NeuroVoices: Marie Eugene, DO, on Career Development for Clerkship Directors

Marie Eugene, DO, MSHPE

The inaugural meeting of the Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN), set to take place September 14, in Orlando, Florida, features an array of educational sessions, discussions, workshops, and presentations geared towards neurology chairs, program directors, clerkship directors, and more. The event, which takes place a day before the 149th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA), allows for several different networking opportunities and learning experiences for academic leaders in the field.

One of the earlier sessions, moderated by Marie Eugene, DO, MSHPE, focuses on career development for clerkship directors, a critical member of the medical workforce who assists in the education and training of medical students. Neurology clerkship director can have several different responsibilities, including curriculum development and management, student evaluation and feedback, clinical training, and mentorship and support, among others. In addition, they may have a direct hand in advocacy and leadership, research and scholarship, and interdisciplinary integration.

As part of a new iteration of NeuroVoices, Eugene, neurologist and clerkship director at the University of Connecticut, gave an overview on the ever-evolving role of clerkship directors and the career development opportunities they hold. She discussed the benefits in having an effective clerkship director and the personal achievements that come with the position. Furthermore, she provided insight as whether the structure of certain institutions may force clinicians to feel siloed in to their position or ultimately unaware of other career opportunities. 

NeurologyLive®: Can you provide an overview of your upcoming session and why this was a topic of interest?

Marie Eugene, DO, MSHPE: We considered various topics. The topic for this clerkship director workshop at the upcoming AUPN meeting in September is career development for clerkship directors. Often, as clerkship directors, we discuss improving curriculum, feedback, and mentoring students. I thought it was a good time to think about developing our own careers as clerkship directors. After talking to some colleagues in the AUPN, we recognized the increasing importance of the medical educator role. A medical educator not only teaches but is also engaged in educational scholarship and oversees educational experiences in neurology for medical students, often with a clinical component in the later half of medical school. This role has evolved both locally at individual medical schools and nationally. We decided to talk to leaders in medical education who are neurologists to get their take on the next steps for clerkship directors who have been in the role for more than five years. We want to explore what other roles are open in medical education and how to pursue broader roles.

How has the role of clerkship director evolved over time?

The role has definitely evolved for the better. Medical schools around the country have realized the importance of a dedicated experience in neurology as part of clinical training before graduation. We have a dearth of neurologists, and one way to get students excited about neurology is through clinical experiences that pique their interest, not just during the academic years but also through hands-on clinical experiences. The neurology clerkship role is now on par with other specialties because we have identified a significant need for more neurologists. A dedicated neurologist who focuses on educating students, reviewing tracks, and providing engaging clinical experiences is crucial. This experience should have structure, including goals, objectives, a curriculum, assessment, evaluation, and grading. These are skills that the clerkship director needs to develop. Our clerkship directors are doing a wonderful job around the country, and the role is evolving for the better.

How can we continue to make the clerkship director an attractive position for those making their way through the field?

As physicians, we often have a natural inclination to teach. We teach our patients all the time. Many of us are inclined toward sharing our knowledge with both patients and junior colleagues. The workshop will highlight that interested physicians and neurologists can develop as formal medical educators and expand to roles beyond neurology. These elements can be enticing to those interested in medical education.

From a clinician perspective, is it easy to become complacent in your field, or are people not exposed enough to other positions/roles?

It's not really complacency; it's not knowing what options are available. This topic is interesting because it allows us to formally meet, network, and discuss options. You might not be aware that, besides being a neurology clerkship director, you can take on additional leadership roles in the medical school over time. Using the clerkship director role to enhance medical education and entice students to pursue neurology is rewarding. Neurology crosses into virtually all specialties, so having a good understanding of common neurological topics is important regardless of the subspecialty. Beyond that, letting clerkship directors know how they can take the next step is crucial. Educational scholarship is a big part of this. Understanding how to get started with publications, come up with study topics, and network with other clerkship directors is important. I hope our impressive lineup of speakers will provide valuable insights and experiences to help us develop our careers as medical educators in neurology.

Are there positive aspects of this position that people may be unaware of?

One rewarding aspect of this role is serving as a mentor. When students see that you enjoy what you do, they get excited. I specialize in epilepsy, and my enthusiasm when teaching students in my clinic or during their rotation goes a long way. Mentorship and conveying your love for the specialty are paramount. You will teach and devise curricula, but doing so in an enthusiastic way that motivates students is invaluable. The most important part of the role is imparting your passion for neurology to students.