Learning Support

Tutoring

First- and second-year students: Tutoring for individual courses is available, offered either in small groups or one-on-one from teaching assistants or other graduate students. Contact your course master.

Third-year students: Residents and interns are available to tutor students one-on-one to develop clinical skills, including talking with patients, team communication and physical exam, and solidifying core clinical concepts in preparation for the NBME Subject Exams (Shelf). Contact your clerkship director.

Learning Specialist

Sarah Fowler-Dixon, PhDDr. Sarah Fowler-Dixon, PhD, provides services in the areas of enhancing or developing new learning skills, overcoming academic difficulty, or diagnosed learning disabilities.  Contact 314-503-5169 or sbahdixon@gmail.com.  Sessions are 60 minutes (depending on the situation multiple meetings may be needed) and cover topics such as:

  • Study Location
  • Stress Reduction
  • Study Schedules
  • Use of videotaped lecture
  • Learning Styles & Strategies
  • Test Analysis
  • Active vs. Passive Learning
  • Goal Setting
  • Test Anxiety
  • Self-Awareness
  • Identification and Use of High Yield Test Questions
  • Test Taking Errors and Their Correction
  • Note taking
  • Reading Skills to Increase Speed and Comprehension
  • USMLE Prep
  • Routines
  • Social vs. Solitary Learning
  • Memory & Focus

Fowler-Dixon earned a doctorate from Saint Louis University in Curriculum & Instruction and Higher Education Administration and a Master of Science degree specializing in Reading from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville. Her undergraduate degree is from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Fowler-Dixon has worked with students ranging from elementary school to professional school and adult learners re-entering the academic arena. Dr. Fowler-Dixon has developed a number of curricula and programs currently in use at Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis, and other domestic and international organizations. She developed and directed Health and Human Services demonstration projects in high schools and adult education centers. Dr. Fowler-Dixon is a national presenter having garnered honors and awards from Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, Mensa, American Association of Medical Colleges and Health Improvement Institute.

Exam Preparation

Becker Medical Library Resources: Visit beckerguides.wustl.edu/testprep for free online exam preparation tools or contact Debbie Thomas, Becker Associate Director, at dathomas@wustl.edu or 314-362-9729.

For subject-specific preparation in clinical neurology, medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry and surgery, please visit the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) website.

The Writing Center

A free service open to all graduate students of Washington University is The Writing Center, where you may have any work in progress read and discussed, including essays, theses, dissertations, personal statements, and more.  In addition, you can visit the Speaking Studio for one-on-one tutoring for speeches and oral presentations, with the option of videotaping and review of presentations with a trained tutor.

Make an appointment at writingcenter.wustl.edu or contact writing@wustl.edu.