The Gateway Coaching Program is in place to promote and develop a longitudinal coaching relationship to aid in the lifelong learning and medical education journey of the learner. Each medical student is assigned a Faculty Coach and coaching cohort of eight peers, with which they will remain for the duration of their medical education at WUSM.
Students will meet as a small group coaching cohort weekly in order to synthesize curriculum, build relationships with their peers and coach, and explore personal journeys up to and throughout medical education. Students will also meet frequently 1:1 with their coaches to gain direct individual coaching and feedback on skills and competencies, and develop an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP).
Approach to coaching in the Gateway Curriculum
The Coaching Program aligns with Gateway Curriculum Guiding Principles.
The Gateway Coaching Program holds these guiding principles:
- Effective communication and longitudinal relationships — Enhancing authentic human connection between coaches and learners and within coaching groups as a source of meaning, purpose, and resilience
- Cooperative inquiry and active listening in all coaching interactions, creating an interactive pattern of discussion where meaning and knowledge are co-constructed, not dictated
- Individualized support through deep understanding of the Gateway Curriculum and assessments, the WUSM journey, and resources available for WUSM students
- Guided reflection to guide maximal growth and lifelong learning
- Courage and humility — to explore identity, health, and illness, of self, patients, communities, and structures and systems of care