The Department emphasizes the values of family and community orientation to medical practice. By means of preceptorships, seminars, projects, lectures, community assignments and clinics, and in collaboration with other departments, students and residents learn family medicine with expertise in family-centered care including issues in pregnancy, psychological care, geriatrics, infant and child care, minor surgery, prevention, health care maintenance through the life cycle and care management. A focus is training medical students in all four years how to handle the undifferentiated primary care patient.
Family physicians are in leadership practice in key courses in the first two years.
A required 6 week clerkship in the third year is followed by multiple elective and preceptorship experiences in the fourth year. Development of clinical teaching service resources in the rural and urban underserved areas of the state is reflected in programs of preceptorships and clerkships and other educational experiences for the students and residents. Many private family physicians in the community constitute a major teaching resource, and a variety of health-related institutions and programs enrich the student's experience. The Department collaborates with the Colleges of Agriculture, Business and Public Administration, Nursing, Pharmacy and the School of Health Related Professions in a variety of educational, research and service efforts. By participation in such varied programs and experiences, medical students and residents are encouraged to understand family practice and to set up practices in areas of need.