Medical Student Education
Welcome to the Division of Medical Student Education for the Department of Family and Community Medicine!
If you are an MCW student in any year, with a curiosity or interest in the specialty of Family Medicine, you are welcome to participate in the Family Medicine Learning Community (FMLC), coordinated by MCW’s Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM).
For more information on any of these opportunities, please contact Leslie Ruffalo, PhD at lruffalo@mcw.edu or (414) 955-8710.
Overview
Learning Communities
Learning communities are “intentional communities” that engage students and faculty to enhance learning through a common purpose, similar interests and learning experiences.
Our “student-type” Family Medicine Learning Community is focused on:
- Medical school education at MCW with Family Medicine enrichment/perspective
- Service learning and Family Medicine enrichment activities
- Career education and advising activities
- Social functions, including athletic and cultural activities
- Intentional peer-to-peer educational and social interaction/collaborations, especially between upper and lower classmen (vertical integration among classes)
- Leadership and professional development activities
Successful learning communities are collaborative. The faculty in the DFCM Medical Student Education Division are dedicated to working with MCW student organizations and individual students to foster student connection, excellence, learning, leadership and service. Below is a diagram of individuals who identify themselves as part of the FMLC.
FMLC Goal
The goal of our Family Medicine Learning Community (FMLC) is to foster student connection, excellence, learning, leadership and service in primary care and Family Medicine. The FMLC brings together students interested in Family Medicine across all four years of medical school with MCW Family Medicine faculty, residents and community family physicians. The objectives of the FMLC are to:
- Encourage students to explore the dynamic field of Family Medicine through formal and informal activities, working closely with each other and Family Physician mentors/advisors.
- Promote the balance of basic science knowledge with primary care competencies and decision-making skills through active learning.
- Support students in their professional development regardless of their ultimate specialty choice.
FMLC Opportunities and Activities
Below is a list of FMLC Opportunities:
- FMLC Saturday Free Clinic (two or three times a year, the Saturday Free clinic is staffed primarily by FMLC students and faculty)
- Service Learning; many of these opportunities are provided through MCW’s National Award-winning Family Medicine Student Association (FMSA). FMSA is a student-run organization that coordinates a number of worthwhile important community projects (including Tars Wars, Health Room Helper, Ready Set Fit, and Homeless Clinic). The DFCM provides a faculty liaison and staff support.
- Evidence-Based Medicine Journal Club
- Special Olympics Physical Day
- Social events, including the annual Helfaer Field softball game
- Pathway support, for projects with a Primary Care/Family Medicine emphasis
- Pathway support for literature reviews on topics important to primary care
Family Medicine and Pathways
The goal of faculty in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at MCW is to provide Pathway students with early clinical opportunities/experiences to explore the exciting and diverse possibilities of Family Medicine/Primary Care. Direct patient care experiences, seminar series and service learning opportunities through-out the year provide ways to connect the basic sciences and the clinical environment while helping you meet pathway requirements for monthly non-core hours.
Family Medicine Faculty are involved in all nine MCW pathways. Students with an interest in primary care generally will choose a primary care faculty advisor since experiences will likely emphasize primary care concepts; however, Family Medicine faculty welcome all students as pathway advisees, regardless of career interest.
If you are interested in a Family Medicine advisor for your pathway, it is best to contact faculty advisor, Leslie Ruffalo, lruffalo@mcw.edu. She can help match you to an appropriate Family Medicine faculty member, based on your interests. Students in any pathway, with any faculty advisor from any department, are welcome to join us and participate in the FMLC.
Contact Us
Family Advisor for the Family Medicine Learning Community (FMLC): Leslie Ruffalo, PhD
(414) 955-8710 or (414) 955-4333 | lruffalo@mcw.edu
Required Family Medicine Clerkship
Clerkship Overview
Download the Full Course Syllabus (PDF)
For our Preceptors:
Preceptor Brochure (PDF)
Preceptor Handbook (PDF)
M4 Electives
To view the M4 course catalog, you must sign into OASIS. Additional information is available on the Registrar's website.
Electives Offered
M4 Required Subinternships and Ambulatory Rotations
To view the M4 course catalog, you must sign into OASIS. Additional information is available on the Registrar's website.
FMED-M4502 - Family Medicine Acting Internship at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital
2301 N. Lake Dr., Room 4208
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Director: Sabrina Hofmeister, MD
Course Coordinator: Cheryl Schaefer
FMED-M4510 - Family Medicine Acting Internship at Waukesha Memorial Hospital
725 American Ave.
Waukesha, WI 53188
Director: Maureen Longeway, MD
Course Coordinator: Diane Behling
FMED-M4512 - Family Medicine Acting Intership at St. Joseph Hospital
5000 W. Chambers Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53210
Director: David Klehm, MD
Course Coordinator: Staci Huber
FMED-M4903 - Family Medicine Ambulatory Rotations
1121 E. North Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
Director: Seth Bodden, MD
Course Coordinator: Cheryl Schaefer