Jenifer Goedken, MD, Director of Student Clerkship of Emory University Visited TSMU

On  December 1st Jennifer Goedken, MD and a Director of Student Clerkship at Emory University School of Medicine visited Tbilisi State Medical University. Professor Goedken was introduced to US MD Program clerkship curriculim. During her visit Goedken met with faculty and students and residants at Chachava Clinic, one of the sites for the US MD clerkship. She spent time with the current clerkship students who shared with her their appreciation as well as frustation, at being the firs group of students through the new and exciting curriculum. Professor Goedken also met with Eka Ekaladze, Director of American MD Program. They reviewed the curriculum together and discussed the ways to optimize the clerkship period including the possibility of a dedicated orientation to the clerkship years. The week at Tbilisi ended in a meeting with all the clerkship directors and eads of US MD Program. Jennifer Goedken shared her observation with the professors and invited lecturers. They had a chance to discuss their individual challenges. 

Jennifer Goedken (Associate Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, General Ob/Gyn): `I had the pleasure of attending the white coat ceremony for the incoming TSMU US MD class in September 2016. It was on that visit that I was introduced to Nick Kintraia, an esteemed colleague in Ob/Gyn and the person identified to be the clerkship director for the new US MD program. Then in June of this year, I hosted Dr. Kintraia and his associate, Sophia Tamazashvili at Emory. They were introduced to our clerkship curriculum, clinical sites and evaluation processes. I was more than happy when they then invited me to visit during their inaugural clerkship rotation. During my week visit, I was able to meet with enthusiastic faculty and residents at Chachava clinic, one of the sites for the clerkship. I also had a chance to tour and spend time with Dr. David Gagua at his beautiful new clinic, another one of the clinical sites. My colleagues at both sites shared the struggles and successes of integrating students into their busy clinical practices. Then I met with the current clerkship students who shared with me their appreciation, as well as frustration, at being the first group of students through this new and exciting curriculum. I met with the fearless leader of the program, Dr. Eka Ekaladze. She and I reviewed the curriculum together discussing ways to optimize the clerkship period including the possibility of a dedicated orientation to the clerkship years. The week ended in a meeting with all the clerkship directors where I shared my observations with them. Then everyone had a chance to discuss their individual challenges and brain storm some possible collective solutions".