sessions at the 2 meetings and ongoing communication with advisors was designed to allow critical networking relationships to develop.

This is what some of the participants had to say:

I have been involved in pre-doc education for more than 10 years. The PDDI was exactly what I needed in my professional development. There have been numerous resources, ideas, and contacts that I have made which have been invaluable to me. The PDDI rejuvenated me in my work.

This fellowship offers a great resource for new or aspiring predoctoral directors to gain insight and crucial knowledge about this position/role. The information presented was invaluable and will help in all aspects of my career.

Extremely helpful overall. There was a great deal of knowledge shared in the lectures. The collaborative group discussions interspersed with the lectures allowed for processing and building on information provided. Small-group discussions were very valuable mentoring opportunities.

Focused, informative, and helpful experience to support work of predoc directors and those engaged in medical education. Connections with course faculty and fellow predoc directors was both encouraging and maturating.

This was an extremely valuable experience. It was targeted toward my needs & interests. The faculty was dedicated, knowledgeable, and excellent facilitators.

The second annual PDDI will be held in 2008, again in conjunction with the STFM Predoctoral Education Conference in Portland, Ore, and with the STFM Annual Spring Conference in Baltimore. Registration is available through the STFM Web site at http://www.stfm.org/predocinstitute/index.htm.

Questions about the Institute can be addressed to the PDDI Steering Committee:

• © 2007 Annals of Family Medicine, Inc.