Medical Student and Faculty Perceptions of Learning From Pediatric Patients and Families: A Multicenter Qualitative Study

While the value of medical student involvement in the care of pediatric patients is widely recognized, challenges and risks may limit learning. Given the need for students to gain this specific skillset, programs must develop strategies to ensure learning occurs in ways that maximize the benefits to children and families, including preparing students for experiences, incorporating students as active members of the team, providing close supervision, allowing individualized student participation based on competency, considering children's and families' vulnerabilities and agency to provide true consent/assent, and empowering patient/families to participate actively in teaching and learning.