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: October 6, November 3, December 1.
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 2026-27 Workshops
Content Overload: How do I figure out what to study?
Date: October 5, 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, please register for Content Overload on Western Connect.
Mastering the Anatomy Bell Ringer: Study Strategies and Techniques (Dental Students)
Date: October 19, 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, please register for Anatomy Bell Ringer on Western Connect.
Supercharge your Study Skills! Active Recall Workshop
Date: November 2, 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 online, please register for Active Recall on Western Connect.
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)
