Family Medicine Clerkships

In our midtown clinic near Sutter General Hospital, students work closely with residents and core faculty to enhance clinical skills during this 2- or 4-week rotation. Students routinely see patients independently and then present cases to the attending or resident. Students quickly learn how a thriving clinic functions and become proficient in using electronic health records. Emphasis is placed on interpersonal skills, physical exam techniques, and evidence-based medicine.

Our clinic population is diverse and students can expect to see a variety of pediatric, adolescent, adult, obstetrical, and geriatric patients. Procedures include joint aspiration/injection, casting/splinting, circumcisions, OB and MSK ultrasound, and vasectomies. We also have specific clinics for colposcopy and dermatologic procedures. Students may participate in a home visit as well.

Schedule: Clinic runs from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Wednesday afternoons 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, students participate in didactic lectures on various topics, and enjoy a provided lunch. Thursday mornings 7:00 am to 8:00 am, there are morning report discussions where residents present interesting inpatient cases.

During their 2 or 4 week rotation at the Sutter Davis clinic, students participate in the care of a smaller town population (50,000) with a diverse university and agricultural patient base.  Students work alongside residents, core faculty, and community attendings.  All outpatient care is done via an electronic health record, and health maintenance is emphasized. Patients range from newborns to geriatric patients, with everything in between. Spanish skills are helpful but not required.  Interested students may also chose to round in the 36 bed Sutter Davis hospital where full spectrum inpatient medicine includes ICU care.  There are also opportunities to round in nursing homes with faculty as well as participate in a home visit. Commonly done procedures with the sports-minded, outdoor active Davis population include joint aspiration/injection, and casting/splinting. There is also exposure to circumcisions, OB ultrasound, dermatologic and gynecologic procedures, and vasectomies.

Schedule: Clinic runs from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Wednesday afternoons 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, the Davis and Sacramento residency tracks meet together for didactic lectures on various topics, and enjoy a provided lunch.

During this 4-week subinternship rotation, fourth-year students serve an integral part of the Family Medicine inpatient team at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. Students can expect to see a wide variety of disease processes. In addition to the student, the team is usually comprised of a junior and senior resident along with an attending physician. The number of patients ranges around 6-12, and includes not only adults, but also newborns, pediatrics, and postpartum care patients. Procedures may include paracentesis, thoracentesis, and lumbar puncture. Students become proficient at using electronic health records, and are exposed to cutting edge technologies such as digitally accessed radiology and remote monitored electronic ICUs. Overall goals are to enhance history taking, physical exam, and assessment skills and to promote the development of evidence-based treatment plans. Students also work with a variety of ancillary staff and specialty physicians.

Schedule: The average workday is 6:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call duration is from 6:00 pm until 7:00 am the following day and is not more than once a week. Wednesdays 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm is spent in didactic lectures with residents. Every Thursday 7:00  am to 8:00 am in the hospital conference room, students participate in "morning report" where an interesting case is reviewed. Also, mirroring the rotation for the first-year resident, the student may spend one half-day a week in the Family Medicine ambulatory clinic seeing patients.

All 4th year medical students interested in Family Medicine are eligible to apply for this rotation. Meals in the hospital and parking pass are provided.