Family Medicine Clerkship

Clerkship Overview

The six-week, required clerkship in Family Medicine offers students an introduction to the principles of family medicine and to the “family practice approach” to health care in the ambulatory setting. The primary focus of the clerkship is the preceptorship. Each student spends four-five days per week in a family practice office working closely with physician preceptors and gaining independence in the evaluation and management of common outpatient problems and presentations. Additional clinical components include a service-learning experience and a selective rotation with family physicians focusing on specific areas.

Students will also participate in nursing home visits, and sessions with physicians who concentrate their practices in the following areas: sports medicine, developmental disabilities, alternative medicine, women's health, and/or occupational health.

Each student will also spend, on average, one-half day per week participating in a Community Oriented Primary Care experience. Students will be working with an underserved population, learning about and helping to meet that population's primary care needs.

Students attend weekly seminars, participate in an Objective Structured Clinical exercise, and complete a final written examination.

Seminars are held at the medical school throughout the rotation and attendance is required.

The faculty of the Family Medicine Department look forward to sharing their experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm for family practice with you.