Best Practices for Utilizing Medical Students as Embedded Simulation Participants in POCUS Training (Panel) (AEUS and CDEM Sponsored)

The use of standardized patients, community volunteers, or actual patients often optimizes clinical skills training, but these services can be expensive and recruitment efforts a tedious and unreliable process. Some programs have attempted to develop a more sustainable volunteer program by utilizing medical students in this role. However, medical students who serve as Embedded Simulation Participants (ESPs) to facilitate hands-on educational activities through simulation represent a potentially vulnerable population. Educators have an ethical responsibility to safeguard ESPs’ autonomy in an environment where power differentials may prevent students from easily advocating for themselves. While simulation-based activities may utilize low-fidelity models, domains such as point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) particularly benefit from ESPs in providing effective hands-on training for image acquisition, mimicking scanning patients at bedside. Student ESPs deserve a thorough informed consent process and special protections to avoid untoward outcomes such as disrespect of students’ autonomy, formal medical school complaints, or Title IX violations.

A panel consisting of experts in ultrasound education and medical student education, medical ethics, and former ESPs, will discuss their experiences partnering with ESPs and promoting a safe educational environment. Panelists will discuss how they utilize ESPs as part of their curricula and the unique threats to medical student ESPs posed by POCUS education. Methods to mitigate threats, such as thorough consent processes, partnership with medical students to produce targeted educational materials, and innovative ways to ensure ESP safety and comfort through a neutral third party will be introduced. Participants will be asked to consider their own practices with ESPs in light of threats and opportunities the panelists have encountered and will work in small groups to plan for safe and respectful partnership with ESPs at their own institutions. After this didactic, educators will be prepared to respond to ESP concerns promptly and respectfully when inappropriate scenarios arise.

Presenters:

Will Kropf, MD MHPE
David Haidar, MD
Samantha Chao, MD, HEC-C
Creagh Boulger, MD
Rachel B. Liu, MD
Michelle Feeney, MD

Authors

Will Kropf, MD MHPE

University of Michigan

I'm a clinical assistant professor at University of Michigan, where I completed residency and fellowship. I just finished a combined fellowship in clinical ultrasound and medical education. I currently serve as assistant program director for our residency program. My research interests are in trainee assessment, curriculum development and evaluation, and various elements of POCUS, including instruction, skill assessment, and diagnostic, therapeutic, and resuscitative techniques.
David Haidar, MD

University of Michigan

Graduated residency in 2021 from the University of Michigan and completed an ultrasound fellowship in 2022 at the University of Arizona. Currently faculty at the University of Michigan with interests in clinical ultrasound, ultrasound education, and feedback through simulation. Currently serves as the Director of Resident Ultrasound Education and AEMUS Fellowship Director.
Samantha Chao, MD, HEC-C

University of Michigan

Samantha is a PGY-4 in Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan and one of the current chief residents. She completed medical school at the University of Michigan in 2020 and earned her undergraduate degree at Carleton College with a double major in English and Chemistry. She is an active member of the ACEP Ethics Committee and one of the few residents to sit on the committee. Her current academic and research interests include applying clinical ethics in the emergency department, improving health care for patients who are incarcerated, palliative care, clinical ultrasound, and DEI efforts related to reducing the use of stigmatizing language.
Creagh Boulger, MD

Ohio State

Vice Chair of Education, AEMUS fellowship director, chair of system wide ultrasound, faculty lead for RAFFT.
Passion for gender equality in medicine, education, and advocacy for victims of human trafficking and sexual assault.
Rachel B. Liu, MD

Yale University

Dr. Liu is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, where she is also the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Director and Associate Ultrasound Section Chief for the Department. For the School, she is the Director of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education and Director of the Advanced Training Period, building ultrasound opportunities and curricula for students as well as overseeing the electives and sub-internships. She has held leadership positions within the major ultrasound sections of the emergency medicine societies including the SAEM Academy of Emergency Ultrasound and the ACEP Ultrasound Section. She has been awarded numerous teaching prizes both locally and nationally.
Michelle Feeney, MD

University of Michigan

Michelle Feeney is a 4th year resident at Michigan Medicine. She attended The Ohio State University College of Medicine and will be working with Team Health in New Jersey after graduation.