Feeling overwhelmed when preparing for medical specialty boards is natural because of the scope and specificity of medicine and the amount of time and preparation it requires.
While all physicians face the challenge of finding time to study, some may carry additional burdens, such as being out of residency for more than five years, lack of motivation, personal problems, unsuccessful previous attempts at passing their boards, or a learning disorder (e.g., ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, or test anxiety).
Effective board preparation is a dynamic process that involves five basic skills: (1) goal setting, (2) time management, (3) cognitive behaviors that facilitate learning and long-term memory, (4) self-assessment, and (5) self-monitoring via self-reflection.
Academic coaches use these skills to help physicians prepare for their boards in a more systematic way. Coaches help identify learner deficits and suggest strategies to manage existing and potential challenges, which can benefit physicians throughout their careers.
Coaching in competitive sports, professional music, and the business and corporate worlds is well known. However, the concept of coaching for medical boards is still relatively new.
More recently, coaching is emerging as an innovative model for physician training at many levels. It makes sense because an academic coach helps learners achieve their fullest potential by evaluating their performance, boosting their learning skills, and helping them create a plan to achieve their goals.
The biggest advantage coaching offers physicians is being an accountability partner–regular contact that helps keep them on track.
While your specific learning needs may vary, these are ten BEST PRACTICES that professional academic coaches may provide:
- Identify your learning preference and suggest ways to expand your learning potential.
- Create a study plan based on the board exam blueprint that addresses your specific learning needs.
- Share ideas for making your study area more functional and inviting for effective study.
- Teach strategies to enhance your ability to learn, remember, and connect ideas.
- Recommend time management tools and techniques.
- Encourage goal setting, self-assessment, self-reflection, and accountability.
- Provide instruction on test-taking strategies as well as learn tips on how to improve reading speed and comprehension.
- Assess your progress regularly and provide ideas for improvement.
- Suggest strategies to reduce stress and anxiety related to board exams.
- Promote a balanced lifestyle to support your learning initiative.
The physician-coach partnership provides a novel approach to make board preparation more meaningful and successful. Regularly scheduled coaching sessions promote accountability, more effective and efficient learning, and better time management. An effective coaching relationship can empower physicians to expand their learning potential, successfully pass their boards, and increase their motivation for lifelong learning.
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Linda L. Carr, Ph.D., Founder/Principal at Coaching for Medical Specialty Boards, is a medical educator and learning specialist who coaches physicians preparing for specialty boards through virtual, one-on-one coaching. Visit www.DrLindaCarr.org to learn more about her program and download her FREE Study Guide.