Clinical preceptors: tips for effective teaching with minimal downtime.

Editor’s Note: Harold C. Seim, MD, MPH, has been the predoctoral director in the Department of Family Practice and Community Health at the University of Minnesota for 12 years. O. Guy Johnson, MD, is a clinical professor in the department and has precepted students in his clinic continuously for the past 30 years. In this month’s column, Drs Seim and Johnson present practical, time-saving tips for community teachers. I welcome your comments about this feature, which is also published on the STFM Web site at http://stfm.org. I also encourage all predoctoral directors to make copies of this feature and distribute it to their preceptors (with the appropriate Family Medicine citation). Send your submissions to Paul Paulman, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Family Medicine, 983075 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-3075. 402-559-6818. Fax: 402-559-6501. E-mail: [email protected]. Submissions should be no longer than 3–4 double-spaced pages. References can be used but are not required. Count each table or figure as one page of text. Paul M. Paulman, MD Feature Editor