Students meet in small groups every other week where skills are introduced. Each is matched with a community preceptor with whom he or she works for an afternoon on the alternating weeks. The preceptors reinforce and extend the learning introduced in the group sessions. Approximately 300 community preceptors, located in urban, suburban and rural settings, participate in the teaching of this course. Some community faculty serve as both small group leaders and preceptors.
FCM preceptors are family physicians, general internists, or general pediatricians.
Most of the primary care practices in the Richmond Metropolitan Area have at least one associate who is involved in teaching this course. In some cases all of the physicians in a given practice work with students. Preceptors generally precept year after year. All are offered faculty appointments in their respective academic departments and offered opportunities to enhance their teaching and clinical skills. Community physicians also play an integral part in training third year students.