A mile in their shoes: interdisciplinary education at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Abstract

An elective course exposing medical students to nonphysician hospital providers and staff was conceived and implemented. Goals and objectives identified were to (1) increase students' understanding of the roles of nonphysician professionals in hospital care, (2) demonstrate how the services offered by these professionals complement those offered by physicians, (3) improve students' skill in communicating with nonphysician professionals, (4) develop students' comfort approaching these professionals about patient care issues, (5) show students "what it is like" to be each of these providers, and (6) demonstrate the common challenges they face. A 2-week elective rotation paired students with experienced preceptors in several nonphysician hospital care disciplines. Quantitative and qualitative data indicate that this experience empowered students to collaborate more actively with the nonphysician colleagues, whom they would encounter in their careers, to provide coordinated patient care.