Development and modification of a required family medicine clerkship

A new required clinical clerkship in family medicine at Duke University School of Medicine is described in terms of planning, implementation, and modification in response to students' evaluations. Seventy-five percent of the eight-week course involves direct clinical experience both in academic practices and community sites, and 25 percent is spent in small group seminars and workshops. Evaluations by students have been highest for the clinical experience, the clinical competence of the faculty, the teaching effectiveness of the faculty and house staff, and the overall learning experience. The ratings have been lowest for seminars, workshops, and required written projects. Several modifications made in the clerkship over a three-year period have raised the students' ratings to near their ratings of the five traditional clerkships. The data demonstrate that family medicine can be taught effectively as a core clinical rotation and can broaden the general education of medical students.