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The objective of this department is to prepare students to carry out their functions as leaders and coordinators of health care teams as they provide access to the health system and assume continuing responsibility for the management of patients over a long period of time. More specifically, the student will:

  1. Experience a family medicine model of practice, which will infuse the student with a philosophy of family medicine and an understanding of the role of the family physician.
  2. Demonstrate skills in diagnosis, treatment and management of patients and technical procedures appropriate for family medicine.
  3. Demonstrate and expand knowledge base in the various fields of medicine encompassed by family medicine.

Contact the Family Medicine CST Coordinator (fmtrackcoordinator@unmc.edu) with scheduling questions unless a course administrator is specified for a course in the course description.

FMED 712 COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION ELECTIVE 4 Credit Hours

ELECTIVE

Medical students will meet community health needs while developing their own ability to understand and address the complex health challenges they will encounter in patient care. A student will be assigned to a community site(s) and partner with them in delivering a community health education session(s). Over several planning sessions, the student will then implement 3 community health education projects under the direction of the faculty member from family medicine and community site advisor. Community based learning projects will focus on preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality throughout Omaha. Examples include maternal and child health education support for expectant mothers and mothers of preschoolers; after-school projects to prevent high-risk health behaviors among adolescents; and other health promotion and education activities for chronic diseases. Community sites will be chosen by the attending but will likely be with children in under- resourced settings. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Liu

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 714 ADVANCED FAMILY MEDICINE TRACK / PRI-CARE FM-OB/NEWBORN SUB-INTERNSHIP 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

This is a clinical experience that includes experience in management of obstetric and newborn patients. It will be completed on the family medicine OB/newborn teaching service. It covers all aspects of obstetric care including triage, labor management, delivery and postpartum care and discharge planning. It also covers all aspects normal newborn care including resuscitation, newborn nursery care, newborn screenings, discharge planning and common newborn conditions. During this rotation the sub-intern will be assigned to the family medicine OB/newborn team and will be given sub-intern level responsibilities commensurate with their level of experience under direct supervision of family medicine supervising residents and faculty. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks. Site: UNMC Main Campus.

Prerequisite:  Reserved for students in the Advanced Family Medicine Training Program or the Primary Care Program. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Kimberly Jarzynka and Dr. Mindy Lacey

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 4

FMED 715 ADVANCED FAMILY MEDICINE AMBULATORY SPECIALTY SUB-INTERNSHIP 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

This course will be utilized for a number of specialty outpatient rotations that are required for sub-interns in the Advanced Family Medicine Track. Each of these rotations is an outpatient clinical experience that includes general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, dermatology, allergy / immunology, orthopedics, sports medicine, rheumatology, and/or ambulatory pediatrics. The rotations take place at UNMC, within the community, or at Offutt Airforce Base. The sub-intern will be given responsibilities commensurate with their level of experience under direct supervision of supervising residents, fellows and faculty. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Reserved for students in the Advanced Family Medicine Training Program or the Primary Care Program. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Kimberly Jarzynka

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 4

FMED 719 THE ROLE OF NUTRITION IN PATIENT CARE 4 Credit Hours

ELECTIVE

This elective is an in-depth, comprehensive study of the role of nutrition in patient care. Students on this rotation will spend time in clinic with physicians who use nutrition to help their patients prevent and treat disease. They will also spend time in clinic with dieticians to learn how they use nutrition to treat patients. Assignments include self-directed learning, teaching peers, and a final presentation. Objectives: After completing the elective, the student will be able to discuss the role that nutrition plays in health and disease. Discuss the basic science aspects of important nutritional problems. Demonstrate increased competence in diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with nutrition problems. Describe community food resources for patients. Discuss evidence-based pharmacological nutritional therapy. Rotations Offered: February.

Prerequisite:  Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Susan Evans

Typically Offered: SPRING

Capacity: 4

FMED 720 FAMILY MEDICINE OUTPATIENT SUB-INTERNSHIP - DURHAM OUTPATIENT CLINIC 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

This is a clinical experience in the Durham Outpatient Center Family Medicine Clinic at UNMC. It includes experience in treating adults and children with acute and chronic illnesses. This rotation covers all aspects of Family Medicine in an outpatient setting in addition to exposure to preventive medicine and surgical procedures done in the Family Medicine office. Students also participate in Family Medicine teaching day lectures when appropriate. Visiting students may have an additional inpatient as arranged with the course instructor. Rotation Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Instructor: Dr. Susan Evans and staff

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 722 FAMILY MEDICINE OUTPATIENT SUB-INTERNSHIP - BELLEVUE MEDICAL CENTER 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

A clinical experience at the University satellite clinic located at 36th Street and Highway 370. This rotation covers all aspects of Family Medicine in an outpatient setting in addition to exposure to preventive medicine and surgical procedures done in the Family Medicine office. Addition of inpatient, OB, geriatric, or procedural experience could be arranged on an individual basis. Rotations Offered: August - March. Site: Bellevue Medical Center. This site is recommended to students who are interested in practicing rural primary care in the future.

Instructor: Dr. Aaron Lanik and Staff

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 723 FAMILY MEDICINE OUTPATIENT SUB-INTERNSHIP - MILLARD HLTH CENTER 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

An exposure to all aspects of Family Medicine in a private office setting. This rotation covers all aspects of Family Medicine in an outpatient setting in addition to exposure to preventive medicine and surgical procedures done in the Family Medicine office. Rotations Offered: August - March. Site: Millard Health Center, 13325 Millard Ave, Omaha, NE 68137.

Prerequisite:  Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Elisabeth Backer and Staff

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 727 FAMILY MEDICINE INPATIENT SERVICE SUB-INTERNSHIP - UNMC 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

Students are given sub-internship responsibilities commensurate with experience under the direct supervision of the Family Medicine Chief Resident and inpatient attending physician. The inpatient service admits patients from Family Medicine Clinics, from the E.R. or Family Medicine referral patients from outstate Nebraska. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks, except August. Site: UNMC.

Instructor: Chief Resident and Staff

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 730 FAMILY MEDICINE SUB-INTERNSHIP - LINCOLN FAMILY MEDICINE PROGRAM 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

The Lincoln Family Medicine Program is a clinical experience, both inpatient and outpatient, for 4th year medical students who want a concentrated experience in Family Medicine. Students are given the opportunity to follow their own schedule of ambulatory patients, round on hospital patients, attend deliveries, and visit specialties while on rotation in Lincoln. This rotation is coordinated through the Department of Family Medicine with the Lincoln Family Medicine Residency Program. Course Administrators: Julie Pickhinke Kassidy Drazkowski. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks, except April-July and March. Site: Lincoln General.

Prerequisite:  Pre-arrangement with Julie, jpickhinke@lmep.com and Kassidy, fmtrackcoordinator@unmc.edu. Submit a completed application, https://www.lfmp.com/clerkship-in-family-medicine and receive site approval. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Lincoln Family Medicine Program staff

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 2

FMED 732 FAMILY MEDICINE SUB-INTERNSHIP - CLARKSON 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

This is a four-week clinical experience, both inpatient and outpatient, in Family Medicine. This rotation is coordinated through the Department of Family Medicine with the Nebraska Medical Center/Clarkson Regional Health Service Program. The purpose of this rotation is to allow senior students the opportunity to experience the daily practice of clinical community-based Family Medicine through care of patients in both the clinical and the inpatient setting under the guidance of Family Medicine residents and faculty. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Pre-arrangement with Kristen Menning, kmanning@nebraskamed.com and Kassidy, fmtrackcoordinator@unmc.edu. A completed application, https://www.nebraskamed.com/residency-programs/clarkson-family-medicine. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Leslie Veskrna

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 2

FMED 733 ADVANCED/PRICARE-RURAL TRAINING TRACK 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

This is a four-week campus clinical experience, both inpatient and outpatient, in Family Medicine at one of the existing Family Medicine rural training track Family Medicine residency sites. The purpose of this course is to allow senior medical students in the Advanced Family Medicine and PriCare Programs who are interested in the rural training track residency program to perform a clinical rotation at one of these sites. Specify rural location upon request. Confirmation will be subject to availability at rural site. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Reserved for students in the Advanced Family Medicine Training Program or the Primary Care Program. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Susan Evans

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 735 FAMILY MEDICINE OUTPATIENT SUB-INTERNSHIP - ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

This is a four-week course for senior medical students who can conduct a medical visit in Spanish and are interested in primary care for patients who face many systemic barriers to health equality. Students will care for a large Latino population as well as get exposure to refugee and asylee health care, LGBTQ+ health care, unhoused health care, and health care for patients with substance use disorder. Students will gain exposure to a Federally Qualified Health Center and learn about some of the resources available to assist uninsured patients in our community. In addition, students will gain exposure to the family medicine residency at OneWorld. As greater than 50% of the patients speak Spanish, students must have a basic conversational ability in Spanish. Students will have the opportunity to practice their interviewing and physical exam skills in both English and Spanish while being supervised by the One World attending physicians. Students will be vetted by a One World employee via telephone prior to the rotation to ensure that their Spanish capabilities are adequate to ensure a fulfilling rotation. Grade for this rotation is based on attendance, enthusiasm, demonstration of cultural competency, respect and professionalism with patients and support staff, written notes, and a final case report. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Students interested in this rotation should submit a 200 word or less essay on why they are interested in primary care and their experience working with underserved individuals. A completed application, https://www.oneworldomaha.org/clinical-education/student-programs/. As a part of the application, you will need to provide a time you would be available for a Spanish evaluation. Please be sure to do this at least a month before the rotation is set to start.

Instructor: Dr. Melanie Menning

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 1

FMED 737 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 4 Credit Hours

ELECTIVE

In partnership with the Women's Fund of Omaha, this course is a four-week immersion experience in domestic violence, prevention and treatment using a bio-psychosocial community health model. Presentations/Topics covered: Survivor Experience, Intimate Partner Violence as a Critical Healthcare Issue, Advocacy Protective Orders, Shelter Services, Impact of DV on Children, Probation Responses for Offenders, Law Enforcement, Batterer Invention Program - Men, Sexual Assault/DV Forensic Nurse Examinations, Mock Trial, Building Healthy Relationships, Sex Trafficking, DV in Immigrant and Refugee Communities, and SP experience. A schedule will be sent out by the Women's Fund of Omaha prior to the rotation beginning. Rotations Offered: September, October, February, and March.

Prerequisite:  Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Cynthia Hernandez

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: 2

FMED 739 SHARING CLINIC 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

During Phase 3, the student will participate in a student-run clinic for the underserved by assisting the student administrators and by providing patient care. The student will also attend SHARING Board meetings and complete a clinical quality improvement project mutually agreeable to the student and the Board. Methods of Instruction: 1 to 1 clinical precepting and mentoring, CQI project Faculty facilitated clinic administration, independent research and study of CQI project. During Phase 3, the student will attend one evening clinic session (3-4 hours) for each of three SHARING clinics during eight four-week elective periods for a minimum of 24 visits during the year; additional visits may be required during some months to compensate for Away rotation time and when these activities conflict with required activities of other electives, such as night call. In addition, students will attend SHARING Student and Faculty Board Meetings (2-3 hours per month over the noon hour) and complete the quality improvement project (approximately 4-6 hours per month) by the end of March. Responsibilities to the SHARING Clinic throughout Phase 3 DO NOT take precedence over the elective for which the student is registered in each of the other months. Students are responsible for arranging their SHARING visits each month after they have received the schedule for their elective that month. Rotations Offered: January, February, and March. Rotations available upon request: October, November, and December.

Prerequisite:  Students must submit a letter of interest explaining why they are qualified to take this longitudinal course to the FM Phase 3 coordinator. The letter is limited to 500 words and should be addressed to Dr. Hay and sent to fmtrackcoordinator@unmc.edu. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. William Hay

Typically Offered: SPRING

Capacity: 4

FMED 750 INTERNATIONAL HEALTH 4 Credit Hours

ELECTIVE

The course offers students the opportunity to participate in a health care setting in a foreign country. Students' responsibilities, performed under the supervision of trained medical personnel, may include work in clinics and hospitals, home visits with community health workers, and health education. In addition, the student will also participate in a brief orientation and debriefing. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Pre-arrangement with the Family Medicine Coordinator and Sara Pirtle (Office of Global Engagement), and an approved Away Rotation Application. Not open to visiting students.

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: Variable

FMED 760 FAMILY MEDICINE AWAY CLINICAL 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

A rotation at another educational institution requiring entry through third-party application platforms (e.g., VSLO), often associated with an outside academic institution or residency program. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  An approved Away Rotation Application. Not open to visiting students.

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: Variable

FMED 761 FAMILY MEDICINE AWAY NON-CLINICAL 4 Credit Hours

ELECTIVE

A rotation at another educational institution requiring entry through third-party application platforms (e.g., VSLO), often associated with an outside academic institution or residency program. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  An approved Away Rotation Application. Not open to visiting students.

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: Variable

FMED 764 FAMILY MEDICINE OFF-CAMPUS PRECEPTORSHIP 4 Credit Hours

SUB-INTERN

A pre-arranged rotation occurring under the supervision of volunteer faculty not accessed through a third-party application platform, usually at a regional private clinic within the state of Nebraska. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  This is a student organized course. If the location is used for Phase 2 Family Medicine Clerkship, reach out to Jolene Wees for available months. Then reach out to the site to coordinate rotation. Housing is not provided and is the student's responsibility. Forward Jolene's and site's approval to fmtrackcoordinator@unmc.edu and join the wait list. An approved Off-Campus Preceptorship Application. Not open to visiting students.

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: Variable

FMED 799 RESEARCH PROJECT IN FAMILY MEDICINE 4 Credit Hours

ELECTIVE

Students may select a project in which they are particularly interested and pursue this project intensively for four weeks. Preferably, several months in advance of the Research Project rotation, students will develop a project idea with a faculty mentor in the Department of Family Medicine, and initial preparatory steps will be taken (E.g., completion of CITI human subjects protection training, submission of an IRB application). The faculty mentor will work with the student to develop a plan for the research over the course of the four-week period and will continue to mentor the student throughout the research project. The student should be prepared to spend time after the Research Project rotation to complete the research. Rotations Offered: Each 4 weeks.

Prerequisite:  Send a brief description of your project, along with the name of your project mentor to Dr. Jenenne Geske. After the project has been approved by Dr. Geske, please reach out to the Family Medicine coordinator with the approval and the name of your project mentor. Not open to visiting students.

Instructor: Dr. Jenenne Geske

Typically Offered: FALL/SPR

Capacity: Variable