Consortium of Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships Conference (CLIC) puts patients at the centre of medical education

Students, faculty, and experts in medical education from across the globe gathered to share ideas, best practices and advance the research agenda for Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LIC) in a conference hosted by the University of Toronto and the Wilson Centre for Research in Education. 

The LIC model focuses on caring for patients overtime in all core clerkship disciplines simultaneously, rather than moving from one discipline to the next, as in the block clerkship. “As a school, we are relatively new to this innovative model, having just launched our LInC program in 2014,” says Stacey Bernstein, Clerkship Director. “This conference presents a unique opportunity to learn from a strong community focused on putting the patient at the core of the education we provide our students.”

Celebrating its tenth year, it’s not just another conference is the sentiment echoed across many attendees. “This is a community that includes people with different levels of expertise from students to established faculty, but all with the goal of learning from each other in a person-centred way,” says Ann Poncelet, University of California San Francisco.

A vast array of poster presentations on October 16 and an engaging plenary presentation by Dr. Charles G. Prober, Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education at Stanford School of Medicine, entitled Reimagining Medical Education set the tone for the days ahead.

"LIC’s are a breakthrough in medical education – the first new model of medical education after quite some time – but it’s just the beginning,” says David Hirsh, Harvard Medical School. “It’s a breakthrough that has encouraged us to continue innovating, moving forward, and thinking progressively.”  

Remarks by MD Program Vice Dean Patricia Houston began the second day of the conference followed by Physician Identity of the Future: The Third Era, a plenary presentation by Dr. Brian Hodges, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at U of T and the Richard and Elizabeth Currie Chair in Health Professions Education Research at the Wilson Centre.  Presentations and workshops by students, faculty and researchers from across Canada, the US and the world followed over the remaining three days.

Judith John kicked off the third day with a plenary that explored her personal experience being a patient in Ontario. She offered honest advice to the group of physician educators and students, all focusing on the value and importance of developing a connection with patients.  

The final day of the conference began with a presentation by Nouman Ashraf, Senior Research Fellow at the Rotman School of Management that explored Emancipatory Leadership, a concept that embraces diversity of opinion and advocates for innovation with purpose.   

Thank you to the 253 delegates that attended from across Canada, the US, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.

For more information about the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship at the University of Toronto see:

• Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships offer an opportunity for MD students to participate in the comprehensive care of patients over time
• New Approach Brings Medical Students Closer to Patients
• See CLIC conference presentation highlights