Stritch School of Medicine Community-based Preceptor Spotlight

Dr. Christina Benedict is a full-time Pediatric Hospitalist at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, IL.  She has worked there since 2014, after completing here Pediatric Residency at LUMC.  The SSOM students have been working with her on the inpatient service every rotation for almost the last 5 years.  Students truly appreciate her caring nature and supportive teaching style.  She fosters a teaching environment that is conducive to learning and really brings out the best in each student.  Her excellence in teaching has been recognized several times with various awards, including the Wolf and Kettle Teacher Award last year.  She is truly an outstanding role model and mentor for the SSOM students.

We recently asked Dr. Benedict about her teaching experiences.

What is your #1 highlight in medical teaching?

I enjoy watching each student’s confidence grow and flourish.  I notice when they feel more secure in their critical thinking abilities and diagnostic skills.  It’s very rewarding to see them transform by the end of their rotation.

If you could share one tip with your fellow clinical teachers, what would it be?

In addition to medical teaching, remember to provide guidance on life beyond medical school.  I enjoy discussing topics such as residency, life after residency, and what attending life is like now.  I try to be as transparent as possible to give them a better glimpse into their future role as a physician.   

What’s the most important thing you learned about teaching when you were starting out?

Each student is a unique individual with a unique learning style.  I’ve learned to accommodate to each student’s specific needs. 

What is the biggest piece of advice you would share with an aspiring teacher?

Be encouraging and supportive toward the students.  When you are genuinely enthusiastic about a teaching topic, the students will be too!