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What am I expected to complete during the rotation outside of clinic time?
The following is list of items you need to complete during the rotation and submit on the last day: 1) Project presented during 2 week rotation, 2) Tracking Form during 6 week rotation. Other items recommended to complete but not mandatory are, 1) Online Cases, 2) Dermatology Modules. All information about this can be found on the Clerkship website.

Will I have time set aside for self-study?
Yes. The 2nd Wednesday of your 2 week rotation you will be given time to work on your project or other self-study.

What are my options if my rotation falls during the holidays (Christmas or March Break)?
Rotations that fall within these 2 holidays become 7 week rotations, not 6 to accommodate for the extra week off. For Christmas holiday period, the week of Christmas Day or NewYears will fall during the 4 week or 2 week rotations. Once your preceptor has been confirmed for that particular rotation, you will need to contact them directly to either request a certain week off or to confirm what week it will be. If the office is closed for 1 week during the holidays, you will have to be off the same period and not an alternate week, to still fulfill your 6 week requirement. For March Break, it will fall during 4 week or 2 week rotation. It is automatically the March Break set by the UME office, unless it conflicts with scheduling (ie. You have 2 week rotation but need to do 1 week, vacation 1 week, and then back). It is at the discretion of your preceptor as to what week you will have off. So again, you need to contact your preceptor as soon as possible to confirm what week it will be.

What if I wanted to book time off during rotation (Vacation, Academic Leave)?
Students need to submit a request for leave form to Becky Bannerman, UGME Clerkship Coordinator, at least 6 weeks before the date requested. There will be no exceptions to this deadline. Once approved by Dr. Stein, the rotation will be notified. Based on the attendance policy, students may have to make-up hours for their time away through weekend rounds or weeknight clinic.

What if I change my mind about my community selection – can I change it?
After students submit their rotation preferences form in February, they have until March to change their mind on community selection (deadline determined each year). However, once a preceptor has been confirmed for the rotation (both 4 week and 2 week rotation) students are not given opportunity to change their assigned communities. Most rotations are confirmed by June of each year, with the exception of rotations booked with ERMEP, NOSM, ROMP which are confirmed throughout the year, sometimes weeks or even days in advance. Students have the opportunity to change community selections based on the policies of these programs.

I have booked my 4 week rotation with NOSM (or ERMEP, ROMP). Who do I contact for details and questions?
Once your rotation is booked with a rural medical program, all questions or concerns regarding community choices, mileage, accommodation are to be directed to the program itself. The contact for each program is found on the clerkship website under "rural medical programs”.

Does the Rural Medical Programs (ERMEP, NOSM, ROMP) have the same policies as the Department of Family Medicine?
No, each program has their own policies and procedures, different for each other and the main Department. Any policies regarding mileage, accommodations, community choices should be directed at individual program you applied to.

When will I know where I am placed?
If you chose London or an Ontario community for your 4 week rotation, you will be notified by July as to where you are placed. If you chose a rural medical program for your 4 week rotation, then you could be notified well in advance (before September) or up to a few weeks before. All students will be notified in July as to what academic teaching centre they are assigned for their 2 week rotation.

Do I have to book or pay for accommodations myself?
No. Accommodations are booked, confirmed and paid by the Department of Family Medicine unless you are booked with a rural medical program in which case they have their own accommodation policy. However all accommodations are paid for and not to be incurred by student. Please remember to indicate you need accommodations on your rotation form, since it is not booked automatically.

Will I be reimbursed for mileage? How do I get reimbursed for mileage?
Students are reimbursed for mileage if they are: placed at a location outside of London listed under Ontario communities. This would involve daily commute if under 50km, or monthly commute if location is more than 50km (any other reimbursement scenario needs to be approved by Program Director). Students are not required to keep track of mileage or gas receipts since this is processed automatically near the end of their 6 week rotation using a standard mileage chart. Students will be notified once the reimbursement cheque is received by the Department.

Can I request to do the 6 weeks at one location instead of having it split?
Students are required to complete 2 weeks at one of our academic teaching centres, and therefore cannot extend their 4 week rotation to 6 weeks. If however a student has a particular learning need to extend rotation to 6 weeks, special permission can be requested from the Program Director and has to be done so before the rotation form submission deadline in early Spring.

What kind of accommodation will be provided?
Accommodation providers are required to provide a private bedroom with desk and a location to store food. Anything else would be extra. Some locations provide extras like breakfast, washing machines, towels, sheets, highspeed internet, phone. However, some locations do not supply these items. Accommodations may be a private residence, home apartment, B&B or a hospital apartment/house. Please see accommodation description provided to you for more information.

How do I prepare for the exit exam/interview?
Students are encouraged to prepare for the exit exam by reading the end of rotation document sent to student during first week of rotation by Program Coordinator. For the exit interview, students need to think about what they liked or disliked about the rotation, what aspects did they wish they knew ahead of time, what suggestions would they have for futures students.

Can I reschedule the exit exam/interview if I am planning to be away?
Yes, but it would fall under the policy for the request for leave form. It needs to be requested at least 6 weeks before the rotation start date and be approved by Dr. Stein. After that, the Program Director needs to approve the student absence based on the availability of rescheduling it.

What do I need to bring with me to the exit exam/interview?
1) Tracking Form Completed, 2) Copy of 4 week evaluation plus midrotation evaluation form.

Will I have a chance to evaluate the rotation and preceptor(s)?
Yes, students will have the opportunity to evaluate preceptors and the rotation through One45, 5 days before the rotation ends for both the 4 week and 2 week rotations.

Can I nominate my preceptor for a faculty teaching award?
Yes, students can nominate preceptor by completing a faculty teaching award nomination form. Students can do online on the awards page, or there will be a ballot given at the exit interview.

Are there student awards for clerkship?
Yes, preceptors can nominate students for the Martin Bass Award, IW. Mann, or Frank Clegg awards. Information on these awards can be found here.

How do I request an elective for Family Medicine?
Students can review the community sites on our website and then send an email to Kari McLennan, Program Coordinator, with their top 3-4 choices and what date range they want. After confirmed with preceptor, Kari will send email confirmation to student for their records. If students need accommodations at rural sites, make sure to notify Program Coordinator once elective is confirmed.

What if I book a Family Medicine elective myself. Who do I report this to?
Students also have the opportunity to book their own electives, directly with preceptors listed on the website. In this case, student needs to send email to Program Coordinator with dates and proof of confirmation from faculty member.

Can I book a Family Medicine elective with a physician who is not listed on the website?
Yes, as long as they have their CCFP. The process would remain the same as above, students would need to send email to Program Coordinator with confirmation of dates and full mailing address of physician.

Is there a limit as to how long an elective can be (or how short)?
No. Students can book electives from 2 to 6 weeks in length.

When should I request an elective?
An elective should be requested at least 6 weeks before to increase the chance of confirmation. There is no policy as to when requests should be received, however the majority of Western students submit requests between March and August of each year for Fall period.

When will I receive confirmation of an elective?
Confirmation of an elective will be sent as soon as possible, normally within 2-3 weeks of request during Fall period or by August if requested before then.

What is the process for cancelling an elective?
Students are to email the Program Coordinator their request for cancellation with reason. There is no policy on when or why to cancel an elective at this time.

How do I prepare for an elective?
Review the objectives found on the elective website and complete the online cases. Contact your preceptor at least 2 weeks before your arrival to discuss reporting instructions

Do I have to book or pay for accommodations myself?
No, accommodations are booked and paid for the Department and no cost is incurred by student. If you require accommodations, it has to be requested as part of our intiial request to Program Coordinator.

Will I be reimbursed for mileage? How do I get reimbursed for mileage?
Students are reimbursed for mileage if they are: placed at a location outside of London listed under Ontario communities. This would involve daily commute if under 50km, or monthly commute if location is more than 50km (any other reimbursement scenario needs to be approved by Program Director). Students are not required to keep track of mileage or gas receipts since this is processed automatically near the end of their 6 week rotation using a standard mileage chart. Students will be notified once the reimbursement cheque is received by the Department.

Will I have a chance to evaluate the rotation and preceptor(s)?
Yes, students will be sent rotation and preceptor evaluations through One45 5 days before the end of their elective.

Are there student awards for electives?
Yes, preceptors have the chance to nominate students for 2 different awards. See awards page for more information.

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The appointment process takes approximately 6 months. Please see the Faculty Appointment webpage for more information.

How do I contact the students that are booked for teaching with me?
Students can only be reached by email. The Program Coordinator will send you the email of each student assigned to you for teaching. The students are also asked to contact you at least 2 weeks before their arrival to discuss reporting instructions.

What do I tell my patients regarding the students?
Patients should be advised in advance that a student will be in the office. Faculty are encouraged to develop a policy in their office for students seeing patients and information for patients.

How do I introduce students in my office?
Introduce them as a medical student and not as a Dr. Students are also encouraged to introduce themselves to patients.

What student documents will be responsible for reviewing/completing?
This will vary depending on the teaching but most courses only require you to complete a final evaluation.

What do I do if a student doesn’t show up?
Please call the Program Coordinator as soon as possible. The students are advised to notify the Department as well, but as a backup it is best to hear from physician office as well.

Who do I contact if I have a particular concern with a student?
Please email both the Program Director, Dr. George Kim or the Program Coordinator, Kari McLennan to follow-up. If by phone, please call 519-661-2111 ext. 86683.

What happens if I confirmed a placement but have since found out I will be ill, on holiday, unexpected absence?
Please contact the Program Coordinator as soon as possible, so alternate arrangements can be made for the student rotation. The sooner the Department is notified that more chance we have in rescheduling the students, as some of these placements are core rotations that need to take place in the allotted time period.

How much will I get paid for teaching students?
Payment for teaching varies, but the majority of our teaching opportunities do have payment stipends included. For example, lectures, clinical methods, electives, clerkship all have stipends for faculty. Please contact the Program Coordinator for more information.

How can I make my practice more appealing to students?
We advertise community sites on our webpage, where students can review and choose their most preferred locations. A more robust, detailed description of your practice and what your special interests are, will benefit the student in tailoring their time with you based on their own learning interests. If you would like to update your page, please contact the Program Coordinator.

Are there faculty awards given out each year?
Yes, students are able to nominate faculty and residents. See awards page for more information.

How do I get involved in year 1 & 2 teaching?
Please see the faculty page under Year 1&2 for more information.

What is the difference between Dept of Family Medicine and SWOMEN?
SWOMEN sends requests to community faculty for visiting students in Ontario only, for 4 weeks or longer, wanting Family Medicine elective in last 2 years of their training. The Department also takes requests from visiting students but they can be from any Canadian or International school and can be 2-8 weeks long. Year 3 Clerkship is administered only through our Department, as well as year 4 electives for Western students. Preceptor stipends and student accommodations and mileage are slightly different for these 2 programs.

What if the placement is over the holidays (Christmas or March Break)? What is the policy for time off?
Rotations that fall within these 2 holidays become 7 week rotations, not 6 to accommodate for the extra week off. For Christmas holiday period, the week of Christmas Day or NewYears will fall during the 4 week or 2 week rotations. Students are asked to contact you well in advance of rotation date to arrange what week they want off. If your office is closed for 1 week during the holidays, the student will have to be off the same period and not an alternate week, to still fulfill the 4 week requirement. For March Break, it will fall during 4 week or 2 week rotation. It is automatically the March Break set by the UME office, unless it conflicts with your scheduling. Again, It is at the discretion of the faculty member as to what week the student will have off.

Where can I view all teaching options for Undergrad?
Please visit the Faculty page.