title: Travelling educational workshops for clinical teachers: are they worthwhile?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The support of doctors who teach medical students in clinical settings is considered very important. In order to function as effectively as possible in their role as clinical teachers, these clinicians require educational support from faculty members. The most usual form that support takes is university staff offering face-to-face teaching on educational topics.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  It is estimated that in the course of 1 year, and across the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago, there could be up to 600 clinicians actively involved in the direct support of medical students. Many of these clinicians work in locations some considerable distance from the university campus.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009 the Medical Education Unit based at the Wellington Campus introduced a series of peripatetic face-to-face workshops for clinical teachers in several different geographical locations. Educational support of this nature is challenging to organise and potentially expensive, which begs the question: are travelling workshops worthwhile?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas the subject matter of the workshops was of interest to those who attended, of equal importance was the opportunity the workshops created to interact with colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, the workshops were the catalyst for some clinicians to formally pursue their particular educational interests.
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Unit, University of Otago Wellington, New Zealand. peter.gallagher@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pullon
mesh_terms: D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D002983:Clinical Competence; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004493:Education; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014195:Travel