My participation in the MedTeach program is the best thing that I do all year! My students and I have such a valuable experience working with the med students . . . I learned that science doesn't have to be boring, out of a textbook! My students learn that the field of science is open to them in the future.
- SFUSD teacher
This experience was one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences I have ever had, and I realize this is not only because of what I learned, but because of the realization that this was truly valuable to the children. Inside the classroom, I learned how to better interact with children; how to teach them in a way that is fun, stimulating, and makes them feel like real scientists.
- UCSF medical student
Overview
MedTeach, initiated in 1989 and currently funded by the UCSF School of Medicine, is one of SEP’s longest-running programs. For a historical overview of this program, see H. J. Doyle, "UCSF Partnership to Enrich Science Teaching for Sixth Graders in San Francisco’s Schools," Academic Medicine, Vol.74, No.4, 1999. Download the PDF.
Through MedTeach, teachers and their students work closely with medical professional role models to learn about health and the human body, and first-year medical students gain experience explaining science and health concepts to children with the guidance of an experienced teacher.