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Date of Presentation

5-8-2025

Document Type

Article

Department

Medicine

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Val Kozmenko

Keywords

medical education, physician leadership, communication skills, curriculum, feedback, team-based care

Subject Categories

Communication | Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

As healthcare increasingly adopts a team-based model to address complex patient needs, the role of physicians as effective team leaders becomes critical. Despite this, formal leadership training is not a standard component of medical school curricula. This study presents the development and evaluation of a pilot leadership and communication course designed for medical students at the University of South Dakota. The course combined didactic instruction with simulation-based learning to teach essential skills such as active listening, giving and receiving feedback, and effective communication. A pre-course survey assessed students’ confidence and needs, informing the course design. Post-course assessments, including quizzes and participant feedback, evaluated knowledge retention and the emotional realism of the simulations. Results indicated strong student interest, particularly among early-year students, and highlighted the value of experiential learning in leadership development. The study underscores the importance of integrating structured leadership training into medical education and suggests directions for future curriculum enhancement and research.

Leadership and Team Communication Course for Medical Students as Future Healthcare Leaders

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