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Rush Medical College
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University of Illinois at Rockford
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Summer Externship Experience

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!
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).

Students: Read all the information below including the FAQs before you apply! Applications are still being accepted for the Rural Experience. The other two externships are no longer open to apply.
Students must be members of AAFP and assigned to our Illinois Chapter.

Student Application Form

About the Externships

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 2025, 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:

A wide range of clinical and social determinants of health issues seen by family physicians in outpatient and inpatient settings;
The variety of experiences and rewards of family medicine careers
Examining the family physicians’ relationship in collaboration with other health care providers
Observing role of a family physician in his/her community.
Leadership perspective through observation and participation with your preceptor.

Expectations and Objectives

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:

Arrive on time at the location as set by your preceptor.
Express an interest in the underlying content material of family medicine
Interact courteously and professionally with all staff and patients.
Ask for help when needed.
Listen to and accept feedback in a constructive manner.
Ask good questions to learn more about the physician, the practice and community.
Submit a weekly online report summarizing your activity and memorable encounters (instructions and link to be provided).
Contact Ginnie Flynn (gflynn@iafp.com or 773-754-1185) to report any problems or unexpected changes in scheduling.

Following the externship, the student should be able to:

Demonstrate commitment to patient care and the ability to establish a rapport with patients.
Ask questions about and express some understanding of the nature of family medicine.
Recognize the potential importance of the family and home environment and other social determinants impact on health.
Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of family physicians to their community.
Demonstrate an awareness of and the appropriate use of community resources available for comprehensive patient care.
Take a history that is appropriate for their level of training.
Perform a physical examination that is appropriate for their level of training.

Concluding your experience and collecting the $1500 stipend:

First half of stipend will be paid by electronic deposit after student signs and returns extern agreement for their specific externship experience
Student must complete all requirements and attend all scheduled days of externship. Should student fail to start and finish the externship as agreed, we will seek to recover the initial $750 payment.
Student will complete an online final evaluation and attend an in-person site visit (date and location TBD) with preceptor and program staff in order to receive second half of stipend payment $750 via electronic deposit.
Students will receive a 1099 from the IRS for their income taxes for that year.

Summer Externship - Student Frequently Asked Questions

Collapsible Tabs

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.