Medical Student Education
The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Office of Medical Student Education (OMSE) is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of compassionate, highly skilled family medicine physicians. Our faculty, staff, and community-based partners are integrated into every phase of the medical education journey, from foundational experiences in Phase 1 to student-led initiatives such as the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG), MEDiC, and Doctors Ought to Care.
We provide mentorship, support, and resources for students to thrive through immersive experiences such as our Student Summer Research and Clinical Assistantships (SSRCA), FMIG’s Procedures Fair, our Enhancing Representation to Improve our Community’s Health (EnRICH) mentorship program, and our longitudinal pathway program, PRIME-FM. We invite you to explore our programs and join us in our commitment to excellence in medical education and community health.
Family Medicine Curriculum
All medical students rotate through family medicine as part of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health ForWard Curriculum. Our faculty, staff, and community-based teachers are involved in all aspects of student education across the three phases.
First- and second-year students participate in a three-semester longitudinal program run by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health called the Phase 1 Preceptor Program (P1PP). Our family medicine faculty precept a large number of P1PP students.
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health offers two electives for Phase 1 students: The Healer’s Art and Health Care in Diverse Communities. The Healer’s Art explores the core values of medicine and how you can maintain joy and awe throughout your career. Health Care in Diverse Communities focuses on health disparities and the role physicians play in providing quality equitable care.
Students can make the most of their first summer by engaging in family medicine research through our Summer Student Research and Clinical Assistantship (SSRCA). This program combines patient- and community-based research with clinical experience.
Students become involved with our Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) during Phase 1. FMIG is a great opportunity for students who seek leadership experiences.
All medical students based in Madison complete a four-week clinical rotation in family medicine during their Chronic and Preventive Care (CPC) block. CPC is when clinical care and patient relationships are at the forefront of students’ focus. Our family medicine department offers several robust mentoring options for students at all levels.
Students can further explore their interests in family medicine by taking two- or four-week electives focused on outpatient care, inpatient care, correctional care, and research.
Students should connect with their family medicine advisor during Phase 3. Our advisors have in-depth knowledge of family medicine residencies and the application process. The Office of Medical Student Education offers hands-on workshops to help students write, edit, and polish their personal statements for residency applications. We also offer a Match Tips session for students to learn detailed information about a successful match.
Medical Student Opportunities
Mentorship
EnRICH
Open to all medical students, EnRICH provides family medicine mentorship, hands-on clinical training, and local community health experiences designed to diversify the physician workforce to better mirror the communities we serve.
PATHWAY PROGRAM
PRIME-FM
PRIME-FM is a four-year longitudinal pathway program where personalized experiences in research, leadership, and community health let students explore the many career paths and expansive scope of family medicine.
FAMILY MEDICINE INTEREST GROUP
FMIG
Our award-winning Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) provides opportunities for active learning, mentorship, and exposure to family medicine’s broad scope of practice.
What Students Say
“Loved my family medicine rotation. My preceptor was amazing and I really enjoyed working with him. He created a great learning environment, gave thorough feedback, allowed me to be as independent as I wanted, and pushed me throughout the rotation.”
“My family medicine rotation by far has been my favorite. My main attendings were absolutely fantastic. They gave me a great deal of autonomy in seeing the patients, doing a history and physical, and coming back to talk about my assessment and plan for them.”
A Glimpse into Family Medicine
Family medicine is distinctive and rewarding for its breadth, allowing physicians to care for patients across all ages and conditions while building long-term relationships with patients and families over time.