Course Director, Essentials of Clinical Reasoning 2

Position Summary: 

The Course Director is responsible for coordinating all facets of the course, including, but not limited to, oversight of lectures and hands-on labs; clinical preceptorship experiences, D2L site content; exam preparation; student remediation as needed; and communication and collaboration with other course faculty, other course directors, simulation center, and appropriate curriculum committees.

ECR 2 is a required course for all second year Chicago Medical School and Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine students. ECR 2 builds upon ECR 1, a required course in which students learn history taking and physical examination. In ECR 2, students learn clinical reasoning skills, the pathophysiology of common disease, the general approach to patients with common symptoms, and interpretation of basic diagnostic studies. Students also participate in a series of hands-on clinical experiences with real patients and in simulated environments. The course covers fall, winter and spring terms. The primary methods of teaching are lecture, small group discussion, skills building workshops, and clinical encounters.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

A summary of the roles and responsibilities of Course Director of Essentials of Clinical Reasoning (ECR) 2 consists of the following:

1. Serve as Course Director for the second year medical and podiatric students in the interprofessional course of Essentials of Clinical Reasoning 2. Coordinating all facets of the courses, including, but not limited to:

• Responsible for the design and development of all lectures
• Oversight of all D2L site content
• Oversight of all examinations and student remediation as needed
• Communication and collaboration with other course faculty and course directors
• Work with Assistant Course Director of ECR 1 & 2 in reviewing format and skills with preceptors to ensure consistency in approach during lab and workshop sessions
• Attend meetings and participate in planning and coordinating goals/objectives with ECR1/2, and M1/M2 course directors
• Prepare yearly course report
• Communicate with the Curriculum Committee on course modifications as appropriate per policies and procedures

1. Course Goals/Objectives/Syllabus/Assessment:

• Establish goals and objectives of the courses
• Establish grading policies
• Determine reading assignments to reflect course goals and objectives
• Maintain syllabi for both courses and present to students at the start of each academic year
• Review all course surveys

1. Lecture Planning:

• Prepare and present learning content not provided by other speakers
• Coordinate lecturing clinicians and ensure lectures are appropriate to the level of training
• Monitor lectures and ensure consistency with course objectives
• Incorporate small-group / problem-based learning within the course
• Utilize technology to reinforce learning through various media
• Oversee Patient Day(s) and assignment(s) design

1. Exams and Grades:

• Write/modify and review exam questions to accurately reflect course content and objectives and academically appropriate topics while introducing students to clinical reasoning skills through USMLE boards-style questions
• Assign student grades based on student assessment information provided by faculty input and student performance data

1. Student Support

• Communicate with the CMS Office of Student Affairs and Education regarding issues such as students in academic, professional or clinical difficulties and accommodate students with disabilities and their scheduling. Manage any unprofessional behavior according to RFUMS policies

1. M2 Clinical Skills Course Director: 

• Review and finalize the clinical skills curriculum website (D2L) so that it contains the necessary communication and information for all learners.
• Develop and/or review all questions for examinations and evaluations for all clinical skills course prior to utilization
• Monitor evaluations and student performance to assure high quality experiences and learning outcomes.
• Review student evaluations of faculty and assist in the formulation of remediation and faculty enhancement as necessary.
• Monitor performance data to ensure comparable student experiences and compliance with the learning objectives.

1. ECR 2 Off-Site Preceptorship

• Provide the educational direction for the placement of each student at the clinical site. 
• Provide consultation regarding student placements, supervision, and periodic review of student progress towards meeting educational objectives.
• Coordinate clinical preceptorship experiences

1. Other duties as assigned by the Vice Chair, Clinical Sciences.