A year-long clerkship in ambulatory care

Decreased availability of hospitalized patients for medical student education, a changing clinical environment in both hospital and outpatient settings, and the need for teaching the specific skills of primary ambulatory care mandate the development of outpatient-based clinical clerkships. A required third-year clerkship at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine combines a long-term structure and a defined curriculum with a wealth of clinical encounters. New approaches to the basic clinical education of medical students are needed to connect clinical resources, specialty expertise, and the special knowledge and skills needed for primary care. The clerkship described in the present paper represents a model for such clinical education.