Teaching medical students is rewarding, but knowing where to find the right information and support isn’t always straightforward. In this episode, Dr Kim Walker is joined by Clinical Teaching Fellows Elizabeth Faulkner and Chiyokoma Kabaso to discuss the development of Aberdeen’s new Clinical Educator Handbook, a practical resource designed to support clinicians involved in undergraduate medical education.

Together, they explore the challenges educators face, how the handbook was developed, and why having accessible guidance can make teaching easier, more consistent, and more rewarding.

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Supporting Clinical Educators: Building a Practical Guide for Teaching Medical Students

Clinical educators play a vital role in shaping the next generation of doctors, but balancing teaching alongside busy clinical workloads can be challenging. Knowing who to contact, where to find information, and what students should be learning isn’t always straightforward, particularly for clinicians who teach only occasionally.

In this episode, Kim Walker is joined by Liz and Chiyo, Clinical Teaching Fellows at the University of Aberdeen, to discuss the development of the new Clinical Educator Handbook. Designed by clinicians for clinicians, the handbook brings together practical guidance, key contacts, and educational resources into one accessible place.

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Why Create an Educator Handbook?

Clinical educators often have questions about:

• What students are expected to know at different stages of the curriculum
• Where to find teaching guidance and university resources
• Who to contact when concerns arise
• How to support students effectively during placements

Rather than searching across multiple websites or contacting different departments, the handbook provides a single point of reference for educators involved in undergraduate medical teaching.

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A Resource Designed by Clinicians

One of the strengths of the handbook is that it was developed by Clinical Teaching Fellows with recent experience of working on busy hospital wards.

Their clinical perspective helped ensure the handbook focuses on information educators genuinely need, including:

• Practical teaching guidance
• Student support pathways
• Placement expectations
• Key university contacts
• Links to further educational resources

The aim was to create something that is quick to navigate and immediately useful in day-to-day clinical practice.

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Supporting Educators Across Different Settings

Teaching takes place across a wide range of hospital and community settings, each with its own way of communicating and organising placements.

The discussion highlights challenges such as:

• Different departments using different communication systems
• Frequent staff turnover in some locations
• Supporting educators across remote and rural placements
• Ensuring temporary and locum staff know where to find educational resources

The handbook has been designed to be flexible and easily updated, helping educators access current information wherever they are based.

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More Than Just a Handbook

Developing the handbook also proved to be an important learning opportunity for the Clinical Teaching Fellows themselves.

Through the project they developed:

• A better understanding of the medical curriculum
• Greater confidence supporting students and fellow educators
• Knowledge of university support services
• Experience in curriculum design and educational resource development
• Practical skills that have informed future educational projects

The handbook became both a resource for others and a valuable professional development experience for its authors.

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A Living Resource

Unlike a traditional printed guide, the handbook is designed to evolve.

Features include:

• QR codes linking to online resources
• Easily updated digital content
• Access through the NORT website
• Information that can grow alongside curriculum developments

This ensures educators always have access to the most up-to-date guidance without needing to replace the handbook itself.

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Key Messages for Clinical Educators

The discussion finishes with several simple take-home messages:

• Use the handbook as your first point of reference for teaching questions.
• It provides context about who your students are and what they should be learning.
• Don’t feel you need to know everything, the handbook connects you with the right people and resources.
• Good educational support makes teaching easier for clinicians and improves the learning experience for students.

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Final Takeaway

Supporting clinical educators ultimately means supporting medical students. By bringing together practical guidance, educational resources, and key contacts in one place, the Clinical Educator Handbook helps clinicians feel more confident in their teaching role while ensuring students receive a consistent, high-quality learning experience throughout their placements.