Students’ Leadership Development During a High-fidelity Military Medical Field Practicum

Abstract

Introduction Leadership development is a cornerstone aspect of military medical education. Operation Bushmaster, a medical field practicum (MFP) conducted by the USU, tests fourth-year medical students’ clinical skills and leadership acumen in an operational environment. No studies have examined students’ perceptions of their own leadership development during this MFP. Therefore, this study explored leadership development from the students’ perspectives. Materials and Methods Using a qualitative phenomenological design, we analyzed the reflection papers of 166 military medical students who participated in Operation Bushmaster during the fall of 2021. Our research team coded and categorized the data. Once defined, these categories served as the themes in this study. Results Three central themes were expressed: (1) the importance of direct and decisive communication, (2) unit cohesion and interpersonal relationships enhance the team’s ability to adapt, and (3) followership quality determines leadership outcomes. The students’ leadership ability was maximized by established relationships within their unit and well-practiced communication, and a decreased propensity for followership negatively affected leadership. Overall, Operation Bushmaster increased students’ appreciation of the importance of leadership development and overall enhanced their leadership outlook as a future military medical officer. Conclusions This study provided an introspective vantage from military medical students pertaining to their own leadership development, as participants described how the challenging environment of a military MFP challenged them to hone and develop their leadership skills. As a result, the participants gained a greater appreciation of continued leadership development and realization of their future roles and responsibilities within the military health care system.

Military Physicians’ Perceptions of Their Leadership Training

“…These exercises could involve role-playing as department heads or team leaders faced with common challenges such as staffing shortages, patient emergencies, or conflict resolution situations (Rudinsky et al, 2024). In simulated scenarios, participants practice decision-making, communication, and problem-solving skills in a safe and controlled environment, enhancing their readiness for real-world leadership challenges (Cole et al, 2023;Rudinsky et al, 2024;Van Shufflin, 2023). Additional learning activities like case studies can provide military physicians real-life examples of leadership challenges encountered in military healthcare settings (Cummings et al, 2021).…”