1. Being an effective role model
Dr Margaret Kingston
Associate Medical Director Central Manchester Foundation Trust
TPD HEENW Genitourinary Medicine

2. You ARE a role model, but are you always a good one?
Being a positive role model is:
A key attribute of a successful doctor
Expected of all UK registered doctors by the General Medical Council
Education is an integral part of medical practice & learning form role models is an important aspect of medical education because:
It teaches the application of knowledge and skills
Influences career choices
Is how our students and trainees develop professionalism

3. Students & trainees are aware of their role models - good & bad!
“I think a role model is the single best way to learn… if you can see someone do it and understand how and why they do it, I think that’s when you’ll get it”
“Enthusiastic about her discipline, involved students actively in the work, excellent knowledge and practical skills, nice to patients, staff and students”
“I’ve found my first rotation was very stressful, humiliating, I worked and read because of fear…”

4. Personal considerations…
Who are / were your role models?
What was their influence on your learning and career choices?
Who are you a role model for?
What are your good and bad attributes as a role model?

5. ILOs for this session
“Research indicates that being a positive role model is a set of skills, attitudes and behaviours which may be taught and acquired by doctors…”
Define positive and negative attributes of a role model
Understand how learning from role models happens
How you can effectively teach through role modelling

6. Studies have established the attributes reported in medical role models:
Individuals who:
Excel in their clinical knowledge and skills
Through communication skills they maintain good professional relationships
Are effective and enthusiastic teachers
A tall order!
Students & trainees have multiple role models, learning different things from different individuals; the “composite” role model

7. How learning from role models happens
This is a complex process! Aspects have been explained through various learning theories:
Individuals learn “to talk, from talk”
Students & trainees learn professionalism through the “Hidden Curriculum” :
This is a process of assimilation into a community of practice, not only by possession of shared expertise, but also the development of professional values and standards

8. Cruess, 2008

9. Video clip
For those you consider to be acting as a role model in these scenarios:
What positive attributes of a role model are they displaying?
Are they demonstrating any negative role model attributes?
How could learning through role modelling be improved in this situation?

10. Video clip
For those you consider to be acting as a role model in these scenarios:
What positive attributes of a role model are they displaying?
Are they demonstrating any negative role model attributes?
How could learning through role modelling be improved in this situation?

11. Positive role model attributes
Personal characteristics
Clinical skill
Caring & empathic
Patient-centred approach
Excellent communication skills
Good inter-professional relationships
Demonstrates leadership
Integrity
Good sense of humour
Calm
Positive attitude
Practically skilful
Knowledgeable
Sound clinical reasoning
Strives for excellence
Presentation skills
Aware of own strengths and weaknesses

12. Positive role model attributes
Teaching abilities
Taking an interest in students and trainees
Enthusiasm & patience
Provide clear explanations
Versatile, learner centred teaching style
Constructive feedback
Demonstrating clinical reasoning
Facilitation patient interaction
Identifying opportunities for learning & reflection

13. Negative role model attributes
Personal characteristics
Clinical skill
Making derogatory comments
Inappropriate humour
Unfriendliness
Complaining
Expressing anger or frustration
Bitterness and cynicism
Opinionated
Lack of confidence
Un co-operative
Lack of knowledge
Teaching abilities
Forgetting names & faces
Excessive criticism
Frightening or humiliating
Promoting unnecessary competition

14. How to MAXIMISE learning through role modelling
Attention
Emphasise/narrative/questions/subdivide
Retention
Repetition/parallels/relate new to existing knowledge
Production
Experience with appropriate autonomy  
Motivation
Financial, profile, influence, enjoyment

15. How to MAXIMISE learning through role modelling
Wright & Caresse, 2002

16. How to MAXIMISE learning through role modelling
Blue sky thinking….
When it gets tough….
Remember – you are a role model!
Make time for teaching
Explicitly model skills & behaviours
Recognise & use seminal events
Provide experience & feedback
Creating a positive learning environment and culture (trainees & their teachers)
Providing learner centred teaching
Show you love it!
Time for teaching; can be very efficient:
Appropriate techniques
Using “dead time”
Prioritisation
Competing priorities:
Demonstrate how these are managed, including work-life balance/merge
Adverse work related pressures:
Explicitly model effectively dealing with these

17. Efficient teaching techniques
Learner centred:
Questions; learning objectives, previous experience, pre-exiting knowledge
Two minute observation
Make the implicit explicit by modelling skills, knowledge or behaviours
Demonstrates reasoning & skills
Effective communication
Team working
Communication skills

18. Efficient teaching techniques
One minute preceptor; rapid learner centred teaching & feedback
5 microskills: Commitment, evidence, general rules, re-enforce & correct
Highly evaluated & effective but requires training
Directed observation/hot review
“Hot seating”
Three- way consultation
SNAPPS
Summarise, Narrow down, Analyse differential, Probe uncertainty, Plan management, Select item for self-directed learning
“Aunt Minnie”

19. The importance of GOOD feedback
Feedback can modify & re-enforce behaviour OR can cause demotivation & poorer performance
General principles:
Expected everyday
Clear expectations
Task specific
Not judgemental
Timely
Limited
Encourage self-appraisal
Action plan
RIP/PIP
Feedback “sandwich”
Pendleton’s rules
Reflective feedback conversation

20. Hattie and Timperley, The Power of Feedback, Review of Educational Research, March 2007, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp

21. So, in summary, being a good role model is important because:
Being a positive role model is:
A key attribute of a successful doctor
Expected of all UK registered doctors by the General Medical Council
Education is an integral part of medical practice & learning form role models is an important aspect of medical education because:
It teaches the application of knowledge and skills
Influences career choices
Is how our students and trainees develop professionalism

22. You ARE a role model; how can you be a good one (nearly) all the time?
Remember that you are a role model
Actively demonstrate your positive role model characteristics and skills
Actively demonstrate dealing with challenges
Create opportunities for authentic learner centred experiences with constructive feedback
Enjoy yourself!

23. Thank-you; any questions?
ILOs for this session
Define positive and negative attributes of a role model
Understand how learning from role models happens
How you can effectively teach through role modelling
Thank-you; any questions?