Undergraduate Medical Education - Clerkship

1. Public Health Rotation
(part of Family Medicine/Public Health)

Introduction to Public Health Clerkship
The broad aims of the rotation in Public Health (6 weeks) are to enable the student to observe and understand health problems and the health system in the context of the community setting. The opportunity for the student to learn Public Health during the rotation occurs in three main ways:

  • Small group teaching before and after field placement
  • In the clinical practice of family medicine in a specific community setting
  • Experiential learning by observing and actively participating in the practice of community health through the regional and local health unit. 

Small Group Teaching prior to community placement: 

  • Introduction to Public Health Organization in Manitoba
  • Community Health Status Assessment
  • Environmental Health in Manitoba
  • Communicable Disease Control in Manitoba
  • Role of the Regional Medical Officier of Health
  • First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
  • Public Health Emergency and Preparedness and Response
  • Public Health Inspection and Responsibilities
  • Diabetes Workshop


Community Health Presentations
At the end of the rotation, each student will be expected to make a brief and informal oral presentation and submit a brief type-written report (1 -2 pages, outline form acceptable) according to the following:

  1. Observations and descriptions of community health status including examples of each of the following:
    1. Population demographics
    2. Natural, physical and social environment
    3. Health practices of individuals, families and community
    4. Health care organisation and services
    5. Burden of illness
  2.  Report on the community health experience and activities.
  3. A brief case example to demonstrate the relationship between family practice and community health.
  4. State the one most important change you would make(if you could) in the community to improve the health of the population and justify the change.
  5. Critical feedback and evaluation of the Community Medicine part of the rotation.

2. Multiple Specialty Rotation (MSR)
(Community Health Sciences Project) 

The goal of Multiple Specialty Rotation (MSR) in Community Health Sciences (CHS) is to broaden medical students’ understanding of public health and health policy issues, to develop further the “scientist/scholar” aspects of medical training, and to have students recognize the broader determinants of health. The goals of the MSR in Community Health Sciences are consistent with the general learning objectives of the Faculty of Medicine, which include seven roles of responsibility: medical expert, scholar, professional, communicator, manager, collaborator, and health advocate. CHS faculty members supervise students in the rotation, which involves researching, writing and presenting short projects related to current public health issues, programs, and policies.  Part of the project will require students to meet with community resources, agencies or academic resources to discuss their topic/issue.  Approximately three to five students will be assigned to one faculty supervisor.

During the rotation, time is allotted to students for the purpose of working on the community health sciences project. There is an initial orientation to the project, followed by 1 day, which is designated as CHS time, and a half-day for a final presentation. At the orientation, students will be briefed on the goals, objectives and guidelines for completing the project. Student schedules, guidelines, and criteria for evaluation of the projects will be distributed prior to the orientation.

Project topics and community resources are chosen in the following areas to reflect various perspectives in community health, health equity, health advocacy and the broader determinants of health:

  • Disease prevention, health protection and health promotion
  • Injury prevention
  • Communicable disease control
  • Chronic disease
  • Environmental and Occupational health
  • Women’s and Men’s health 
  • Child and adolescent health
  • Social and cultural determinants of health
  • Health services and policy evaluation

The project questions are developed by the undergraduate coordinator in collaboration with the director, supervisors and community resources.  Questions are selected by students on an online discussion forum prior to the start of the rotation.Students may also propose their own project topics. Students must express their intent to choose their own topic by submitting at least two weeks prior to the start of the rotation a brief outline of the public health or health policy issue they wish to examine and a possible resource contact

 

OBJECTIVES
The rotation in Community Health Sciences builds on previously learned knowledge, understanding and skills.  The objectives are that the student will be able to:

  1. demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a topic in the area of public health or health policy;
  2. apply the principles of epidemiology translational research and community health sciences to the project  (including knowledge of the determinants of health at a local, national, or global level);
  3. critically evaluate literature pertaining to a public health or health policy-related issue;
  4. demonstrate effective interaction and communication skills with the supervisor, community and/or academic resources;
  5. demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in a paper and an oral presentation.


PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
In order to fulfill the requirements of the MSR rotation in Community Health, the students will:

  1. Investigate a public health or health policy topic/question through a critical review of the literature and discussion with community and/or academic resource persons.
  2. Write a paper (10 to 12 pages) according to the department guidelines.
  3. Prepare and give an oral presentation (10 minutes and 5 to 10 minutes for questions) to the student rotation group and supervisor on the assigned topic according to department guidelines.

Resource material and community contacts appropriate for each topic will be discussed at the orientation.  General Guidelines For the Community Health Project

EVALUATION
This is a PASS/ Borderline Pass/ FAIL project.  A Community Health Clerkship FITER evaluation form is submitted to the Medical Student Performance record file.

AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PAPER
Students may enter their paper into an award competition. Three prizes, one valued at $300, one at $250, and one at $200, will be offered for the first, second, and third ranked papers.  The award recipients will also be asked to present the papers at a Community Health Sciences colloquium. Link to Community Health Sciences Prizes Criteria

For recent undergraduate project titles completed by the Class of 08 and 09
"Undergraduate Community Health Sciences Project Titles"