Medical and Dental Students
Are you a Western Medicine or Dental student looking for help with studying?
Come to Schulich Study Hall, a partnership between Western’s Learning Development and Success and the Learner Experience Office at the Schulich School of Medicine. This is a monthly workshop series for Western Medical and Dental students. We will meet in a hybrid or online format to accommodate students across both campuses. Here, you’ll be able to learn effective study habits with others, get study tips from a learning specialist, and participate in workshops that will help you excel academically.
This year, we are asking students to sign up for workshops through Western Connect. You can find the workshop under Events – Learning Development and Success. If you missed signing up for the workshop beforehand, you can still join us in-person or online! Use the Zoom link provided by the Learner Experience Office or contact Heather Ellis (hellis3@uwo.ca).
Drop-in Appointments
We’re excited to introduce a new support service for medical and dental students! Starting in September, we will be offering monthly 30-minute drop-in appointments designed to help you navigate the unique challenges of your academic journey. Whether you’re facing time management struggles, content overload, imposter syndrome, or just need someone to talk to about the demands of medical and dental school, we’re here to help.
Appointments are offered once a month from 11:30 a.m - 1:30 p.m. in a hybrid format, join us in-person or online, whichever works best for you. Contact Heather Ellis (hellis3@uwo.ca) for the meeting location or the Zoom link or speak with the Learner Experience Office.
Upcoming Sessions: September 23, October 7, November 4, December 9
No need to book in advance—just drop in during our scheduled hours. These sessions are confidential, supportive, and tailored to your needs. We look forward to connecting with you and supporting your success in medical and dental school!
Fall/Winter 2025-26 Workshops
Content Overload: How do I figure out what to study?
Date: September 16, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Medical school can be overwhelming with the sheer volume of information students are expected to learn. This workshop aims to provide strategies and tools to help medical students manage content overload effectively. Participants will explore techniques for prioritizing and organizing study materials, utilizing digital resources, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
This workshop will be offered on Zoom. Visit Western Connect for the Zoom link.
Supercharge your Study Skills! Active Recall Workshop
Date: October 21, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Are you looking to enhance your study techniques and improve your memory retention? Join us for a workshop on Active Recall and discover how this method can transform your learning experience and boost your exam preparation! In this workshop, you’ll learn the science behind active recall and why it’s one of the most effective study techniques. We’ll cover practical strategies to implement active recall in your daily study routine, helping you to better retain and recall information.
This workshop will be offered in a hybrid format. See Western Connect for the room location and the Zoom link.
Mastering the Anatomy Bell Ringer: Study Strategies and Techniques (Dental Students)
Date: October 24, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
The anatomy bell ringer can be one of the most challenging assessments in dental school. This workshop is designed to help students develop effective study strategies and techniques to excel in this practical exam. Participants will learn how to prepare systematically, utilize various study resources, and approach the exam with confidence. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a toolkit of study strategies and resources tailored to this exam. They will be better prepared to approach the exam with confidence and achieve success.
This workshop will be offered on Zoom. See Western Connect for the Zoom link.
Active Learning Strategies for Medical and Dental Students
Date: November 18, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Whether you joined our October session on active recall or are just getting started, this hands-on workshop is designed to help you improve your study skills using active learning techniques. Learn how to organize complex information, boost memory retention, and make studying more engaging and effective. You’ll learn how to use mind maps to visually connect medical concepts, different ways to use mnemonics to make facts stick, and how to structure outlines for efficient review.
This workshop will be offered in a hybrid format. See Western Connect for the room location and the Zoom link.
Bouncing Back: Re-Assessing Academic Progress
Date: January 27, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Join us for a supportive workshop designed to address academic challenges. In this workshop, we will analyze challenges through a growth mindset to create resilience for our academic futures. We will have a panel of upper-year medical and dental students to share their personal experiences—how they overcame academic hurdles, reframed their setbacks, and developed strategies that helped them thrive. Let’s normalize the struggle, build resilience, embrace growth, and celebrate our ability to bounce back.
This workshop will be offered in a hybrid format. See Western Connect for the room location and the Zoom link.
Content Overload Part II: Adjusting to Second Term Courses
Date: February 27, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
This workshop will build on the first Content Overload session offered in the fall. Here, we will consider how to adapt our previous strategies for new courses and new ways of learning. If you didn’t attend the first workshop, don’t worry! You can still learn how to manage mass amounts of information and stress while in medical and dental school. We will explore how to manage new content in existing knowledge systems, evaluate the effectiveness of our previous strategies for new courses, and build strategies for future learning.
This workshop will be offered on Zoom. See Western Connect for the Zoom link.
Help! I’ve Fallen Behind: Understanding Different Prioritization Techniques
Date: March 10, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Do you feel like you are falling behind? Are you struggling to keep up with content? Falling behind in medical or dental school can feel overwhelming, but effective prioritization techniques can help you get back on track. This workshop is designed to teach students how to prioritize tasks and manage their time efficiently. By the end of this session, students will understand common reasons for falling behind and how prioritization can address these issues. Participants will learn various prioritization methods to handle their workload, reduce stress, and improve academic performance.
This workshop will be offered in a hybrid format. See Western Connect for the room location and the Zoom link.
Mastering the Anatomy Bell Ringer: Study Strategies and Techniques (Medical Students)
Date: April 21, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
The anatomy bell ringer can be one of the most challenging assessments in dental school. This workshop is designed to help students develop effective study strategies and techniques to excel in this practical exam. Participants will learn how to prepare systematically, utilize various study resources, and approach the exam with confidence. By the end of this workshop, participants will have a toolkit of study strategies and resources tailored to this exam. They will be better prepared to approach the exam with confidence and achieve success.
This workshop will be offered on Zoom. See Western Connect for the Zoom link.
How to...
Research on learning skills for medical students:
The benefits of retrieval with medical residents
- Retrieval is a powerful learning strategy that can really enhance your study sessions! Learn more about it by reading The Benefits of Retrieval with Medical Residents by the Learning Scientists
- Learn more about expanded retrieval with An Evidence-Based Guide for Medical Students: How to Optimize the Use of Expanded-Retrieval Platforms
Study habits of highly effective medical and dental students
- Want to know what the most common study habits of some successful medical and dental students are? Get some ideas on ways to improve your learning by reading this article on Study Habits of Highly Effective Medical Students.
- For more information see, "Learning in Medical School: Transition Issues, Strategy Use, and Self-Regulation," in The Canadian Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 35, No. 4 by Denise Reaume and Tracey Ropp.
Reflection as a learning strategy
- Reflection can be an effective learning strategy to use during your studies and even throughout your career. Transformational Learning & Reflection by the Learning Scientists explains how reflection can benefit medical educators, but the benefits can be similar for students as well!
Study Skills Presentation
Check out this online presentation on practical study strategies to help you learn more effectively and enhance your long-term retention of knowledge.
Contents of the video:
- Introduction & Common Challenges (0-2:36)
- Effective & Efficient Learning Strategies (2:36-17:50)
- Online & Remote Learning Considerations (17:50-24:30)
- Additional Resources & Next Steps (24:30-26:53)
