Incorporating Reflective Writing into the Clerkship

Adam S. Cifu, University of Chicago
Melissa A. Fischer, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Heather E. Harrell, University of Florida
Eric J. Alper, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Abstract

During the last decade, medical schools have turned to writing exercises as a means for encouraging students to reflect on their learning experiences during clinical clerkships. The reasons for the increased popularity of reflective writing are broad. Approaches to encouraging reflective writing are quite varied. Recently, three internal medicine clerkships (University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, and University of Massachusetts Medical School) independently implemented reflective writing activities in the clerkship curriculum.