Lessons from both sides of the Pacific on how to approach struggling junior doctors
Remediation in medical education is “the act of facilitating a correction for trainees who started out on the journey toward becoming a [doctor] but have moved off course”.1 As American medical educators with expertise in remediation, two of the authors were invited to Victoria to visit clinical sites (Monash Health and Deakin University) and to speak at the 23rd Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum (ANZPMEF) in Melbourne in November 2018. Based on observations at the sites and on discussions at ANZPMEF with medical educators from universities, hospitals and medical centres throughout Australia and New Zealand, the American and Australian authors reflected on pre‐vocational junior doctor remediation trends in our two regions. Medical education remediation is a global challenge, yet to the best of our knowledge, international comparisons have not been previously described. We aim not to judge or laud but rather to pave a path for future enquiry and collaboration. Wherever we agree elements of one system to be clearly more effective, we say so.
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This article is an outcome of keynote speeches and numerous workshop sessions during the Australian and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum in 2018 and, therefore, our thinking was influenced by the nearly 400 participants at these sessions who shared their insights, perspective and questions with us throughout the multiday conference. We thank Susan Hurwitz for editorial assistance. We also thank the medical learners who are the driving force behind our ongoing remediation efforts.
No relevant disclosures.