Much patient care is now being provided in the community, away from the traditional, tertiary-referral, teaching hospital. Venues may include community health centres, regional diagnostic and treatment centres, cottage hospitals, general or family practice, patient homes, schools or workplaces. Wherever patient care is provided, opportunities for innovative student learning should follow.
There are now rich possibilities to develop innovative approaches to teaching and learning in a variety of situations not usually exposed to student teaching. This themed issue allowed those involved in any aspect of community-based medical education to share their experiences.