Medical Student Involvement and Learning Objectives in Morbidity and Mortality Conferences: A National Survey of the Association for Surgical Education's Committee of Clerkship Directors

Abstract

Despite implementation of Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference across surgical graduate medical education, sparse literature exists regarding the attendance and involvement of medical students. We sought to examine student involvement and learning objectives for M&M on a national level. A survey was distributed through the Association for Surgical Education Committee of Clerkship Directors. Questions examined demographics, teaching practices regarding M&M, and student learning objectives. Forty-eight responses were collected reflecting practices of weekly M&M (96%) and required student attendance (93%). Students are observers in 61% of M&Ms, observer with questions in 37%, and presenter at 2%. Learning objectives for M&M highlighted exposing students to conference style (76%), reflective learning (63%), and highlighting medical error (78%). It is the national standard for medical students to attend weekly M&M. Student learning objectives reflect desires to improve exposure to this style of teaching conference and understanding the gravity of medical error.