IAFP Foundation Summer Externship Program

This program has been designed to provide 1st year medical students with an understanding of the scope of family medicine as a primary care specialty.   Students experience clinical medicine, not just observing, but participating in the healthcare delivery to citizens of rural, urban and suburban communities.  Since inception in 1990, the program has grown rapidly.  It is our desire to expose as many students as possible to family medicine, emphasizing ambulatory care in a community setting. View 2007 student participants and physician preceptors.  Read Perspectives From One Preceptor an article by Dr Deb Edberg about being a Summer Externship preceptor.  

The Summer Externship Program comprises a network of community-based, educational programs for students who have completed their first year of medical education.  Based in hospitals, community health centers, family practice residency programs, rural health clinics or with private practice physicians, the summer externship offers a unique educational experience not necessarily offered in medical school.   Our preceptors are committed to teaching and have agreed to provide students with exposure to both clinical and non-clinical areas of their practice from administrative issues, technical and medical operations, to balancing a personal life away from medicine.   This is your chance to have questions answered without an audience of classmates, or to see first-hand what you have been reading about for the past year. 

Our Goal

  • Expose medical students to primary care in a family practice setting

Program Objectives

  • Introduce students to the realities of a medical practice during the early part of their medical education

  • Broaden student awareness and knowledge of the roles played by members of other healthcare professions

  • Increase student self-confidence in interacting with patients, physicians and staff

  • Expose students to the importance of the physician-patient relationship

  • Develop ongoing student-physician relationships that could afford continued support and guidance to a student

  • Acquaint students with the advantages/rewards of choosing family practice by allowing them to observe the management of a medical practice, the lifestyle of a family physicians and the relationship between the family physician and other community resources.

  • Read Frequently Asked Questions

  • Preceptor participation form 

  • Apply Today - Download the Summer Externship Application Part 1, Part 2

For more information regarding the program you can contact:

Crishelle O'Rourke Program Director

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