Family and Community Medicine Senior Electives

Electives below are for Feinberg School of Medicine Students.  Visiting Students click here.

Note: Each elective form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice - Chair for Education

Family Care Center at NorthShore University HealthSystem

Rural Family Medicine

Additional Family Medicine Electives

Family Medicine at West Suburban

Maternal Health Care at West Suburban

1422-40 Family Care Center at NorthShore University HealthSystem

Advisors:
Dr. Elizabeth Ryan

Clerkship Director:
Dr. David Holub, 2050 Pfingsten Road, Suite 200, Glenview, IL 60026

Clerkship Coordinator:
Maria Aranda, 2050 Pfingsten Road, Suite 200, Glenview, IL 60026

Goals:

-	Provide introductory exposure to the field of family practice and, via practical experience, understanding of the philosophy and nature of this  specialty practice.
-	Educate students to the challenge of family-oriented medicine and development of socioeconomic and behavioral factors related to care of family units.

Course Format and Proposed Schedule:
The clerkship is based at the Glenbrook Family Care Center at Glenbrook Hospital, the outpatient training site for The Feinberg School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program. The student participates in the care of patients seen by the four teaching attending physicians at the center. These board-certified family physicians are faculty members at the medical school. The patients seen encompass the full range of family medicine, pediatrics to geriatrics. Minor outpatient surgeries are performed at the center. The student has the opportunity to not only see patients in the office but also in the hospital, newborn nursery, and nursing home. Lectures and grand rounds at the hospital are open to the student.

Method of evaluation and persons performing the evaluation: Observation by faculty or residents combined with grades from course project and exam.

Number of students per rotation: 1 per site

Number of credits: 1

Number of weeks: 4

Sites: Glenview, Lincolnwood, Deerfield, Highland Park, Evanston, Vernon Hills, Skokie, and Chicago.

First day report to: Assigned Physician

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education

1422-46 Family Medicine Service Clerkship, West Suburban Family Practice Residency; River Forest, IL

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education

Advisors:
Dr. Elizabeth Ryan

Clerkship Director:
Dr. Scott Levin, 7411 West Lake Street, Suite 1100, River Forest, Illinois 60305

Clerkship Coordinator:
Vernita Smith, 7411 West Lake Street, Suite 1100, River Forest, Illinois 60305

Goals:

-	Develop competency and independence in assessment, workup, and management of inpatients regardless of age, sex , or admission diagnosis.
-	Develop skills in the collaborative comanagement of patients with consultants from other specialties.
-	Gain an appreciation of the biopsychosocial model of medicine in an inpatient setting and the importance of the family in this process.
-	Provide the student with exposure to the inpatient practices of community family physicians.
-	Gain a better understanding of family practice residency training in a community hospital setting.

Objectives:
To expose the medical student to the wide variety of clinical situations encountered on a community hospital family practice adult inpatient teaching service.

Course Format and Proposed Schedule:
Under the supervision of the family medicine service medical team (faculty members, resident, and community practitioners), the student is assigned patients and is responsible for their diagnostic and therapeutic management.

The student’s responsibilities include:
Charting an initial history and physical and writing admitting orders.
Daily rounds, including charting orders and progress notes.
Disseminating appropriate information about the patient’s progress to the patient and their family.
Maintaining contact with the attending physician and consultants.
Developing a discharge and follow-up plan aimed at preventing further hospitalization.
Developing a plan for quality outpatient care and discussing this plan with the attending physician.
Call: Overnight call is approximately every fourth night, with the assigned family practice intern.

In addition, the student may elect to spend one-half day a week in an outpatient setting at the residency program’s Family Practice Center.

Method of evaluation and persons performing the evaluation: Observation by faculty or residents combined with grades from course project and exam.

Number of students per rotation: 2

Number of credits: 1

Number of weeks: 4

Site: 7411 West Lake Street, Suite 1100, River Forest, Illinois 60305

First day report to: Dr. Levin

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education

1422-47 Maternal Health Care Rotation, West Suburban Family Health Care Center

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education

Advisors:
Dr. Elizabeth Ryan

Clerkship Director:
Dr. Scott Levin, 7411 West Lake Street, Suite 1100, River Forest, Illinois 60305

Clerkship Coordinator:
Vernita Smith, 7411 West Lake Street, Suite 1100, River Forest, Illinois 60305

Background and Justification:
A fundamental marker of a nation’s health is the well being of its mothers and children. The infant mortality rate has long been recognized as an essential measurement of this well being. In reality, babies born to women in many Third World countries have a better chance of surviving than those born in several neighborhoods in the United States.
“Maternal and Child Health” is a phrase deeply rooted within public health systems worldwide. It is inherently understood that the two are an integrated whole, and that it is not possible to work to improve the conditions of children without affecting and improving the care of mothers, and vice versa. The MCH service at West Suburban Health Care seeks to incorporate this philosophy by combining obstetrical training with newborn and pediatric care. This training is further enhanced through experience with community and social service resources.
The MCH team consists of one senior resident, three interns, one or more medical students, and possibly residents on an elective rotation. A family practice attending physician or an around-the-clock back-up is designated for teaching rounds and technical assistance.

Course Format and Proposed Schedule:
Pre-rounds: The student presents a brief up-to-date assessment of his or her patients to facilitate the day’s management plan.
Work Rounds (7:30 am): All patients are briefly reviewed with the team to facilitate patient care. Team members then see their own patients. Attending physicians are available to assist as needed.
Morning report is a formal conference where all new patients are presented and all existing patients are reviewed.
PCC Clinic: The Parent Child Center is a community health center that provides medical care for the underserved Austin neighborhood. The center has a family practice model with an emphasis on maternal and child health. Students are encouraged to gain an understanding of the clinical and sociopolitical aspects of health center operations. Attending physicians supervise direct patient care.
Call: every fourth night, including labor and delivery, pediatrics, and nursery care

Method of evaluation and persons performing the evaluation: Observation by Faculty or residents combined with grades from course project and exam.

Number of students per rotation: 2

Number of credits: 1

Number of weeks: 4

Site: 7411 West Lake Street, Suite 1100, River Forest, Illinois 60305

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education

1422-51 Rural Family Medicine Electives

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education

Advisors:
Dr. Elizabeth Ryan

Clerkship Director:
Varies

Clerkship Coordinator:
Varies

Course Format and Proposed Schedule:
A large number of different sites are available for students who wish to have experience in the practice of family medicine in a rural setting. Sites include Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Idaho, and Illinois. Family medicine practices in these settings often encompass a large range of care, including obstetrics; many procedures, such as colposcopy, sigmoidoscopy, etc., including some operative surgery; and urgent and emergency care. Most settings are scenic and friendly, and students generally have had outstanding experiences.

Student wishing to arrange an elective at a site of their choice should first check availability at that site, and then contact Dr. Ryan for approval. Most family medicine residency sites will be approved for rotations.

Objectives:
The goal of this course is to provide an elective advanced rural preceptorship experience for fourth-year medical students that will allow them to
Experience continuity of patient care in a rural community setting.
Have advanced experience in active participation in management of medical problems commonly seen in a rural family medicine practice.
Learn effective strategies for patient care in a rural environment.
Become familiar with and learn to attend to the general emotional health needs of rural patients and their families as well learn about those emotional health issues unique to rural patients and their families.
Further strengthen their patient communication skills.
Develop more advanced skills in health maintenance and patient education activities.
Learn more about rural health issues.
Explore their interest in careers in rural family medicine.

Method of evaluation and persons performing the evaluation: observation by faculty or residents combined with grades from course project and exam.

Number of students per rotation: 1 per site

Number of weeks: 4

Number of credits: 1

Sites: Various

First day report to: Assigned Physician

Note:  Please note that each elective request form must be approved and signed by the Department Vice-Chair for Education.

Additional  Family Medicine Electives

Contact: Dr. Elizabeth Ryan 312-503-1273, e-ryan@northwestern.edu

Most departments of family medicine in the United States offer senior-year electives to medical students interested in family medicine. Students wishing to arrange an elective at a site of their choice should first check availability at that site, and then contact Dr. Ryan for approval. Most family medicine residency sites will be approved for rotations. Any student needing help selecting a site in a particular geographical area should contact Dr. Ryan

All quarters; four weeks.

Number of students per site varies.

Call Dr. Elizabeth Ryan at 312-503-1273 for assistance.

Print This Page  | Email This Page