Many Stanford students take advantage of the rich array of elective courses offered in all departments within the Medical School as well as on the main campus. In most of these, students spend time observing the practice of medicine under the guidance of a faculty member. In another type of early clinical experience, students spend time at the Arbor Free Clinic , a student-run clinic for the homeless or uninsured. Students are guided by clinical students and attending physicians in performing medical interviews and physical examinations. These early clinical experiences provide excellent opporunities to learn about clinical practice during the preclinical years.
Students choose elective clerkships to complete the remaining three months.
This is done under the close supervision of faculty, residents and staff often as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team. Student clerks participate in planned educational experiences designed to give the student the most instructive exposure to the major aspects of each basic clinical discipline. Students learn the essentials of sound practice in the different clinical disciplines and acquire sufficient experience to enable them to define future career goals. Together, these facilities care for thousands of patients and provide abundant experience in both inpatient and outpatient clinical care. Outpatient experience occurs in a variety of other environments and facilities, including the San Jose Hospital Family Practice Clinic, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Kaiser Redwood City, and Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City.