The Katz School of Medicine peer academic facilitator program, is overseen by the deans or directors from the Offices of Undergraduate Medical Education and Student Support. For example, the assistant dean for Phase 1, the assistant director of the Phase 1 curriculum at the St. Luke’s Regional Campus, and the senior director of personal counseling and wellness. Students in the M2 through M4 classes from the North Philadelphia and St. Luke’s campuses are selected to serve as peer academic facilitators through an application and interview process. They also complete a training program to prepare them for their role.
Facilitators provide one-on-one academic assistance by assessing their peer’s individual needs and providing individualized advising that includes reviewing course content, reviewing previously used study skills to provide advice about effective study techniques and the use of learning resources, reviewing formative (practice) questions, and individualized review of their peer’s Phase 1 examinations. Peer tutoring is available to help students learn curricular content, prepare for examinations in Phase 1, clinical subject exams in Phase 2, and/or national licensing examinations.
Students meet in-person or virtually with a peer academic facilitator on either the North Philadelphia or St. Luke’s campus. Students can self-refer or be referred by faculty, course directors, deans or directors in the Offices of Undergraduate Medical Education and Student Support, an academic coach and/or the learning support specialist. Facilitators also hold group sessions to provide academic assistance for students in Phase 1 of the curriculum. These sessions include
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how to study for the block at the beginning of the course;
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weekly content review sessions; and
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a review session before the final examination for each Phase 1 course.