The Interdisciplinary Generalist Project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The Interdisciplinary Generalist Curriculum (IGC) Project at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine (Nebraska) had three goals: (1) to increase first- and second-year students' exposure to primary care practice in the community; (2) to develop specific educational programs introducing these students to the principles and practices of primary care medicine; and (3) to establish a generalist coordinating council to provide leadership and to nurture generalist educational initiatives in the College of MEDICINE: Students at Nebraska were already required to spend three half-days a semester in a longitudinal clinical experience (LCE) and to complete a three-week primary care block experience in the summer between the first and second years. IGC Project funds were used increase the number of required LCE visits to five a semester and to develop curricular enhancements that would maximize the educational potential of community-based clinical experiences for first- and second-year students. Curricular elements developed included a focus on faculty development for preceptors and development of the Primary Care Introduction to Medicine Curriculum, an eight-week, interdisciplinary module scheduled late in the first year to help prepare students for intensive summer rotations. Other developments were the implementation of a pediatric physical examination experience for first-year students and the implementation of instruction in community-oriented primary care in the second year. Lessons learned are related to: (1) the value and power of early clinical experiences; and (2) the enhancing effect of a holistic, longitudinal view of the curriculum on the planning of early clinical experiences.
Steele
D
D
Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 983075 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-3075, USA. djsteele@unmc.edu
Susman
J
J
McCurdy
F
F
O'Dell
D
D
Paulman
P
P
Stott
J
J
D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009329:Nebraska; D011231:Preceptorship; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation