Title: Millennials in Medicine: A New Generation Comes to Medical School
1Millennials in Medicine A New Generation Comes
to Medical School
- Carol Elam, Ed.D.
- Associate Dean for Admissions and Institutional
Advancement - Professor, Department of Behavioral Science
- Director of Medical Education Research
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- Nicole Borges, Ph.D.
- Associate Professor, Department of Community
Health - Director, Medical Education Research
- Boonshoft School of Medicine Wright State
University
2Impressions of Current Medical Students Questions
to Ponder
- Name 3 positive qualities, attributes, or
attitudes you see in current medical students. - Name 3 negative qualities, attributes, or
attitudes you see in current medical students. - Have medical students changed over the past few
years?
3 A Generation Is
- Born over a 20 year time period
- Shaped by common history
- -Icons
- -Events and Conditions
- Known for its persona
4Generational Cohorts
- G.I. Generation (1901-1924)
Loyal and patriotic
Silent Generation (1925-1942)
Conforming
Boom Generation (1943-1960)
Idealistic and competitive
5Generational Cohorts
Skeptical and independent
The Millennials (1982-2002)
Realistic and collaborative
6Who are the Millennial Students?
Children of the Baby Boomers
Included in family decision-making
Accustomed to standing up for themselves Have
developed problem-solving ability
Told they are special
Confident and bred for success
7Who are the Millennial Students?
Sheltered
Used to following the rules
Pressured to excel
Balance school, hobbies, sports, service
activities
Most educated generation
May work to resolve societal problems Next
Greatest Generation
8Other Defining Positive Qualities
- Techno-savvy
- -Internet
- -Personal Pagers
- -Cell phones
- -Computers
- Team-oriented with strong team instincts and peer
bonds - Polite and respectful of others
9Potential Twists
- Trust in institutions at local level
Expectations for accountability consumerist
attitudes
Strong parental influence / interference
- Have lived with diversity
Appreciate cultural differences with individuals
from diverse backgrounds
May feel problems associated with race/diversity
have been addressed and resolved
10Potential Twists
- Reliance on technology in communication with
friends
Less skill in one-to-one communication
Shortened attention span Lack of introspective
ability
11Previous Educational Experiences
- Structured curriculum with emphasis on basics
- Rote teaching and learning
- Measures of objective progress, computer scored
examinations - Prefer math and science to humanities, art, and
history - Emphasis on educational achievement, good
grades
12Questions to Consider
- What consideration is given to factors such as
race, socioeconomic status, or country of birth? - To what extent do presentations such as this
overgeneralize group characteristics and
perpetuate stereotyping? - What data are available to document the
differences between Generation X and Millennial
students?
13Medical School Millennial Students A Comparison
with Generation Xers(Borges, Manuel, Jones and
Elam, 2006)
- 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire
- Compared responses of 399 females and 410 males
enrolled between 1989 and 2004 (n809) - 68 were Generation X students
- 32 were Millennial students
14Sixteen Personality Factors
15HypothesisHigher Scoring Patterns
- Millennials will score higher on
- Warmth
- Rule Consciousness
- Sensitivity
- Emotional Stability
- Perfectionism
- Generation X will score higher on
- Dominance
- Vigilance
- Privateness
- Openness to Change
- Self-Reliance
16FindingsHigher Scoring Patterns
- Millennials did score higher on
- Warmth
- Rule Consciousness
- Sensitivity
- Emotional Stability
- Perfectionism
- Generation X did score higher on
- Dominance
- Vigilance
- Privateness
- Openness to Change
- Self-Reliance
17Other FactorsNot included in the Hypotheses
- Millennials also scored higher on
- Reasoning
- Social Boldness
- Apprehension
- No differences
- Liveliness
- Abstractedness
- Tension
18Findings and Implications
- Millennials scored higher on scales as expected
Generation X students did not...Why? - No real differences
- Need to refine aspects of the theories
- Students in medical school are different
- Effect of cuspars
19Questions to Consider
- What are the millennials needs in the learning
environment? - What are the implications for changing the
teaching-learning relationship? - What should our institutions do to prepare for
and respond to these students?
20Challenges when Communicating with Millennial
Generation
- Sense of entitlement
- -want value, accountability
- Complaining to the top, not going through proper
channels - -want suggestions/concerns to be heard
- Unrealistic expectations about how to achieve
goals - -may need guidance from mentors/senior
students may not seek help - Pressured overachievers
- -want balance in life yet are overextended
and overwhelmed
21Challenges in Educating the Millennial Generation
- Not inclined to self-explore
- - May need help with reflective
exercises/practices - Susceptible to academic dishonesty
- - Be clear about policies, and consistent in
application of student progress/ honor code rules
- Technology (cell calls, email, instant messaging)
may have stunted communication skills
particularly in confrontational situations - - Monitor development of communication skills
22Factors that May Contribute to Attitudes/Behaviors
of Millennial Students
- Parental Involvement
- Increasing Tuition and Debt
- Contact with Other Medical Students
- Internet
- Service and Service Learning Exposure
- Selection Factors
23Opportunities for Curriculum Development
- Team learning
- Promote cooperative and interprofessional
- learning opportunities
- Real world applications
- Technology innovations
- Promote new applications of technology
- Diversity experts
- Tap into understanding of culture, ethnicity
- Community and civic spirit
- Support and empower community service and
- real world problem solving
24References
- Neil Howe William Strauss, Millennials Rising
The Next Great Generation. Vintage Books New
York, 2000. - Lynne Lancaster David Stillman, When
Generations Collide Who They Are. Why They
Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at
Work. Harper Business New York, 2002. - R Zemke, C. Raines, B. Filipczak, Generations at
Work Managing the Class of Veterans, Boomers,
Xers, and Nexters in Your Workplace. New York
American Management Assoc., 2000.