Medical Student Education

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health provides comprehensive medical education to all students. Our faculty and community preceptors are deeply involved in teaching from the first to the fourth year, including hands-on electives. Through our clerkship, students gain insight into family medicine's vital role in healthcare and community service. Our Medical Student Education program collaborates with a diverse group of clinical educators, enhancing students' learning and preceptors' teaching skills for exceptional clinical experiences.

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Required

  • Early Clinical Experience - required for medical students in the foundations phase
  • Family Medicine Clerkship - required for Clinical Immersion students

Longitudinal

University of Minnesota (UMN) medical students receive the opportunity to apply for or enroll in the following clerkships. Completion of any of these experiences fulfills the Family Medicine Clerkship requirement.

UMN Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP)

  • Internationally renowned, nine-month longitudinal program that immerses third-year UMN students in the care of rural populations and communities that may face barriers to healthcare
  • Learn more about the Rural Physician Associate Program

UMN Metropolitan Physician Associate Program (MetroPAP)

  • Nine-month, longitudinal program that immerses third-year UMN students in the care of urban populations and communities that are underserved with limited access to healthcare
  • Learn more about the Metropolitan Physician Associate Program

Urban Community Ambulatory Medicine (UCAM)

Examples of electives

  • Addiction and Substance Use
  • Cardiology for Primary Care
  • Community Family Medicine
  • Family Medicine Obstetrics
  • Family Medicine Research
  • Hospice Care
  • Hospitalist in Family Medicine
  • Human Sexuality Research
  • Introduction to Residency in Family Medicine
  • Rural Family Medicine, (e.g., Grand Rapids, Staples, Willmar)
  • Sexual Health in Clinical Medicine
  • Sleep Disorders Medicine
  • Sports Medicine

    Are you a UMN student in need of housing assistance for your away rotation? Contact the Clinical Housing Program.
     

View all elective course directory

How to Apply

Attention 4th-year medical students! 

Secure your rotation spot at University of Minnesota family medicine residency programs! Submit your application ASAP to guarantee your schedule! Apply via Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO)

 

Course Code Course Title
FMCH 7200 Introduction to Residency in Family Medicine
FMCH 7500 Acting Intern in Family Medicine
FMCH 7520 Rural Rotation in Family Medicine (Grand Rapids, Staples, Willmar)
FMCH 7525 Cardiology for Primary Care
FMCH 7532 Hospitalist in Family Medicine
FMCH 7537 Sports Medicine
FMCH 7539 Sports Medicine (Virtual)

Acting Intern in Family Medicine Rotation Application Deadlines and Dates

Deadline Rotation Dates
Aug 28, 2026 Nov 23 - Dec 22, 2026
Oct 9, 2026 Jan 4 - Jan 31, 2027
Nov 6, 2026 Feb 1 - Feb 28, 2027

 

DFMCH JEDI Medical Student Scholarship (FMCH 7500)

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) is committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) and offers financial assistance to 4th-year visiting medical students from an underrepresented group (URiM) who are pursuing the FMCH 7500 Acting Intern in Family Medicine rotation.

  • Award: Up to $1,000 stipend for travel and/or housing expenses.
  • Eligibility: Students from domestic LCME/COCA-accredited schools. Our definition of underrepresented is non-restrictive (e.g., socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, rurality).
  • Application: The scholarship application link is made available as part of the VSLO rotation application for FMCH 7500.
    • Required Materials: Current CV and a personal statement addressing contributions to Family Medicine and inclusion.
  • Timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis (beginning May - final offer in January).

Students will be notified of their placement 4 weeks prior to rotation start date.

To qualify, students must attend domestic LCME-accredited or COCA-accredited medical schools and earn credits for elective rotations.

Rotation Application Fee Reimbursement

Please visit the Medical School’s Visiting Students page for more information on student eligibility and the application process. A limited number of reimbursements for the VSLO fee are available for in-person courses (approximately $242). Email the University of Minnesota Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Medical Student Education (MSE) office at [email protected] after completing the course to request reimbursement or for additional information.

 

Elisabeth Arendt, Medical Student Education Coordinator
612-624-0452
[email protected]

Office Location
6-100 Phillips-Wangensteen Building
516 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Mailing Address
MMC 381
420 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Phone: 612-624-0452
Fax: 612-626-8226