4th Year Electives

On this page:

• Overview
• Madison Area Sites
• Sites Outside the Madison Area

Overview

The Department of Family Medicine (DFM) elective options are varied. Students may request from two to four weeks and may arrange for specific educational experiences offered by the site. Availability and the number of student slots vary at each site. We encourage you to make your plans early if you need a particular location or time period. It should be noted that the Madison-based clinical electives have limited training spots and fill up quickly. Other UW Family Medicine Residency Program clinical sites (Eau Claire, Appleton, Wausau, Milwaukee and the rural training tracks at Baraboo) usually have availability.

Madison Area Sites

UW Family Medicine Residency Training Clinics - Course # 370-920

Northeast Family Medicine Center, Madison
Wingra Family Medical Center, Madison
Verona Family Medicine Clinic, Verona
Belleville Family Medicine Clinic, Belleville

Clinics are staffed by UW Family Medicine physician faculty, residents, family nurse practitioners, counselors, and psychologists. Clinics are affiliated with UW Hospital and St. Mary's Medical Center. Students spend most of the time caring for patients at the selected clinic as well as engaging in clinical activities that showcase the breadth of family medicine. Students also will provide patient care in the emergency room; participate in deliveries and admission of patients to the hospital. They participate in morning hospital rounds and assume some calls with residents. Students will become more proficient in the assessment and management of common ambulatory conditions.

Clinical Management of Addictive Disorders: Course # 370-931

Various Madison locations

This elective allows students to become more familiar with the epidemiology, medical complications, and various treatment options for persons adversely affected by alcohol and/or drugs. Students will become proficient in conducting diagnostic substance abuse assessments, detoxifying patients from alcohol and drugs, and prescribing appropriate treatment. Student activities will be under the direction of Randy Brown, MD, MPH, a family physician with expertise in the research and management of substance abuse. Students will spend time in a variety of settings becoming familiar with the treatment of substance abuse.

Family Medicine Sub-I - Course # 370-935

St. Mary's Hospital, Family Medicine Service

Students are part of a teaching team consisting of Family Medicine faculty and residents. Students function as a sub-intern taking primary responsibility for approximately one-third of the patients on the service. Students will be supervised by the third-year resident and the Family Medicine attending. Students will become proficient in managing and coordinating care of inpatients within the context of family medicine principles of comprehensive and patient centered care.

Individualized Clerkship in Family Medicine - Course # 370-919

Family Medicine Integrative Medicine Rotation

This rotation involves shadowing the Integrative Medicine physicians at Research Park in Madison, spending time with holistic providers at Research Park and around the community, independent reading and a project. Scheduling can be shaped around the student's interest areas. Limited spots available.

Sites Outside the Madison Area

Statewide UW Family Medicine Residency Training Clinics

• Appleton: Fox Valley Family Health Center - Course # 370-921
• Eau Claire: Eau Claire Family Medical Clinic - Course #370-922
• Wausau: Wausau Family Practice Center - Course # 370-923
• Milwaukee: St. Luke's Family Practice Center and Community Clinics - Course # 370-930

Students attending any of the above will have a training experience similar to what is provided by the Madison-Area Family Practice Residency Clinics. Housing may be possible.

Clinical Clerkship in Rural and Community Health Course # 370-927

Special clinical electives in rural and community health are available around the state. Course objectives include: (1) introduce students to community and family orientated medical care; (2) teach students about health issues specific to communities including issues of health care delivery, and (3) enable the students to understand the social structure of communities and how health care and preventive medicine efforts relate to this.

• Baraboo Rural Training Track: (Baraboo Medical Associates, Baraboo)

  The Baraboo program is an accredited, 3-year residency-training program affiliated with the Madison Residency Program, located in a rural area that prepares family physicians for rural practice. Students will engage in a broad spectrum of learning and clinical activities specific to rural communities. Strong interest in rural family medicine and a four week commitment are pre-requisites.

• Other Rural Clinic Options:
  • Antigo: Aspirus General Clinic
  • Menominee: Red Cedar Clinic
  • Mauston: Mile Bluff Medical Center
  • Prairie du Chien: Gunderson Lutheran
  • Student Selected Locations of Choice: must be approved by DFM & UWSMPH

Clinical Clerkship in Family/Community Medicine (Native American) Course # 370-926

Clinical clerkship experiences focusing on care for Native American communities are available at the following sites.

• Menominee Tribal Clinic, Keshena/Shawano Medical Center: This clinic is one of the largest Native American clinics in the state with six doctors and one nurse practitioner. The clinic serves Native Americans and non-Indians. Housing is provided.
• Red Cliff Community Health Center, Bayfield: Red Cliff Community Health Center is owned and operated by the Red Cliff Band of Chippewa Indians and is located north of Bayfield, near Madeline Island. It is a single-doctor clinic, located on the reservation. The majority of patients are Native American and a few non-Indians from the local community. Students spend mornings at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland and afternoons at the clinic. Housing is available.

Research in Family Medicine - Course # 370-910

Research opportunities exist at the Madison, Belleville, Verona, Milwaukee, Wausau, Appleton, and Eau Claire residency clinics, as well as in adjunct community faculty offices scattered throughout the state. Students will have the opportunity to examine both the content and process of primary care research. The elective can be four to eight weeks in length. Students may design or implement a study of their own after consultation with appropriate faculty members or they may work on a faculty generated study. Students without a specific research question are encouraged to discuss their research interest with Dr. Jon Temte and other department faculty members.

Individualized Clerkship in Family Medicine - Course # 370-919

This elective is a specialized rotation that is set up by the student and physician in a clinical setting of choice. The clerkship may range from a minimum of 4 credits to a maximum of 8 credits. Applications need signed approvals by a physician supervisor credentialed as a UW volunteer faculty member, the Department of Family Medicine and the Dean's Office.