Viewpoint: Learning through teaching

One of the things that stood out about my anaesthesia elective was the one to one teaching that I received every day. I was paired with a staff doctor or fellow and was the only student for whom he or she was responsible. Sometimes the teacher to student ratio was even two to one, if a staff and intern were both present. It was obvious from the start that I was benefiting immensely from this apprenticeship. I learnt about cardiac output and stroke volume while I was monitoring patients' blood pressure. I learnt to …