The University of Kansas
School of Medicine:
Rural Option for
Third Year Clerkships
Michael Machen, MD
Northwest Medical Education
Network Site Director
Why Go Rural?
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More opportunity
One on one hands-on
experience with
preceptor and medical
staff
Broad range of clinical
experiences
Why Rural?
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Increase in community
impact
Interaction with multiple
layers of community
activities and leaders
First hand experience
with inter-professional
relationships
Why Rural?
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Appreciate the benefit
of community support
for the ailing patient
Increased visibility of
community involvement
of the physician outside
medical practice
Medical Education Network Sites
–
Eastern:
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–
Northcentral:
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–
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Greg Thomas, MD and Marla Ullom-Minnich- Co-Directors
Susan Balding - Coordinator
Northwest:
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–
Scott Owings, MD- Director
Caren Bachman - Coordinator
Southcentral:
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–
Robert Haskins, MD- Director
Alicia Westoff - Coordinator
Michael Machen, MD- Director
Brenda Schumacher - Coordinator
Lisa Stouffer – Program Director
Southwest:
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Randy Fahrenholtz, MD- Director
Leeann Shrader - Coordinator
Medical Education Network Sites
What Rotations Facilitate Rural
Clerkships?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Family Medicine
Obstetrics/Gynecology
General Surgery
Pediatrics
Location of the Rural Options for
the 3rd Year Clerkships
LOCATION
Region
Eastern
City
Burlington
Chanute
Leavenworth
Paola
Junction City
Salina
CLERKSHIP
Family Medicine
X
Pediatrics
Surgery
OB/GYN
X
X
X
Rural Track
Rural Track
Rural Track
X
Rural Track
North Central
McPherson
Moundridge
X
X
North West
Hays
Plainville
Quinter
X
X
South West
Dodge City
Tribune
Garden City
X
X
South Central
X
X
X
X
X
Medical Education Network Sites
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Provide set-up and
support before, during
and after rotation
Location of available
rotations/preceptors are
located in your handouts
Be sure to check out
the displays for details
on each individual site
Clerkship Sites & Preceptors
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Ensure students are able to meet
the Core Competencies for each
rotation
Provide housing and meals for
each student
Provide hands-on experience
Provide Internet access
Provide support and guidance
Students
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Participate in all regular activities including
hospital rounds, surgeries, procedures,
nursing home visits, committee meetings,
etc.
Expected to function as a clerkship
Didactic requirements according to the
specialty rotation
Some Clerkships require a return to KC
during the rotation
KU SOM ORME Office
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Approve all placements with site
Arrange rotation through appropriate network
site staff
Pay for ONE student’s round-trip travel to site
Provide tech assistance for patient logging
Provide training materials if needed
Establish Volunteer Faculty Appointment for
all Preceptors
Salina Rural Track
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This will be the last year for the Salina Rural
Track
Students interested in completing all of their
3rd and 4th year in Salina in a non-urban
setting.
Would move to Salina in July
Contact Dr. Kennedy if interested in this
option
What I liked most…

“The interaction time with my attending. I
was encouraged and allowed to function as a
4th year intern and I learned so much by
being first on call! Dr. __ was patient with me
and listened to all my suggestions and
worked through why each one was
appropriate/inappropriate. I got lots of hands
on in OR and clinic and feel I learned a lot
about perioperative management. This
rotation truly prepared me for 4th year. So I
was able to learn from many angles.”
How it differs from KU Med…
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“Being able to experience
small town medicine which
is so much different than
medicine at KU Med and
because I hope to practice in
a small town someday this is
important to me. One-onone teaching from Dr. ___
which is much better than
the very limited contact we
have with faculty at KU Med.
The friendliness of patients
and staff in Chanute!”
Fantastic Teaching…
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“The Experience overall was positive—much more so than I
had anticipated. Dr. _____ is a fantastic teacher. The
experience that I have had here is the way that medical school
SHOULD BE. I had the perfect amount of exposure to
everything. The people here are extremely helpful and
pleasant to be around. The month went by too quickly and if I
could I would stay another month. Each day Dr. _____would
take about 30 minutes to teach me something-these were some
of the best sessions of learning I have had in 3 years. I would
come here again and I highly recommend this to anyone!”
“I felt like an important member of the healthcare team. The
patients were great. My preceptor gave me a lot of
independence yet was very available. This was by far the best
month of my training.”
Amazing Experience…
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“What an amazing experience! It would be impossible to rank
order the single best thing. Perhaps the caring physicians (who
double as great teachers), perhaps the accommodating staff,
perhaps the nurses and CRNAs—who made sure to involve us
in everything. We were welcomed, encouraged to be involved,
encouraged to take responsibility, and allowed to develop new
skills.”
“I loved the one-on-one attention. Every learning experience
was mine for the taking; no other students to vie for it. I
appreciated Dr. ______’s willingness to accept me into her
family and her practice. I was made to feel very welcome. Dr.
______ always looked for good learning opportunities for me.
Her staff was also very accommodating.”
Simple Process
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Fill out “Request” form and take it to the appropriate
Clerkship Coordinator (listed in your handout, sent
by email)
Once approved by all necessary parties, you will be
notified if a placement is possible
Details will be sent via email by the Outreach
Coordinator in the Office of Rural Medical Education
Follow through to solidify details with your site
Enjoy your experience!
Medical Education Network Sites
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Panelists, MENS Directors
–
Take a moment to hear from each of the MENS
Directors and activities in their respective sites.
Questions?