Longitudinal Preceptorship

(MD006-UCLA & UCR/UCLA only)

In this third year program students explore clinical specialties in greater depth with an emphasis on building clinical skills and understanding the practice rewards and demands of different specialties.

1. The Preceptorship begins mid July and continues throughout the third year.  Students attend a total of 16 sessions that correspond with the Systems Based Health Care (Doctoring 3) schedule.  Doctoring takes place in the mornings and Preceptorship in the afternoon.  They are held on the same day for the entire year. 
2. At mid-point of the third year, students may change Preceptors to explore another practice or specialty.  Students in primary care specialties have the option of staying with the same Preceptor throughout the year whereas those in unusual or high-demand specialties or those in a specialty or doing research that does not involve conducting comprehensive histories and physical exams will be required to switch mid-year.  (e.g. Dermatology, Radiology and Ophthalmology).
3. Students may pursue clinically relevant research with a preceptor for one semester if they choose. The same time commitment and number of sessions is required. This option is subject to approval by the Program Director.

OBJECTIVES

1.  Improve history-taking, physical examination skills, assessment and approach to the management of common         clinical problems encountered in the practice setting or field:

• Accuracy in collecting the pertinent history

• Proficiency with the physical examination
• Ability to conduct a focused work-up
• Ability to present findings and assessment for discussio

2.  Become familiar with the practical elements involved in clinical practice:

• Qualities of clinical decision-making process
• Skills needed for successful patient care
• Rewards and demand of practice
• Breadth and diversity of professional opportunities within a given specialty

3.  Career exploration and development:

• Potential to explore up to two different areas of interest
• Opportunity to engage in mentored clinical research and improve skills as a physician-scholar
• Opportunity for in-depth one on one mentorship within academic medicine
• Option to continue research projects initiated during the first two years of medical school or to initiate research that may be carried into the 4th year.

FORMAT

The student is responsible for being on-site with his or her preceptor for the entire afternoon on all assigned Systems Based Health Care (Doctoring 3) days -Tuesday or Thursday.  Prior to the first session of each semester, the student should contact the preceptor to introduce him/herself, confirm the first date of attendance, exchange e-mail addresses and phone numbers, and obtain directions and parking information.   At the end of each preceptorship afternoon, students may need to return to their core clerkship for call dependent on the clerkship and team activity.

GRADING/EVALUATION

The final evaluation will be based on three components:

1. Attendance at all of the preceptor sessions or designated make-ups (signed attendance cards)
2. A passing grade for clinical performance from the Preceptor for each semester. An end of semester evaluation will be required.  (Students are not eligible for Letters of Distinction in this course).
3. Students are required to evaluate the longitudinal preceptor(s) at the end of the year.

Course Chair:	Tahlia Spector, M.D. tspector@ucla.edu
Coordinator:	Amy Frazier (310) 267-0443 afrazier@mednet.ucla.edu