PreClerkship

A nine-week unit, at the end of second year, integrates previously acquired knowledge with the use of more complex patient cases. Particular attention is given to the pediatric patient, the geriatric patient, the management of pain, palliative care, pharmacotherapeutics, international health, complementary and alternative medicine, occupational and environmental health, and health systems. Approaches to prevention, behaviour change and management of complex cases are covered.

This two-year course introduces the student to interviewing skills with an emphasis on establishing good communication between the physician and the patient, effective history taking and physical examination. This course allows students early exposure to clinical settings. The course is structured in such a way that it corresponds to the curriculum (e.g. cardiovascular physical examination is taught during cardiovascular course teaching) so it gives clinical context to what the students are learning in class.

We offer undergraduate teaching opportunities to physicians who wish to contribute to our program. View the Pre-Clerkship and Clerkship Undergraduate Medical Curriculum Stipend Schedule (Anglophone stream only)

The Department of Family Medicine, in collaboration with the UGME, coordinates the program structure and placement of the PSD Community Preceptor program. This program, offered to first and second year medical students, provides the opportunity to be placed in a family medicine community practice for a total of eight half days (four in first year and four in second year).

PSD Community Preceptor Handbook

The overall general objective of the community preceptor sessions is to expose students to real clinical situations and to provide opportunities to further develop their history and physical examination skills. Specific objectives include:

• Enhancing early-stage medical students’ exposure to family physicians in a community-based clinical setting;
• Allowing medical students to practice a focused history and/or physical examination;
• Helping medical students to appreciate the role of the family physician in the community; and,
• Establishing a longer term relationship between the medical student and the family physician.

Thank you for your interest in a PreClerkship elective in Family Medicine. A practice in family medicine is diverse, challenging and rewarding. As you can see from the list of elective opportunities available below, family medicine is practiced in a wide variety of settings. Our electives are available for 10 or 20 hours. We can match you with a family physician whose practice is focused on:

• General Family Medicine
• Well Women
• Inner City
• Seniors
• Palliative Care
• Developmental Disabilities
• Care of New Canadians
• Addiction
• Mental Health

• Maternity/Newborn Care
• Pediatrics
• Sexual Health
• Dermatology
• Geriatrics
• House Calls
• Non-Cancer Chronic Pain
• Breast Clinic

Applying for Electives

Please send an email to the Undergraduate Family Medicine Education Coordinator's office with your request and the following:

• The timeframe that the elective is to take place (minimum of 10 hours, maximum of 20 hours)
• Preference, if any, for a community practice versus a teaching unit practice
• Preference for a particular preceptor

Contacts:

Other Elective Options

Reception House Elective

The Health Advocacy for Refugees Program (HARP) is an elective for first and second year medical students, which provides them with an opportunity to take a history from a newly arrived refugee at Reception House. Often they are required to work with an interpreter and they not only begin to develop clinical skills in history taking but begin to appreciate the complexities of providing care to this vulnerable population.

Contacts: