Students work primarily in the Family Health Center seeing patients. They are paired with a staff or senior resident preceptor, which varies each half-day. Students are required to discuss each patient with their preceptor. One goal of the rotation is for students to independently take an appropriate, focused history, relevant exam, and present a plan to the attending with a working diagnosis, recommended further work-up and a management plan. It is felt that exposure to a wide variety of staff management styles is most valuable for the student, while the medical student coordinator remains the contact point for students during their stay.
Students rotate through other areas during their course here as well.
They spend time on the inpatient service and work in the Sports Medicine Clinic and outlying community clinics. The medical student coordinator has some reading material for students and sessions on family systems medicine, including family studies are usually done. Exposure to procedures, such as flexible sigmoidoscopy and vasectomy, is part of the experience. Specific requirements, such as a family study, an examination, and tailored clinical experience often depends on the student's medical school requirements. Student evaluations also depend on the requirements of the school, but usually include several staff and residents completing a form with rating scales about the student's performance.