Training Peer Instructors for a Combined Ultrasound/Physical Exam Curriculum

Background: The integration of bedside ultrasound into medical school curricula is limited by the availability of skilled faculty instructors. Peer mentors have been utilized successfully to teach clinical and procedural skills and may serve as a valuable resource for potential ultrasound instructors. We describe a method to train senior medical students as peer instructors for a combined ultrasound/physical exam curriculum and assessed junior medical students' perceptions of peer instruction relative to faculty. Description: The University of Colorado has incorporated ultrasound into ocular, abdominal, musculoskeletal, cardiac, vascular, and pulmonary physical exam instruction for 1st-year (n = 155) and 2nd-year (n = 155) medical students. Fourth-year medical students who completed a 2- or 4-week bedside ultrasound elective were recruited as peer instructors. Both peer and faculty instructors received similar session training and were assigned to random groups of junior medical students. Instructor evalu...