Primary care generalists provide care for patients who do not yet have a diagnosis. Primary care include health promotion, disease prevention, counseling, patient education, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic conditions. Primary care promotes effective doctor-patient communication and encourages the role of the patient as a partner in health care. The Primary Care Program is a voluntary option for students interested in primary care and generalism.
Students apply for membership after admission.
Students who participate in the Program through all four years are identified on their transcript at graduation. The Program balances a prescribed course of study with the flexibility inherent in the Duke curriculum. Students may leave the Program at any time if their career goals diverge from primary care. The Program consists of several elements which interact to support student interest in primary care. Students apply to the Program after they have been offered and have accepted a position in the medical school.