From tutor to future educator: Investigating the role of peer-peer tutoring in shaping careers in medical education

Abstract

In the effort to promote academic excellence and provide authentic teaching experiences and training for medical students, the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine (UCISOM) built a novel peer tutoring program, Collaborative Learning Communities with Medical Students as Teachers (CLC-MSAT). While the role of peer-assisted learning in student success on academic courses is well established, we wanted to assess the impact of our peer-assisted learning program on tutor’s career interest in medical education. Through a mixed-methods analysis of our peer tutors’ experiences, we found >80% were overall satisfied with their positions; >85% learned new skills; >88% felt they were strong teachers; >88% felt they now had a stronger grasp of the medical curriculum. Our findings suggest that the CLC-MSAT program has a positive impact in exposing medical students to teaching experience and training, which may help prepare the next generation of academic clinicians.