Highlights from our Career Fair / Preceptor Development Program

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Preceptor Development Program during Career Fair Day in September on the TC and Duluth Campuses. UMN CoP Class of 2012 Alumni Dr. Robert Mueller spoke to preceptors about his experience precepting multiple learners at Froedtert Hospital where he was a resident and at his clincal practice site of St Joseph's Ascension where he is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. He presented shared and individualized approaches to manage teams of residents, APPE, and IPPE students.

Dr. Mueller explained, at Froedtert, 57 students and 35 residents are dispersed across 30 rotations. Froedtert uses shared orientations, presentations, and expectations for all students, which are jointly managed by the preceptors. This has allowed expanded services as students are integrated into the hospital’s regular workflow while giving residents experience as preceptors.

At St. Joseph, Ascension, a smaller cohort of 38 students and 8 residents are spread across 11 rotations. Less constant cohorts of students has required an individualized approach, where preceptors tailor a unique experience to the needs of each student while providing close feedback and attention.

Dr. Mueller recommends that a successful site blend both approaches and multiple teaching methods in developing a model where residents can be integrated into precepting while the preceptor provides custom feedback and tasks to meet each students’ professional needs.