The Bedside Educator: Best Practices for Bedside Instruction in Rheumatology

Sunday, October 26, 2025

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM Central Time

Moderator(s)

MC

Michael Cammarata, MD, RhMSUS

Johns Hopkins
Phoenix, Maryland, United States

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose

Session Coordinator(s)

Jason Kolfenbach, MD

University of Colorado
Denver, CO, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

In today’s era of rapid technological advancement, there is an increased risk of
diminishing focus on the physical exam. However, in rheumatology, the
physical exam remains a cornerstone of both diagnosis and treatment. The
bedside encounter also provides an invaluable opportunity for teaching
physical examination skills and engaging trainees in the diagnostic process. In
this session, participants will explore effective, evidence-based strategies for
enhancing bedside teaching, with a focus on both general bedside teaching
skills and the specific techniques needed to teach physical examination in
rheumatology. Topics will include how to effectively model expert exam
maneuvers, how to engage learners at all levels, and how to communicate
findings with a patient-centered approach.

Learning Objectives:

Identify effective, evidence-based bedside teaching techniques to promote physical examination skills and clinical knowledge among trainees
Analyze common challenges in bedside teaching and develop strategies to address them
Explain the importance of bedside teaching in developing physical examination skills for accurate diagnosis and patient-centered care in rheumatology

Presentations:

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Central Time

Mastering the Art of Bedside Teaching in Rheumatology
Interactive Speaker: Alan Baer, MD, FACP, MACR – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Central Time

Engaging Learners: Strategies for Teaching and Assessing the Physical Exam
Interactive Speaker: Brian Garibaldi, MD – Northwestern University