Challenges and strategies for early professional experience: Case Western Reserve University's Family Clinic Program

Through Case Western Reserve University's Family Clinic Program, students are introduced early in their education to the professional responsibilities, attributes, and interpersonal skills needed by a physician. While this is the longest running instructional program in the school's curriculum, until 1998 it had not been assessed for points of improvement. The authors used focus groups and qualitative surveys of students to identify program deficiencies and to create an educational intervention to alleviate these problems. Although the program has always been popular with students, those surveyed noted three key areas where improvements were needed: feedback from preceptors, clarification of the goals of the program, and certain aspects of dealing with patients in the clinic setting.