An Alternative Model for Clinical Clerkships

This project from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge Hospital at Harvard Medical School, and Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota is comparing alternative longitudinal integrated clerkships with more traditional clinical clerkships. Several medical schools have developed an alternative model, based on principles of sociocultural learning theory and workplace learning, in which students work in community practices and develop continuing and long-term relationships with patients.

This model aims to overcome concerns that traditional hospital-based clerkships may not adequately prepare students to manage chronic illness and practice in an ambulatory setting. Project leaders anticipate that students in the alternative clerkship model will have more experience in actual clinical activities and connecting with physicians, other health care providers, and patients, which will inspire a more patient-centered approach in their own practices. Karen Hauer, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and Director of Internal Medicine Clerkships and the Clinical Performance Examination program at the University of California San Francisco, is principal investigator. The Macy Foundation awarded a grant of $455,925 for the three-year project to be completed December 2011.

Related Publications:

• More is Better: Students Describe Successful and Unsuccessful Experiences with Teachers Differently in Brief and Longitudinal Relationship

• Students’ workplace learning in two clerkship models: a multi-site observational study