Teaching in a Physical Diagnosis Course: Identifying Faculty Characteristics and Motivational Factors

It is often difficult to recruit faculty to teach in medical school courses. Faculty in one Department of Medicine were surveyed regarding their participation in the second-year Physical Diagnosis course. Faculty most commonly cited enthusiasm for teaching students and personal satisfaction as reasons for participation. Faculty who did not choose to teach indicated they were too busy with other responsibilities. Release time from clinical duties was the most common motivating factor enhancing enthusiasm for teaching. Faculty who wanted to teach in the Physical Diagnosis course were more likely to be generalists, to be assigned to a teaching tenure track, to have spent less time at other institutions, and to value workshops on instructional methodologies. Understanding characteristics of faculty who are likely to teach and providing appropriate motivational support may assist course directors in recruiting preceptors.