“From mentoring to role modelling” how medical directors should manage their teams throughout the surgery education process? An approach through role model theories

Abstract

The student centered based approach is one of the areas that medical directors should explore while transferring to students not only technical but also behavioral and moral competencies. This article shed light on role modelling as a concept and process while identifying the characteristics that medical directors should have to lead by example and to be role models for residents and the entire team of surgeons. Therefore, the research question that we are aiming to answer is; what is role modelling in surgery education, and how medical directors can apply it to improve the learning outcomes? The role model concept was explored based on its definitions by medical and non-medical authors. Role modeling was also understood through its process and characteristics of role models. Interviews were made in a private hospital in Lebanon while interviewing 13 surgeons and 12 residents from different surgery departments. Finally, the article provides a proposition of role modelling process at the hospital context and provides recommendations for medical directors to apply the student-centered based approach and the role model theories to improve the learning outcomes.