OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS

THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS
MS III AND IV CLERKSHIP

The residency provides a site for required and elective 3rd and 4th year outpatient Family
Medicine clerkships. Medical Students from UMass Medical School, Boston University Medical
School, Tufts Medical School, and University of New England School of Osteopathy have
consistently rated the rotation among the best of their 3rd year, no matter what specialty they
eventually choose. Students see scheduled patients initially, obtaining a history and performing
the appropriate exam. They then formulate an assessment and preliminary plan for their
patient. They present their patient to their preceptor they work with (either a faculty physician
or senior resident), who then sees the patient with them, confirming the student's data. There
is minute-to-minute didactic teaching both before and after the student and physician see the
patient together. The student is exposed to patients of all ages and with a wide variety of
medical issues. There is the opportunity for interested students to also work with Nicholas
Apostoleris, Ph.D., and learn more about Behavioral Science in Primary Care. In addition to
this patient-centered didactic teaching, the students are also welcome to attend the noon
conferences on a variety of topics which are a part of the Family Medicine Residency. There is
Internet access readily available throughout the clinic for students to use to access medical
information on-line. The rotation is challenging, interesting, and, most of all, a lot of fun!

James Ledwith, MD - Residency Director

FOURTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS
FAMILY MEDICINE SUB-INTERNSHIP

The Family Medicine Sub-Internship is a four week rotation based at the Family Medicine
Inpatient Service at the Leominster Hospital Campus of UMASS Memorial/Health Alliance in
Leominster, MA. The goal of the rotation is to allow fourth year medical students an opportunity
to function like interns so that they can gain as much independence and experience as
possible.

The Sub-I works as a member of the Family Medicine Inpatient Service Team which consists
of two 2nd year residents, and one supervising 3rd year resident who is the Chief Resident.
Each day the Team meets at 7 am to review admissions from the previous night. A Family
Medicine Attending physician is available to precept this meeting. After morning report there is
a teaching session provided by a specialist attending (e.g., cardiologist, nephrologist,
rheumatologist). After the morning meetings, the second year residents and Sub-I round on the
patients, who consist of the entire spectrum of Family Medicine patients, including children,
adults, ICU patients, obstetrics, and surgical patients with medical issues. Once the Sub-I has
seen his or her patients, they talk with the second year resident to review plans for the day,
write the admission H & P in the hospital record, write orders (cosigned by the resident), and
call attendings as needed. When patient care is completed, the Chief Resident reviews the
morning's work with the Sub-I. At lunchtime, a noon conference is presented. After noon
conference, the Sub-I and the second year resident assigned to cover for the afternoon
complete the day's work, which may include following-up test results, calling attendings, or
admitting new patients.

Sub-I's usually follow 2 or 3 patients daily during their rotation. Call is taken once a week. The
Sub-I is able to leave the post-call day by noon. Call is performed Monday through Friday.
Sub-I's are expected to present a topic during the fourth week of their rotation on a subject of
their choosing. The fifteen minute presentation is to the residents before noon conference.
There is Internet access in the resident's conference room for students to use to access
medical information on-line through UMASS Medical School's excellent on-line library services.
Housing and meals are provided. Other opportunities for Sub-I's include spending an afternoon
once a week at the outpatient clinic, time with the sports medicine supervisor, working the
vaccine clinic if available, or working with the residency's Primary Care Psychology service.
Many Sub-I's tell us that their time on our inpatient service was the best part of their 4th year.
It must be, for many of our Sub-I's return to do their residency training with us! To read the
comments of a former Sub-I who is now one of our residents, please follow this link. If you are
interested in being one of our Sub-I's, please contact Elaine DeJardins at 978-878-8374 or
email me directly. Felix Chang, MD, Sub-Internship Supervisor

SPORTS MEDICINE ROTATION

There are limited opportunities for interested and qualified medical students to participate in
the Sports Medicine Program in the Department. Please email Dr. Stevenson with questions
about this opportunity.