Medical Students as an Elective Trainee: An Experience.

Elective courses beyond the curriculum in medicine refer to additional educational opportunities or experiences that medical students can pursue outside of their required coursework. In the 21st century, with a highly competitive and evolving educational landscape, the importance of elective courses has grown significantly. Completing elective courses can provide several advantages that help individuals stand out and differentiate themselves from their peers. The importance of elective courses for medical students helps to become more competent and self-reliant, improve communication and interpersonal skills and develop leadership qualities. An elective course for a month helped us understand three sectors: personality development, career orientation, and research and publication. This article focuses on the importance of early exposure to careers in research and academia for going beyond the scope of the average medical student.