Medical Student Rotations
Family Medicine Residency Program
The Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency Program prides itself on teaching and involving medical students in patient care. Students are often surprised by the variety of patients seen and the amount of procedures performed. Some students even return as residents to our program. Here are the rotations available in each of the two tracks.
For more information, please read the descriptions below, or contact us at sutterfmrp@sutterhealth.org.
Outpatient Family Medicine - Sacramento
In our midtown clinic near Sutter General Hospital, students work closely with 13 residents and 6 core faculty to enhance clinical skills during this 2- or 3-week rotation. Students routinely see patients independently and then present cases to the attending or resident. Students quickly learn how a thriving clinic functions and become proficient in using electronic health records. Emphasis is placed on interpersonal skills, physical exam techniques, and evidence-based medicine.
Our clinic population is diverse and students can expect to see a variety of pediatric, adolescent, adult, obstetrical, and geriatric patients. Procedures include joint aspiration/injection, casting/splinting, flexible sigmoidoscopy, circumcisions, OB ultrasound, and vasectomies. We also have specific clinics for colposcopy and dermatologic procedures. Students usually participate in a home visit as well.
Schedule: Clinic runs from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wednesday afternoons 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., students participate in didactic lectures on various topics, and enjoy a provided lunch. Thursday mornings 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., there are morning report discussions where residents present interesting inpatient cases. Once a month, Friday 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., students attend Grand Rounds at the hospital, which are topical lectures.
This rotation is for 3rd year UC Davis medical students or any 4th year medical student upon approval from the course director.
Outpatient Family Medicine - Davis
At our Sutter Davis clinic, students participate in the care of a diverse university and agricultural patient population during this 4-week rotation. The newly built care center has soothing earth tone colors and a spacious layout. Students work alongside 6 residents and 3 core faculty. Electronic health records are easily accessed, and health maintenance is emphasized. Patients range from newborns to geriatric patients, with everything in between. Spanish skills are helpful but not required. Students have the opportunity to round in the hospital and in nursing homes with faculty as well as participate in a home visit. Once a month during the lunch hour, an interesting inpatient case is reviewed. Procedures include joint aspiration/injection, casting/splinting, flexible sigmoidoscopy, circumcisions, OB ultrasound, dermatologic and gynecologic procedures, and vasectomies. Sutter Davis has a strong orthopedics department, and the students/residents work closely with these specialists, and also participate in monthly orthopedic conferences on Fridays at noon.
Schedule: Clinic runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wednesday afternoons 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., students participate in didactic lectures on various topics, and enjoy a provided lunch. Once a month, Friday orthopedic conferences 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Also, once a month, review of an interesting inpatient case during the lunch hour.
This rotation is for 3rd year UC Davis medical students or any 4th year medical student upon approval from the course director.
Inpatient Family Medicine - Sacramento
During this 4-week subinternship rotation, fourth-year students serve an integral part of the Family Medicine inpatient service at Sutter Medical Center, which includes Sutter General and Sutter Memorial Hospitals. Students can expect to see a wide variety of disease processes. In addition to the student, the team is usually comprised of a junior and senior resident along with an attending physician. The number of patients ranges from 4-12, and includes not only adults, but also newborns, pediatrics, and postpartum care patients. Procedures include paracentesis, thoracentesis, and lumbar puncture. Students become proficient at using electronic health records, and are exposed to cutting edge technologies such as digitally accessed radiology and remote monitored electronic ICUs. Overall goals are to enhance history taking, physical exam, and assessment skills and to promote the development of evidence-based treatment plans. Students also work with a variety of ancillary staff and specialty physicians.
Schedule: The average workday is 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call duration is from 5:00 p.m. until 12:00 noon the following day and is not more than once a week. Wednesdays 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. is spent in didactic lectures with residents. Every Thursday 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. in the hospital conference room, students participate in "morning report" where an interesting case is reviewed. Also, mirroring the rotation for the first-year resident, the student will spend one half-day a week in the Family Medicine ambulatory clinic seeing patients.
All 4th year medical students are eligible to apply for this rotation. Meals and parking pass are provided.
