3rd Year Predoctoral Clerkship in Family Medicine at Boston University

The Family Medicine Clerkship is a six-week core rotation for BUSM third year students. Central objectives of the clerkship are to teach: 1. The Family Medicine approach to the diagnosis and management of undifferentiated patient problems, 2. Core clinical skills required to assess and manage common acute and chronic problems, and 3. Principles of comprehensive and continuous care for patients and their families. The clerkship also emphasizes the principles of health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education.

The Family Medicine Clerkship is primarily focused on ambulatory care. While students will participate in taking care of the hospitalized patients of their preceptors as well as patients in nursing homes and other facilities, the majority of the clerkship will be in the office setting. These settings may be in Family Medicine residency programs, community health centers, or private group or solo practices; students will be able to rank order their site preferences.

Experience at the clinical sites will be complemented by the core curriculum at Boston University School of Medicine and on-line discussions facilitated by department faculty. Performance will be evaluated by the student's preceptors, a case report, online work, as well as OSCE and written examinations at the conclusion of the clerkship.

The sites utilized by the Family Medicine Clerkship include the Family Medicine Heath Center at Boston Medical Center, Codman Square Community Health Center, South Boston Community Health Center, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Manet Community Health Center, Joseph Smith Community Health Center, private practices in the greater Boston area, private practices affiliated with Cape Cod Hospital and the Maine Primary Care Association. Clerks are also placed at the following Family Medicine Residency Programs: Tufts Family Medicine Residency at Cambridge Health Alliance, UMass/Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Program, Central Maine Medical Center FMRP in Lewiston, and Middlesex Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Connecticut. Housing is provided at Cape Cod, Maine, and Connecticut sites.

Once students receive their schedule sequences from the registrar, they will then enter their site preferences through the registrar. They will also receive an email with the link to the Family Medicine Site Preference Form. This online form will allow students to give us more detailed information about their interests and preferences. Please fill it out as soon as possible. Students will then be matched to specific sites by the department based on schedules and interests, as expressed in the online form. **Please note: We do our best to accommodate all requests, but given the number of spots needed, we are not able to guarantee that all requests will be met.**

Our sites are divided into the seven categories listed below. During the registrar's lottery, you will rank the seven categories. Please see below for the lists and descriptions of the specific sites in each category.

Community Health Centers/Undeserved

Boston Medical Center, Family Medicine Center
The Family Medicine Center (FMC) is a busy urban family practice, which opened it doors in October 1997. We practice the full scope of Family Medicine, obstetrics to geriatrics, and perform many office procedures, including gynecologic procedures, minor office surgery, and casting. Colposcopy is also done depending on practitioner availability. While at the FMC you will work with a group of Family Physicians. In general you will work a morning (8-12) and an afternoon (1-5p) session each day, with occasional evening sessions (5:30-8:30p). Evening sessions are compensated with daytime off. You will also spend one week rounding on the Family Medicine inpatient service at Boston Medical Center. Call for OB is an option if you desire. Other options include working with the Family Physicians when they do nursing home rounds, home visits, and work in various shelters. No car needed.
Director: David Gunther, MD
Coordinator: Samuel Rodrigues
Address: Yawkey, Boston Medical Center

Codman Square Health Center
This site is at a community health center in Boston which serves a diverse community (African-American, African-Caribbean, Haitian and Hispanic ) in the Dorchester section of Boston. This very busy center has many programs geared to improving the health of the community in perinatal health, women's health, nutrition, HIV, and youth services. Students will see patients with several family physicians at the center and will develop an appreciation for the various community programs and the health care delivery system that make the Community Health Centers an integral part of Boston's neighborhoods. Students will work with both attendings and residents. Students will also spend one week rounding on the Family Medicine inpatient service at Boston Medical Center. This site is one of two continuity clinic sites for residents in Boston University Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency. Access by T. No car needed.
Director: Stephen Tringale, MD
Address: 637 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124

South Boston Community Health Center
The South Boston Community Health Center Family Medicine Department, one of two continuity sites for the BUMC Family Medicine Residency Program, was established in 1998 within the South Boston Community Health Center, which has served the health needs of the South Boston community for over twenty-five years. The Family Medicine Department, with faculty, sports medicine fellows, Family Medicine residents, and two family nurses, provides a broad range of services, including preventive health services and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. Maternal-child health, sports medicine, geriatric health, skin procedures, and incorporation of the psychosocial dimensions of illness into overall management are all areas of particular emphasis in the department. Students will have the opportunity to work with the Sports Medicine faculty and fellow. Students will work closely with faculty and senior residents, while having an opportunity for exposure to the myriad of other services available at the health center, including family planning counseling, teen pregnancy outreach, and nutrition services. Students will also spend one week rounding on the Family Medicine inpatient service at Boston Medical Center.
Director: Thomas Hines, MD
Address: 409 West Broadway, S. Boston, MA 02127

Uphams Corner Health Center
The Uphams Corner Health Center is one of the Boston neighborhood health centers affiliated with Boston Medical Center. The Uphams Corner Health Center is organized to provide comprehensive, personalized and continuous health services. The goal of the health center is to provide each patient with primary care in comfort and convenience. Each registered patient is assigned a personal primary care physician. The personal physician provides the ongoing care, coordinates specialty services and inpatient care as required by the patient. In addition, Boston Medical Center provides the major hospital support for specialty consultation and inpatient care.
Address: 415 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02125

East Boston Neighborhood Health Center
The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center offers a complete range of services from pediatrics to geriatrics, including a 24-hour urgent care unit, specialty services, HIV services and a large Elder Service Plan program. EBNHC is one of the largest Health Centers of its kind in New England and has a nationally recognized model of community health care. It serves an economically and ethnically diverse population, including a large number of Spanish speaking patients. In the Family Medicine Department, clerks will work directly under the supervision of attendings. Women's health (including prenatal care and gynecologic procedures), dermatologic procedures, geriatrics, and general medical care are foci of the department. Students will also spend one week rounding on the Family Medicine inpatient service at Boston Medical Center. Accessible by T and BMC shuttle; no car needed
Director: Eileen Pierce, MD
Address:10 Gove St, East Boston, MA 02128

Manet Community Health Center
Manet Community Health Center serves the broad health needs of South Shore residents through a Family Medicine model of care. A strong proponent of preventive education and public health activities, Manet collaborates with other community agencies and organizations to identify health related needs and to develop resources to meet those needs. Manet works to ensure that its patients have access to all levels of the health care system, and is especially committed to providing services for the medically underserved. Manet has several centers. The principal site is in north Quincy but there are also clinics in the Houghs Neck and Germantown sections of Quincy, at Quincy Hospital, and a center in the nearby town of Hull. A car is necessary.
Director: William Brandon, MD
Address: 110 West Squatum St. No. Quincy, MA 02171

To The Top

Greater Boston/Private/Group Practice
These positions are in community-based family medicine practices, usually within group practices. Students will work with a designated preceptor within the practice and share his or her patient-load. All these practices are in and around the Greater Boston area, and most locations require a car. Students will spend 8 clinical sessions per week and will accompany their preceptor or members of his or her practice to the hospital to round on patients, to nursing homes, and to other facilities. The preceptor will regularly review the student’s performance.

Danvers Family Doctors - Dr. Subroto Bhattacharya, MD
This clerkship will be centered at Danvers Family Doctors in Danvers (part of Beverly Hospital). The process of evaluating and treating new patients and problems will be central and techniques of patient centered care will be emphasized. Skills required in a managed care environment, especially resource management and application of evidence-based medicine will also be taught. Students will need a car to commute to the site.
Address: 75 Lindall Street, Danvers, MA 01923

Tufts University Family Medicine Residency at Cambridge Health Alliance - Dr. Sara Karp
The clerkship is primarily an outpatient experience in which the student works on a one-to-one basis with family physicians, both at the residency site and in private offices in the Malden area. Students will be exposed the full spectrum of Family Medicine, including women’s health, sports medicine, and even acupuncture. Malden has a multiethnic population which provides rich learning opportunities encompassing a variety of medical and social concerns. An emphasis is placed on writing office notes, and written feedback is given. Students will also have exposure to Family Medicine inpatient care as well as working with other health care professionals including visiting nurses and social workers. Opportunities are offered to participate in occupational health and in procedures such as colposcopy. Students may also attend deliveries, participate in nursing home and home visits, and tailor their clerkship experience to their particular educational interests or needs. Students will participate in the regular conferences and other teaching activities of the Family Medicine Residency Program.
Address: 195 Canal Street, Malden, MA 02148
ph. 781 338-0502

Ackil Medical - Dr. Joseph Ackil
Ackil Medical is a busy urban private family practice.
Address: 1 Corinth St. Roslindale, MA

Beth Israel Deaconess - Dr. Elisabeth Bassler
Address: 304 Chestnut St. Needham, MA

Compass Medical - Dr. Kevin Broderick
Dr. Broderick practices the full specturm of Family Medicine with a focus on Sports Medicine. He is the team doctor for Stonehill College athletic teams. Students will have the opportunity to work the sidelines of games, in season.
Address: 673 Bedford St. Abington, MA

Family Medicine North - Dr. Alain A. Chaoui
Family Medicine North is a private community practice affiliated with Partners Healthcare. The patient population includes newborns to geriatrics, but mostly consists of younger families and women’s health.
Website: www.familymedicinenorth.com
Address: 1 Roosevelt Ave Suite 201 Peabody, MA

Family Care Associates - Dr. David Chodirker
Address: 173 Worcester St. Wellesley, MA

Bridgewater Goddard Park Medical - Dr. Michael Dern
Address: 110 Liberty St. Brockton, MA

Patton Park Medical Center - Dr. Michael Edwards
Address:40-42 Asbury St. South Hamilton, MA

Middlesex Family Practice - Dr. Jeremiah Frank
Middlesex Family Practice is a suburban practice consisting of 3000 plus patients, mostly English speaking but with some Spanish.
Address: 46 Woburn St Reading, MA

Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Practice - Dr. Mary Catherine Gustillo
This site is a suburban medical center serving patients who speak English, Creole and Spanish.
Address: 1 Pearl St. Suite 1500 Brockton, MA

Norwell Family Medicine - Dr. Perry Hearn
Norwell Family Medicine is a suburban private practice serving a mostly Caucasian population. It is a primarily English speaking population but does serve some Portuguese-speaking patients. As a student at this site you will work with 3-4 family physicians at the Norwell site, Carver site, nursing home and in the hospital.
Address: 99 Longwater Circle Suite 100 Norwell, MA

Dr. Carmel Kelly
Dr. Kelly has a solo private practice with a diverse patient population. She has many Spanish and Haitian speaking patients.
Address: 1093 North Maine St. Randolph, MA

BID Needham Heights Family Medicine - Dr. Irina Kogan
This site is a solo suburban community practice. The patient population includes a mix of adult/young adult, geriatrics and pediatrics. Patients speak English and Russian. Students will have the opportunity to follow patients both in the office and at the nursing home.
Address: 100 West Street Needham, MA

Cummings Medical Associates - Dr. Dan McCullough
This is a small suburban group Family Practice consisting of adult, pediatric, geriatric and OB/GYN patients. Students at this site will attend grand rounds every Monday at Beverly Hospital. Students will also round at CAB Health and Recovery, inpatient detox and outpatient methadone clinics.
Address: 107 West Cummings Center Beverley, MA

Family Practice Group, PC - Dr. Stanley Sagov/Dr. Wayne Altman
Address: 22 Mill Street Suite 204 Arlington MA

Family Medicine Associates - Dr. Hugh Taylor
This site is a suburban group family practice with a mostly Caucasian English speaking population. As a student you will be working with two Family Medicine physicians.
Address: 15 Railroad Ave Hamilton, MA

Family Medicine - Dr. Tina Waugh
This is a small suburban group practice consisting of 3 female Family Physicians with a mostly female patient population.
Address: 38 R Enon St. Beverly, MA

Bridgewater Park Medical Associates - Dr. Robert Weinstein
Address:110 Liberty St. Brockton, MA

Merrimack Valley Family Practice - Dr. Jane Williams – Vale
Address:140 Haverhill St. Andover, MA

Bolton Family Medicine - Dr. Katie Lee
Bolton Family Medicine is a private medical office specializing in the primary care of newborns, children, adolescents, and adults of all ages. Students will have the opportunity to see a broad spectrum of family medicine patients, including procedures. There is also opportunity to work in a juvenille detention facility once per week.
Address: 146 Hudson Road Route 85 Bolton MA

Fitchburg Family Practice - Dr. Beth Mazyck
The MS3 office-based Family Practice clerkship at Fitchburg Family Practice is intended to provide the student with a real world experience in a full scope Family Medicine setting. The patient population at FFP is diverse, both ethnically and economically. The major clinical experience is in the office setting, where the student observes and participates in a wide range of patient care. Multiple educational opportunities exist, including attending hospital rounds, noon conferences, making home visits, attending staff meetings, and chart rounds. Students have the opportunity to observe different practice styles, as well as to work collaboratively with residents and clinical staff.
Address: 275 Nichols Road, 4th Floor, Fitchburg, MA 01420