Education of future medical practitioners involves the stewarding of knowledge and skills, and the development of values required for responsible practice. Students must not only master a vast amount of knowledge and theory but also understand how to apply it. A key challenge for medical educators is to approach this in a balanced and integrated manner, particularly within the basic science years of the medical program. The purpose of this article is to consider how the clinical environment, teaching methods, assessment, and feedback impact on the engagement of junior medical students.