Rate My Professor Erica Schmidt

Dr. Erica Schmidt is a lecturer in the Student Academic Support Unit within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. She holds an MD from 2009 as a US-trained family physician and possesses expertise in linguistics and education, including studies at the University of Melbourne. In her role, Schmidt provides targeted academic support to medical students via individual consultations, group workshops, and specialized resources, with a particular emphasis on academic writing and clinical communication skills. Her contributions have been vital in addressing student needs, especially during transitional periods in their studies.

Schmidt's scholarly work centers on medical education and student support services. Co-authoring with Britta Schneider, she published 'Trends in targeted academic support for medical students before and during the Covid-19 pandemic' in the Journal of Academic Language and Learning in 2023. The retrospective analysis of appointment data from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences showed a 43% increase in students accessing individual support and a 35% rise in appointments during the pandemic years. Topics broadened to encompass personal issues, interpersonal communication, and career advice. In 2017, she co-authored 'Searching for a written patient feedback instrument for patient-medical student consultations' in Advances in Medical Education and Practice, reviewing instruments for the Patient Teaching Associate program at Eastern Health Clinical School and Monash School of Medicine, identifying gaps and suggesting adaptations like the Doctors' Interpersonal Skills Questionnaire. Additional publications include 'Constructing ALL identities through individual consultations with medical students' and contributions to studies on patients' attitudes towards clinical skills training for teaching purposes. Schmidt participates in university initiatives such as the Gender Equity Panel Pledge and served as a delegate at the Teaching Communication in Healthcare conference by Cancer Council Victoria.