title: Interest and perceptions of student-run health clinics: a survey at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical students are interested in maximizing clinical experiences during preclinical years; we report an exploratory survey of student and faculty interest in a student-run health clinic (SHC) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
  
  
  METHODS
  We distributed via e-mail a questionnaire to explore student and faculty opinions regarding the role of a SHC at the USU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly half of the students (310/669; 46%) and one in five faculty members (78/427; 18%) responded. 227 students stated the USU should have a SHC and 247 students were willing to commit time to a SHC on a weekly or monthly basis. The majority of participants believe work in a SHC would benefit various clinical attributes representative of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education residency accreditation requirements. However, most participants believe work in a SHC would benefit only students pursuing careers in primary care whereas having less benefit to surgical careers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our survey suggests that there is sufficient student interest at the USU to explore additional clinical opportunities early in the medical school experience; we furthermore identified a subtle yet profound difference of opinions in students and faculty regarding the benefits of early clinical exposure and different specialties.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belgard
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stephens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000193:education*; D010465:Perception; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States