Overview

The DFMCH elective options are varied and designed to meet students’ interests and needs. Students may request educational experiences offered by various sites, including sports medicine, integrative medicine, palliative care, addiction medicine and public health. Availability varies by site; we encourage you to apply early. Elective rotations in the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health residency training clinics have limited availability and fill up quickly. Additional options include clinical sites in Eau Claire/Augusta, Wausau, Milwaukee, and the rural training track in Baraboo, for a wide range of opportunities around the state.

Disclaimer: (1) acceptance for Phase 3 elective rotation does not guarantee an interview with the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Madison Residency Program and (2) scheduling of residency interviews for the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Madison Residency Program is independent from the scheduling of Phase 3 elective rotations.

Research and Independent Study in Family Medicine: Course # 370-910

To introduce students interested in primary care careers to primary care research or to enable students who have already become involved in research in family medicine to complete or extend their work.  Students have the opportunity to examine both the content and process of primary care research.

Provide students interested in independent study in Family Medicine a resource to do so with approval.

Evidence-based Herbal Medicine Safety and Efficacy: Course # 370-911

Gain a basic understanding of the pharmacology, mechanism of action, phytochemistry and botany (plant identification) of common plants used for healing in the United States. Analyze herbal pharmaceutical interactions and liver detoxification systems, extremely important skills in the practice of clinical medicine for any specialty. Prepare simple herbal treatments in the Learning Kitchen at the American Center also practice objectively commenting on patients’ use of these substances.

Individualized Clinical Elective in Family Medicine: Course # 370-919

This elective is a specialized rotation that is set up by the student and physician in a clinical setting of choice. The clerkship may range from a minimum of 4 credits to a maximum of 8 credits. Applications need signed approvals by a physician supervisor credentialed as a UW volunteer faculty member and the Department of Family Medicine.

Clinical Clerkship Madison: Course # 370-920

  • Northeast Family Medicine Center, Madison
  • Wingra Family Medical Center, Madison
  • Verona Family Medicine Clinic, Verona
  • Belleville Family Medicine Clinic, Belleville

Clinics are staffed by UW Family Medicine physician faculty, residents, family nurse practitioners, counselors, and psychologists. Clinics are affiliated with UW Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center. Students spend most of the time caring for patients at the selected clinic as well as engaging in clinical activities that showcase the breadth of family medicine. Students also will provide patient care in the emergency room; participate in deliveries and admission of patients to the hospital. They participate in morning hospital rounds and assume some calls with residents. Students will become more proficient in the assessment and management of common ambulatory conditions.

Clinical Clerkship in Family and Community Medicine: (Native American): Course #370-926

Clinical clerkship experiences focusing on care for Native American communities are available. (Limited rotations available) Housing is not provided.

Examples of elective site locations in the past have included.

  • Menominee Tribal Clinic, Keshena/Shawano Medical Center
  • Red Cliff Community Health Center, Bayfield
  • Oneida, Green Bay
  • Ho Chunk, Baraboo
  • Stockbridge-Munsee, Bowler
  • Forest County Potawatomi

Rural and Community Clinical elective in Family Medicine: Course # 370-927

Housing is not provided unless otherwise indicated.

Special clinical electives in rural and community health are available around the state. Course objectives include: (1) introduce students to community and family orientated medical care; (2) teach students about health issues specific to communities including issues of health care delivery, and (3) enable the students to understand the social structure of communities and how health care and preventive medicine efforts relate to this.

  • Baraboo Rural Training Track: (Baraboo Medical Associates, Baraboo)
    • The Baraboo program is an accredited, 3-year residency-training program affiliated with the Madison Residency Program, located in a rural area that prepares family physicians for rural practice. Students will engage in a broad spectrum of learning and clinical activities specific to rural communities. Strong interest in rural family medicine and a four week commitment are pre-requisites. Rotations available June, August, September and October.
  • LaCrosse Rural Training Track:
    • Students spend most of the time caring for patients at the selected clinic as well as engaging in clinical activities that showcase the breadth of family medicine. Students also will provide patient care in the emergency room; participate in deliveries and admission of patients to the hospital. They participate in morning hospital rounds and assume some calls with residents. Students will become more proficient in the assessment and management of common ambulatory conditions. Approval from site required
  • Waukesha:
    • Located in the heart of downtown Waukesha, the Waukesha Family Medicine Residency Program offers a training site that is ethnically and economically diverse. Students will have the opportunity to work with a very active OB program. Housing may be available but not guaranteed and WIFI is limited.
  • Wausau Rural Track
    • Available upon site approval Students spend most of the time caring for patients at the selected clinic as well as engaging in clinical activities that showcase the breadth of family medicine. Students also will provide patient care in the emergency room; participate in deliveries and admission of patients to the hospital. They participate in morning hospital rounds and assume some calls with residents. Students will become more proficient in the assessment and management of common ambulatory conditions.

Urban and Community Clinical elective in Family Medicine: Course # 370-930

Housing is not provided unless otherwise indicated.

Students spend most of the time caring for patients at the selected clinic as well as engaging in clinical and hospital activities that showcase the breadth of family medicine. Students also will provide patient care in the emergency room; participate in deliveries and admmercyission of patients to the hospital. They participate in morning hospital rounds and assume some calls with residents. Students will become more proficient in the assessment and management of common ambulatory conditions.

  • St. Lukes – Milwaukee

Addictive Disorders Management in Family Medicine: Course # 370-931

This elective allows students to become more familiar with the epidemiology, medical complications, and various treatment options for persons adversely affected by alcohol and/or drugs. Students will become proficient in conducting diagnostic substance abuse assessments, detoxifying patients from alcohol and drugs, and prescribing appropriate treatment. Student activities will be under the direction of Randy Brown, MD, MPH, a family physician with expertise in the research and management of substance abuse. Students will spend time in a variety of settings becoming familiar with the treatment of substance abuse.

Inpatient elective in Family Medicine (does not count as your IAI): Course # 370-935

  • UW Hospital
  • St. Mary’s

Students are part of a teaching team consisting of Family Medicine faculty and residents. Students function as a sub-intern taking primary responsibility for approximately one-third of the patients on the service. Students will be supervised by the third-year resident and the Family Medicine attending. Students will become proficient in managing and coordinating care of inpatients within the context of family medicine principles of comprehensive and patient centered care.

Integrative Health elective in Family Medicine: Course # 370-941

This rotation involves shadowing the Integrative Medicine physicians at the Integrative Medicine Consult Clinic located in the UW-Health Research Park Clinic building in Madison, spending time with holistic providers at Research Park and around the community, developing a plan for self-care, independent reading and a project (which often involves writing a patient handout or a supplement summary for clinicians). Activities and scheduling can be shaped around the student’s interest areas.

Office-based Procedures in Family Medicine: Course # 370-944

The student will be introduced to the principles of Family Medicine, emphasizing small office procedures. The student will share ongoing responsibility for the patient in evaluation, diagnosis, procedure and follow-up. Procedures will include; vein treatments, skin lesion removal, prolotherapy, perineural injection therapy, no-scalpel vasectomy, thread carpal tunnel release, liposuction, hemorrhoid treatments, and frenotomy for tongue tie. Emphasis will be placed on commitment to the person and understanding the problems in the total context of the patient’s life.

How to Apply

Fill out the DFMCH supplemental application.