Clinician Educator (CE) Spotlight
Featuring Lindsey Haddock, MD, MAEd
Second from the left, Lindsey joined her E4C group of medical students for a fun-filled pumpkin carving event this Halloween.
December 9th, 2024
Welcome to the Clinician Educator (CE) Corner Spotlight Series, where we highlight the incredible educators shaping the future of Stanford Department of Medicine.
This month, we are thrilled to feature Lindsey Haddock, MD, MAEd, a passionate clinician educator who brings her expertise in geriatrics, mentorship, and medical education to inspire learners and build meaningful relationships. Join us as Lindsey shares her journey, favorite teaching moments, and tips for balancing the many roles of a clinician educator.
First, can you share your background and what first inspired you to pursue clinician education?
I went to medical school at Stanford, and Lars Osterberg was one of my original mentors as my assigned E4C (i.e. educator for care) and he really demonstrated to me the power of being a clinician educator and the ability to impact a student's career trajectory. This inspired me to pursue a career in primary care and also in medical education, do a fellowship and get a master's degree in medical education.
What do you find most rewarding about working as a Clinician Educator at Stanford, and how has this role shaped your professional growth?
I love the variety of things I get to do at Stanford! I love forming deep longitudinal relationships with older adults and their families in my primary care geriatrics clinic, and also seeing older adults in the hospital setting to help them during acute illness.
Another aspect I love is working with learners at all stages of their journey. I get to witness medical students evolve – from their first patient interaction to becoming senior medical students ready to embark on their careers. As an associate program director for the geriatrics fellowship, I see my fellows become experts in caring for older adults while designing fulfilling career paths.
Finally, I get to mentor fellow faculty to advance their medical education work through scholarship. The common thread throughout all of this is the meaningful relationships I form with my patients, learners, and colleagues.
What tips might you have for balancing the demands of clinical care, teaching, and administrative responsibilities in your daily work?
As a working mom, this is something really important to me! I’ve taken advantage of several opportunities Stanford offers to help me optimize my efficiency and design a schedule that balances my various responsibilities.
I make an effort to stay organized by setting clear goals for each week while also keeping an eye on the longer-term projects I need to complete over the quarter and year. I schedule dedicated blocks of time throughout the week to focus on different projects. And most importantly, I try to be flexible and forgiving to myself when I don't get everything done that I hoped!
The common thread throughout all of this is the meaningful relationships I form with my patients, learners, and colleagues.
– Lindsey Haddock
Can you share an example of a particularly rewarding teaching moment that reinforced your passion for being a Clinician Educator?
One of my favorite examples recently was teaching the social history to the first year medical students. They were all understandably nervous about asking these sensitive questions, but after practicing and getting feedback, I saw them all transform into confident interviewers who approached these conversations with kindness and sensitivity.
It reminded me how powerful teaching about communication is, and how it will not only impact a student's whole career but also all the patients they will care for!
Are you a clinician educator? Submit your story!
