The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine is deeply involved in educational activities through RUSH Medical College. Medical students in the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program interact with our faculty through a number of programs and courses, including the following:
- Family Medicine Leadership Program
- EXPLORE
- Primary Care Clerkship
- Subinternship in Family Medicine
- Electives
Family Medicine Leadership Program
The Family Medicine Leadership Program, or FMLP, is a four-year longitudinal curriculum for a select group of Rush medical students. It is designed to equip them to become outstanding family physicians who will serve as patient care providers, mentors and leaders. Learn more about the Family Medicine Leadership Program.
EXPLORE
The EXPLORE program connects preclerkship medical students with preceptors in areas of student interest. Students connect concepts learned in classroom teaching to the clinical setting. Learn more about EXPLORE.
Primary care clerkship
All RUSH Medical College students complete a four-week rotation in primary care. The primary care clerkship is a collaboration between the Departments of Family and Preventive Medicine and Internal Medicine.
The aim of the primary care clerkship is to expose students to the breadth and depth of primary care and to help them achieve their own learning goals for the rotation.
The rotation experience centers around placement in a primary care clinic. To the extent possible, these are community-based clinics rather than university-based, because the majority of health care in the U.S. takes place outside of the university setting.
Students are expected to evaluate patients independently under the supervision of a primary care preceptor. Some students rotate at Family Medicine residency sites, where they also interact with residents.
Family medicine sites include the following:
- Rush University Physicians - Lincoln Park
- Rush University Family Physicians - TOB (on-campus)
- Rush University Physicians - South Loop
- Rush University Physicians - Oak Brook
- Rush Copley Family Medicine Residency
- Cook County Family Medicine Residency - Englewood
- Macneal Family Medicine Residency
- Hinsdale Family Medicine Residency
- La Grange Family Medicine Residency
Subinternship in family medicine
This is an intensive inpatient primary care experience. Students have the opportunity to rotate on family medicine inpatient services at local family medicine residencies, including RUSH Copley Medical Center, John Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Advocate Christ Medical Center.
The subintern will function in a capacity similar to an intern, with supervision by a senior family medicine resident and faculty physician.
M4 electives
Family and Preventive Medicine faculty teach several RUSH Medical College clerkships and electives:
- Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Unit (FAM725)
- Primary Care Sports Medicine (FAM735)
- Family Medicine Private Preceptorship (FAM745)
- Wound Care Management (FAM761)
- Urban Primary Care (FAM741)
- FM Individualized (FAM 7EI)
- Students with a strong interest in family medicine can also design an individualized elective with a family medicine preceptor around a specific project.
Student advising
Students interested in pursuing or exploring a career in family medicine should contact Dr. Kate Rowland, MD. The American Academy of Family Physicians has information for students, as does the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (student page). Membership is free for students in both organizations.