Teaching Opportunities
Please find below information regarding our Hospital Medicine teaching opportunities:
Educational Activities with FTE/stipend
- Internal Medicine Core Educator
- Internal Medicine Associate Program Director
- Internal Medicine Program Director
- Internal Medicine Acting Intern Director
- Internal Medicine Hospitalist Pathway Director
- Internal Medicine POCUS training Faculty assistant
- Internal Medicine M4 Advising and Preparation
- School of Medicine Acting Intern Director
- School of Medicine Clinical Skills Assessment Specialist
- School of Medicine Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Care (IPEC) Course Directors
- School of Medicine Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Care (IPEC) Facilitators
- School of Medicine PCM Course Director
- School of Medicine PCM Clinical Skills Evaluator
- School of Medicine PCM Small Group Leader
- School of Medicine Ultrasound Course Teacher
- School of Medicine Diagnostic Reasoning Course Teacher
- School of Medicine Problem Based Learning Facilitator- new course pilot 2026-2027
- School of Medicine Academic and Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) coach
- School of Medicine Step 1 counselor
Non-FTE Educational Opportunities
Residency activities:
- Resident report
- Intern and resident core conferences
- Careers and Practice conferences
- Hospitalist resident journal club/grand rounds advisor
- Hospitalist pathway mentor
- Residency Program Evaluation Committee
- Residency Curriculum Committee
- Procedure Competency Committee
- Residency Wellness Committee
- Intern Resilience Skills Curriculum
- Residency interviews
- Rank committee- invited
- Clinical Competency Committee – invited
- Hospital Medicine Resident Education Director
M1-2 activities:
- Practice of Clinical Medicine (PCM) preceptor – 24 hours per student yearly
- Patient, Physician, and Society (PPS) course facilitator
M3 activities:
- Clerkship grading committee- invited
- Clerkship teaching sessions (orientation)
M4 activities:
- Capstone Course Director and Co-Director
- Capstone Course Facilitator
- Acting Intern Report
- Procedure Medicine Elective Course Coordinator
- Procedure Medicine (2-week) Elective Facilitator
- SOM Acting Intern Grading Committee – invited
General SOM activities:
- SOM interviews
- SOM admissions committee
- SOM applications screening committee
- Curriculum council- appointed/elected
- Promotions committee- appointed/elected
- SOM lectures
Pre-medical student activities:
- Shadowing- 2 hours per session, no minimum or maximum number sessions
Inter-professional education:
- Various IPEC course facilitator roles
Hospital Medicine Education Team:
- Invited, once teaching onboarding completed
- Active participation: 30 mins every other month
- Peer observations: 2 hours per observation
Faculty Development:
- HMS Grand Rounds Presenter
- Internal Medicine Grand Rounds Presenter (or other Department Grand Rounds)
- Teaching In Medicine course classes (VCU graduate level class)
- Lunch Time Learning Series
Research/Service:
- Abstract Reviewer for SHM, SGIM, ACP, etc.
- Abstract Judge
- Presenting Education Poster
- Education paper
- Education research
Hospital Medicine
Medical Student/Pre-graduate Teaching Opportunities
Practice of Clinical Medicine is a 20-month course that teaches M1 and M2 students how to interview patients, perform physical exams, and formulate differential diagnoses. The curriculum involves case-based learning by organ system. As a small group leader, your role would be to facilitate class, reinforce interview and exam skills, and grade notes. Each class is assigned a M4 co-leader to aid in teaching. Facilitating a class would require one afternoon of your time (1-4PM) approximately every 2-3 weeks during the academic year.
Contact: Kim Pedram (kimberly.pedram@vcuhealth.org) or Alice Wong (alice.wong@vcuhealth.org)
M2 students complete 24 hours of preceptorship to gain clinical experience prior to starting their M3 clerkships. Medical students work with preceptors over 4-6 sessions from August through December (minimum of 4 hours per month). The preceptor's role is to instruct the student on refining their interview, physical exam, and presentation skills. The student will write focused encounter notes on patients; one of which will be reviewed by the preceptor during the semester. Students complete a preceptor passport with the preceptor notating the student’s level of skill on interview and physical exam items. At the end of the semester, preceptors complete a short student evaluation based on a simple scale. Students can complete preceptorship on weekdays or weekends and on day, evening, and GME night shifts.
Contact: Geovany Chavarria (geovany.chavarria@vcuhealth.org), Kim Pedram (kimberly.pedram@vcuhealth.org), Alice Wong (alice.wong@vcuhealth.org)
The PCM Clinical Skills Evaluators (CSEs) are a select group of PCM small group leaders who assist the PCM course directors with student testing. CSEs administer the clinical skills portions of OSCEs and grade OSCE notes. Additionally, they help facilitate the PCM bootcamp at the start of the academic year and specialized workshops throughout the course. CSEs are chosen by the PCM faculty based on evaluations and job performance as PCM SGLs.
Contacts: Kim Pedram (kimberly.pedram@vcuhealth.org), Alice Wong (alice.wong@vcuhealth.org)
Diagnostic Reasoning (DR) is an 18-month on-line longitudinal course that’s purpose is to help medical students prepare for clerkships and beyond by developing their critical thinking and diagnostic skills by building their differential diagnosis capabilities, ordering, and interpreting diagnostic tests, and developing clinical questions.
Contacts: Michelle Troendle (michelle.troendle@vcuhealth.org).
CSAs provide formative feedback to students through direct observation of clinical activities (including EPAs and other workplace-based assessment) during the clerkship phase of the curriculum to enhance the development of clinical skills and professional attributes. These observations provide feedback on longitudinal growth during the M3 year and ensure readiness for the summative OSCE at the conclusion of the M3 year. CSAs are chosen by the Assistant Dean for Clinical Medical Education. Each CSA is responsible for approximately 25 students. Each evaluation takes about 1 hour.
Contact: Pearce Korb (pearce.korb@vcuhealth.org)
Acting Intern Report (morning report style case discussion) or teaching sessions (45-60 minutes) on high-yield practical material.
Contact: Adam Garber (adam.garber@vcuhealth.org), David Jessee (david.jessee@vcuhealth.org), Katelyn Acree (katelyn.acree1@vcuhealth.org)
Graduating M4 high-yield review/prep week in late April – early May. School-wide sessions run in the mornings and afternoons are specialty focused (including Internal Medicine).
While always expanding, most recent sessions are the following:
- Case simulation (students work in pairs for simulations in which patients are decompensating, try to figure out the cause, attempt stabilization, and escalate/call consult as needed.
- Procedure training including central lines, lumbar punctures, paracenteses, and peripheral IV placement.
- A Virtual Reality simulation using VR headsets with a corresponding hands-on simulation to measure retention and skill acquisition.
- Didactics and small-group case/TBL focused on high-yield paging/crosscover scenarios, outpatient internal medicine pearls, common psychiatric cases, and a primer on working in the intensive care unit.
Contact: Adam Garber (adam.garber@vcuhealth.org), David Jessee (david.jessee@vcuhealth.org)
Internal Medicine Clerkship Orientation: Facilitation of ultrasound training curriculum on orientation days. The 45-minute sessions begins with an overview/demonstration by the Faculty/Instructor and then students practice the same techniques and probe placement for the specific US cases. Only minimal background experience with ultrasound is needed to participate.
Contacts: Patrick Fadden (patrick.fadden@vcuhealth.org), Sarah Street (sarah.street@vcuhealth.org), Katelyn Acree (katelyn.acree1@vcuhealth.org)
Internal Medicine Clerkship Medical Student Reports: Facilitate M3 IM clerkship student reports on Friday afternoons 3-4p in West 6 OEA conference room. These reports are structured similarly to resident morning report: the goal is diagnostic and clinical reasoning.
Contacts: Patrick Fadden (patrick.fadden@vcuhealth.org), Sarah Street (sarah.street@vcuhealth.org), Katelyn Acree (katelyn.acree1@vcuhealth.org)
VCU School of Medicine has a longitudinal ultrasound course for medical students. During their first two years, students have monthly small group encounters with expert point of care ultrasound faculty to practice their ultrasound skills in a hands-on fashion. Positions for teaching may become available for physicians with point of care ultrasound training if current instructors are unable to continue their role or if the course is expanded. The commitment required is the ability to teach a small group session with the medical students one to two times per month to help them practice hands on scanning in the area they are currently learning about. Experience with ultrasound needed.
Contacts: Sammy Pedram (sammy.pedram@vcuhealth.org), Michael Joyce (michael.joyce@vcuhealth.org).
Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care courses. Listed summaries are the ones most applicable to hospitalists to be facilitators:
IPEC 502: Interprofessional Quality and Safety – This is a 1-credit course for medical (M1), pharmacy (P2), nursing (BSN) and cardiac perfusion students centered around quality improvement and patient safety. The course spans appx 12 weeks in the spring semester (January-April), with hybrid formatting including asynchronous activities and in-person sessions. There are 4 in-person sessions, each 90 minutes in length on Thursday afternoon 4-5:30pm. Sessions include didactic, case-presentations and teamwork facilitation. Lecture content is provided to facilitators via power point presentations. Total time commitment for the semester is approximately 15 hours, consisting of reviewing lecture materials, facilitating in-person sessions and grading assignments. Experience in quality improvement helps but is not required.
IPEC 561: Virtual Interprofessional Geriatrics Case – A two-credit course for M4s, P4s, and BSN4s that is offered in both the fall and spring of each year. All work is done online.
Interprofessional Critical Care Simulations (ICCS) – This is a one-session, three-hour course that runs concurrently with the required Emergency Medicine rotation for M4s. The total time commitment is four hours (one hour of online pre-course work and three hours of simulation based instruction, centering on EPA 8 (give or receive a patient handover to transition care responsibility), EPA 9 (collaborate as a member of an interprofessional team), EPA 10 (recognize a patient requiring urgent or emergent care and initiate evaluation and management) and EPA 13: (identify system failures and contribute to a culture of safety and improvement).
Contact(s): Megan Donohue (megan.donohue@vcuhealth.org); For ICCS: Chris Hogan (christopher.hogan@vcuhealth.org), Carrie Maupin (carrie.maupin@vcuhealth.org)
Website link: http://ipe.vcu.edu
Academic and EPA (Entrustable Professional Activity) Coaching provides one on one academic and competency support for medical students by academic faculty. Coaching is offered for medical students for all four years of their medical education. Coaches are trained on coaching techniques through regular faculty development sessions and meet once a semester with 20 medical students in total, promoting student self-reflection on strengths, goals, and individual learning plans.
Contacts: Nicole Deiorio (nicole.deiorio@vcuhealth.org)
VCU pre-medical undergraduate students are required to shadow physicians 120 hours each year with a variety of preceptors. Additionally, high- school and college students interested in medical school, NP school, or PA school seek time shadowing to explore careers in medicine. Physicians/APPs are assigned various learners as their clinical schedule allows throughout the year. Learners are scheduled for observation during rounder/housestaff/consult shifts from 8:30-10:30 AM, on Sundays and Tuesdays- Fridays.
Contacts: Malika Hill (malika.hill@vuchealth.org), Anna Lupejkis (anna.lupejkis@vcuhealth.org), Kim Pedram (kimberly.pedram@vcuhealth.org)
The VCU School of Medicine Office of Admissions recruits volunteers from faculty, staff, alumni, retired faculty/staff, and community partners to serve as interviewers for medical school applicants. Interviews take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from August through March. Interviews can sign up for a morning session from 8:30am – 10:30am or an afternoon session from 12:30pm – 2:30pm. Interviewers are expected to participate in at least two interview sessions per month. Interested volunteers are required to complete an online training session and attestation form prior to conducting their first interview session. Interviews are conducted using the Multi Mini Interview (MMI) format where each applicant will rotate through seven stations with a different interviewer for each station. Interview evaluations are due the same day the interview session is completed.
Contact: Chris Woleben, M.D. (christopher.woleben@vcuhealth.org)
Hospital Medicine
Resident Teaching Opportunities
This rotation is designed to prepare third-year residents for hospitalist practice before graduation. Residents work with advanced practice providers, interact with outside hospital physicians through the transfer center, and negotiate patient throughput. Additionally, residents learn about inpatient/observation criteria, billing, and coding. Residents are paired with senior hospitalist faculty for this rotation.
Contacts: Mike Bradley (michael.bradley@vcuhealth.org)
Mentors are paired with residents in the Hospitalist Pathway to provide career advice as needed. Pairings are made according to common interests whenever possible. Time commitment is variable depending on the number of meetings each year.
Contact: Laura Paletta-Hobbs (laura.paletta-hobbs@vcuhealth.org)
Third-year Hospitalist Pathway residents are given the opportunity to present in Hospital Medicine Grand Rounds. This presentation can be a journal club, a case presentation, or an update on a Hospital Medicine Topic. Lecture Advisors meet with the resident to review presentation and provide feedback, ensuring presentation is of the caliber expected of HM Grand Rounds. Advisors would also provide feedback on the presentation to the residents after the conference. Time commitment is variable, but usually about 2-3 hours per resident (meeting before, attending grand rounds, and meeting afterward).
Contacts: Mike Bradley (michael.bradley@vcuhealth.org), Laura Paletta-Hobbs (laura.paletta-hobbs@vcuhealth.org
Careers and Practice Conference
Recurring every 4th Tuesday, from 5-6pm
Usually, 5-15 residents from primarily the Hospitalist and Primary Care pathways
The Careers & Practice series is one of the options that residents have for the final hour of conference once a month. It is organized by the Ambulatory and Hospitalist Pathway Directors and focuses on a topic that would help people going into general internal medicine or hospitalist careers. Previous talks have included contract negotiations, CV writing, a hospitalist/ambulist panel highlighting differing types of careers, Telehealth/Telehospitalist work, and tips and tricks for performing the MSK exam. Presentations can be in the form of a lecture or preferably something interactive like a mini-workshop. Time commitment: 3-4 hours of content preparation, 1 hour to present.
Contact: Laura Paletta-Hobbs (laura.paletta-hobbs@vcuhealth.org)
- Recurring meetings every 6-8 weeks, 1-1.5-hour meeting times, usually Monday from 5-6pm. Some background in quality improvement is needed to be effective.
- 20-30 residents
- Mentoring in QI Projects: these are resident-led projects that require little supervision, usually just direction and connection to resources within the hospitals.
- Time commitment depends on where the project is in development. May be more intensive at the beginning followed by the residents being more self-directed.
Contacts: Carol Marcelo (carolyn.marcelo@vcuhealth.org), QI IM Chief: Alex Mink for 2026-2027 (alexander.mink@vcuhealth.org)
Faculty members help support residents in planning activities for the program in wellness. This group is a resident led committee – with faculty assisting in activity planning and maybe offering to take the lead in one or two sessions themselves throughout the year.
Contact: Becky Forrest (rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org)
A 45-minute session on the first Tuesday of each block. Interns are led through discussions and exercises to foster resilience. Faculty members could lead/co-lead a session if there is a particular area of interest or expertise or serve as a small-group facilitator to help foster engagement and discussion among interns.
Contact: Becky Forrest (rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org)
During Block 12 each year, there are 8 general medicine lectures for interns (Tuesday afternoons, 1-3:45pm) and 8 general medicine lectures for senior residents (Thursdays afternoons, 1-3:45pm). Some of these topics are inpatient oriented, making a hospitalist the best person to run the conferences. These are encouraged to be interactive and case-based, and the program offers support in developing these talks (especially if someone wants to put together a TBL, POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning), Jeopardy, use audience response, etc.
Contact: Becky Forrest (rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org)
Reviews program outcomes and data, identifies priority areas for improvement.
Contact: Becky Forrest (rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org)
Reviews and gives feedback to rotations, longitudinal curricula, etc.
Contact: Becky Forrest (rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org)
Hospital Medicine
Peer Teaching Opportunities
Weekly, year-round lunchtime lecture series. Many presentations are given by HMS hospitalists regarding topics relevant to hospital medicine or active VCU inpatient quality improvement projects. Other presentations are given by invited guest lecturers from other specialties or disciplines, such as pharmacy. Subjects for presentations are selected by the presenting physicians, and all faculty are encouraged and expected to participate.
Contact: Alan Dow (alan.dow@vcuhealth.org)
Residents can get assistance in initiating or joining projects with the help of the Office of Educational Affairs. There are opportunities for faculty to involve medical students or residents with projects, or to start projects with help from other faculty.
Contacts: Becky Forrest (rebecca.miller@vcuhealth.org), Laura Paletta-Hobbs (laura.paletta-hobbs@vcuhealth.org)