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Students
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Natali Smiley
Rush Medical College
Student Board Member
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Shruthi Mekala
University of Illinois at Rockford
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The Family Health Foundation Summer Externship Experience is supported in part by a matching grant from the AAFP Foundation. Funds for the Foundation to match the AAFP Summer Externship grants were provided by UIC, Gibson Area Hospital and a grant from the AAFP Foundation Family Medicine Chapter Alliance, which is funded by members like you! Application will be available in late April.
Help programs like this continue to support family medicine by giving to the FMPC. Select “Chapter Grants” when making your gift online (www.aafpfoundation.org).
The student extern will gain experience in day-to-day clinical activities, administration, and how FQHCs operate and play a vital role in the community. Students will have the opportunity to explore full-scope Family Medicine, with a focus on primary care integration of services (Medical, Behavioral Health, and Addiction) and Lifestyle Medicine. The goals of the externship are to foster leadership, interest in systems of care for underserved populations, and an introduction to primary care medicine.
Dates, hours and expectations
This externship must cover four total weeks and may begin the Week of July 8. The four weeks do not have to be consecutive if a vacation week is already scheduled with the final weeks possible in August. The final four weeks can be set by agreement with the selected student and the lead preceptor, Christina Wells, MD. Student will be added to the IAFP FPs in FQHCs member interest group.
Location
This externship is primarily at UI-Mile Square Health Center Cicero location with lead preceptor Christina Wells, MD and will include other sites such as the UI Hospital, other clinics and group visits at the Auburn Gresham Clinic on the South Side. Dr. Wells is a member of the IAFP's FPs in FQHCs Member Interest Group, chair of the IAFP Lifestyle Medicine Member Interest Group and was elected to the IAFP Board of Directors in 2020 and currently serves as the IAFP's Treasurer. We encourage you to learn more about the clinic before you apply, using the link for UI-Mile Square above.
The Full-Scope Rural Medicine Externship is designed for medical students passionate about rural health disparities and/or a career in full-scope family medicine with maternity care. The extern will spend four days a week shadowing Dr. Kristina Dakis in her rural full-spectrum family medicine clinic. Goals can be tailored to the extern with an emphasis on expanding clinical knowledge and skills. Externs will also join Dr. Dakis at the local hospital for vaginal and cesarean deliveries. There will be opportunities to assist in deliveries including in surgery. The externship experience includes exposure to high-risk obstetrics patients, addiction medicine, comprehensive pediatric care, breastfeeding medicine, and LGBTQ care. Extern will learn about the local community, the specific needs of rural residents, and the family physician’s role in community advocacy.
Dates, hours and expectations
This externship must cover four total weeks - with flexible scheduling by agreement with the selected student and preceptor Kristina Dakis, MD. Starting date could be July 15. The day to day schedule will be set by Dr. Dakis before the externship begins. Extern will be encouraged to join an IAFP Member Interest group with Dr. Dakis, such as Health Equity or Reproductive Health.
Location
This externship is Family Health Center of Gibson City location with lead preceptor Dr. Dakis and will also include visits to the Gibson Health of Hoopeston Clinic, Gibson Area Hospital and other possibilities as set by the interests of the selected student. We encourage you to learn more about the clinic before you apply, using the link to FHC of Gibson City above. Housing will be provided for the selected student. It is highly recommended that the student have their own car to maximize the flexibility of scheduling, participation in deliveries and other clinic opportunities.
Dates: Ideally four consecutive weeks beginning Monday, July 7 or later, with flexibility to determine exact schedule with the preceptor. Open to all Illinois students currently finishing their first year. Primary Location: Pilsen Food Pantry - 2124 S. Ashland Avenue (Pantry website)
The UIC/Pilsen Food Pantry Health Equity summer externship is a community-centered family medicine experience. The extern will spend one day a week in the family medicine clinic shadowing UIC College of Medicine family physicians and the remainder of the week learning about the greater UIC community at the Pilsen Food Pantry, a program sponsored by the nonprofit organization of Illinois family physician Dr. Evelyn Figueroa.
Activities at the Pilsen Food Pantry will include operations, client services (food, clothing, books, migrant support), mentorship of high school and college interns, and self-directed learning. Working with Evelyn Figueroa, MD (the 2021 AAFP Humanitarian Award honoree) the student will experience the incredible role of family medicine in addressing socio-economic factors that impact a person's health and ability to improve overall well-being. The selected extern will participate in a weekly huddle with the M3/M4 advocacy students.
Your experience will include:
The Family Health Foundation of Illinois Summer Externship Experience provides an opportunity for pre- clinical medical students (currently first or second year students) who are involved with their campus FMIG to experience a practical, clinical learning environment in the practice of an Illinois family physician leader.
For 2024, the Family Health Foundation of Illinois offers a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a Full Scope Rural Medicine Small Practice Summer Externship Experience and the UIC/Pilsen Food Pantry Summer Externship. You can apply for any of the three, and you may apply for more than one, just be sure to complete the essay question for each one.
Each experience includes a $1500 stipend for the student. The first half is paid upon completion of the agreement and securing of the schedule with the preceptor. The remaining $750 is paid upon completion of the four weeks, with all weekly reports and final evaluation submitted online.
NOTE: Students must ensure that their medical school's liability insurance policy will cover their time at their externship site. If not, the student will be required to obtain a temporary policy at their own expense via www.academicgroup.com.
This experience will expose the student to:
While the individual student’s experience may vary dependent upon the preceptor’s practice, the following expectations and objectives will be a part of all students’ experience in the Summer Externship Experience.
During the externship, the student is expected to:
Following the externship, the student should be able to:
Concluding your experience and collecting the $1500 stipend:
Summer Externship - Student Frequently Asked Questions
Only M1 or M2 students currently serving or elected as incoming Family Medicine Interest Group leader may apply. All applicants must provide proof of liability insurance coverage in their application. Please have this before you access the online application.
You will spend four weeks with your preceptor – dates are included in the application.
You will be exposed a great variety of experiences, which are the core tenet of family medicine. You will be at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) where providers are employed and all patients are accepted, regardless of insurance status.
Students will receive a $1500 stipend.
You will receive payment after you and your preceptor submit final evaluations. Evaluations are available after the scheduled rotation is completed. Evaluations will be emailed to you to complete as an online survey. You must submit this information in a timely manner to receive timely compensation.
The Foundation will not tax your stipend. However, you will receive a 1099 from the IAFP Foundation for your payment and will need to submit that to your tax professional. The IRS will be notified of the payment made to you.
Either your school or the facility your externship is at will need to provide malpractice coverage for your activities.
No. By participating in the Summer Externship experience you’re not committing to family medicine, but you are committing to learning more about family medicine so you can make an informed evaluation of the specialty. You will also be serving in a location of great need for future physicians. Participation in the externship provides important hands on experience – that looks great on a resume and can also create networking connections for you in your future as you evaluate residency opportunities and a career path.
The Foundation staff will evaluate the applications and select participating students. Students will be notified by email and the selected students will have one week to accept or decline the opportunity.
It depends on your school. Check with your school-appointed coordinator for details.
You must contact Ginnie Flynn, Family Health Foundation of Illinois coordinator for this Summer Externship experience in writing at gflynn@iafp.com. If you have any concerns about your ability to participate in this program, please contact Ginnie Flynn with any questions as soon as possible.
If you are the selected student and decline, the opportunity will go to the next student ranked on the application evaluations.
If you accept the externship experience, you have until 30 days prior to your start date to cancel. So please carefully examine your schedule and personal responsibilities over the summer months before you apply. Professionalism is important and will be expected.
