Clinical Phase (Year 3 & 4)

Phase 2: Patient Care Phase

See also University of Washington School of Medicine’s Patient Care page

In the 12-month Patient Care Phase, students achieve specific competencies in six core clinical disciplines - Family Medicine (six weeks), Internal Medicine (12 weeks), Obstetrics and Gynecology (six weeks), Pediatrics (six weeks), Psychiatry (six weeks), Surgery (six weeks) and will also have six weeks off or time to schedule a clinical elective.

Students participate in these clinical experiences in a variety of locations, in both urban and rural settings throughout the WWAMI region.

WRITE (WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience)

WRITE provides a 21 to 24-week longitudinal integrated clerkship in the third year in one of 30 rural communities located throughout the WWAMI region. TRUST Scholars fill the majority of WRITE sites; a limited number of sites may be available for non-TRUST students.

See also University of Washington’s School of Medicine WRITE page

Phase 3: Explore and Focus Phase

See also University of Washington School of Medicine’s Explore and Focus page

This 15-month phase of the curriculum is designed to allow students to explore potential specialty careers, through a combination of required and elective clinical clerkships. Students will participate in required Advanced Patient Care clerkships, required Neurology/Neurosurgery and Emergency Medicine and clinical elective opportunities.

Clinical elective examples:

• Introduction to Detoxification and Rehabilitation Programs for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse: An introduction to alcohol and drug detoxification/rehabilitation with supervised clinical experiences in a variety of addiction treatment programs. 
• Child Psychiatry: An introduction to child and adolescent psychiatry. At the end of the clerkship, the student will be able to assess psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents and be familiar with a bio-psychosocial approach to treatment.

Students will finish the Explore and Focus phase with a required Transition to Residency experience (two weeks).

Capstone

Capstone is a required, four-day course taught primarily in a small group and workshop format. It is designed as a “Continuing Medical Education” course, in which fourth-year students (graduating in April of the current year) choose sessions to attend relating to the medical issues, evaluation, management and procedures involved in their planned specialties.