Non-Faculty Instructor Policy including VP&S Resident as Teacher Policy

  

Overview/Rationale

Residents and other non-faculty instructors play a central role in educating medical students at VP&S. These instructors contribute to both clinical instruction and professional development in a variety of supervised settings. Engaging residents and non-faculty instructors in teaching fosters a collaborative, learner-centered environment and ensures continuity between undergraduate and graduate medical education. 

In accordance with LCME Standard 9.1, VP&S is committed to ensuring that all instructors, including residents and non-faculty educators (such as fellows, postdoctoral trainees, and advanced practice providers), are appropriately prepared for their teaching roles, understand the medical education program objectives, and are familiar with essential policies that govern the learning environment. 

Accreditation Standards

LCME Accreditation Standard:

9.1: Preparation of Resident and Non-Faculty Instructors

Stakeholders

House Staff at all VP&S Clinical Affiliates with Core Clerkship Rotations 

House Staff at VP&S Clinical Affiliate sites 

Non-Faculty Instructors: An individual who is not a faculty member but is involved in teaching and/or assessing medical students, including student tutors/teaching assistants, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinical staff. 

  • Training Requirement: All residents and non-faculty instructors must complete compulsory orientation before participating in teaching or assessment of medical students. 
  • Preparation: Instructors must review learning objectives, assessment expectations, and other relevant educational materials specific to each course or clerkship in which they are involved. 
  • Monitoring and Accountability: Review of orientations are centrally monitored, and data are reviewed regularly as part of continuous quality improvement. 

Procedures

Required Orientation and Annual Training 

  • All new residents and non-faculty instructors involved in student education must complete a   compulsory orientation before engaging with students. 
  • All new residents involved in student education must complete a mandatory Teaching and Supervision Orientation before engaging with students. 
  • The resident orientation is delivered via Workday or Qualtrics-based modules and includes: 
    • VP&S Medical Education Program Objectives 
    • Clerkship-specific Learning Objectives and Required Clinical Experiences 
    • Key Operational Policies: 
      • Clinical Supervision 
      • Learning Environment and Mistreatment Reporting 
      • Mid-clerkship Feedback and Assessment 
      • Grading Guidelines and Documentation Expectations 
    • Effective Teaching Strategies for the Clinical Setting 
    • Providing Constructive Feedback 
    • Equity and Inclusion in Clinical Teaching 
  • Departmental and Course-Level Training for both Residents and non-faculty instructors 
    • Clerkship directors and site leaders may provide supplemental training to address site-specific workflows and expectations for resident and non-faculty instructors. These should complement the core orientation and must be reviewed and approved by CEPC. 
    • Course directors provide supplemental training at the course level. Training for non-faculty instructors in the pre-clerkship phase is course-specific and includes: 
      • Written instructions with learning objectives 
      • Live training sessions or course director orientations 
      • Access to syllabi, lab manuals, and assessments (where applicable) 
      • Monitoring of participation and feedback by course leadership 

Institutional Oversight and Monitoring of Resident / Housestaff Training 

  • Office of Medical Education (OME): Creates and maintains the Columbia resident orientation modules and works with NYP GME and affiliate site deans to ensure delivery and tracking. 
  • Monitoring System: 
    • NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital: Workday-based monitoring confirms 100% compliance with training (e.g., 501 residents trained for the 2024–25 year). 
    • Affiliate Sites (Bassett, Stamford, Harlem, Bronx VA): Affiliate deans distribute Qualtrics-based RAT modules and confirm completion via documentation submitted to CEPC. 
  • Reporting: Completion and compliance data are presented at the annual Major Clinical Year phase review and CEPC meetings. 

Tracking and Accountability 

  • Completion of training is tracked and reported through Workday or equivalent platforms by GME offices and/or site education administrators. 
  • Completion status is reviewed: 
  • During annual program evaluations 
  • Non-compliance will be addressed jointly by the Clerkship Director, Site Director, and the Office of Medical Education. 
  • At the annual phase review meetings course directors are asked required to describe the compulsory orientation provided to non-faculty teaching staff.

Institutional Oversight and Monitoring of Non-Faculty Training 

  • Completion of training is tracked within each course, and is discussed and reviewed at the annual course review meeting with the course director and representatives from the Office of Medical Education.