Medical Education Commons^™

Community Dimensions And Hpsa Practice Location: 30 Years Of Family Medicine Training, Suzanne B. Cashman, Judith A. Savageau, Warren J. Ferguson, Daniel H. Lasser

Judith A. Savageau

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to assess practicing family physicians' confidence and participation in a range of community-related activities. Additionally, we assessed the strength of the relationship between the physicians' reported medical school and residency training in community-related activities and their current community activities, as well as whether they were practicing in an underserved location. METHODS: All 347 graduates of the University of Massachusetts Family Medicine Residency were surveyed about practice location and type, involvement and training in community work, confidence in community-related skills, and sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses were conducted by residency graduation decade (1976-1985, 1986-1995, and 1996-2005). RESULTS: …

Family Medicine Residency Characteristics Associated With Practice In A Health Professions Shortage Area, Warren J. Ferguson, Suzanne B. Cashman, Judith A. Savageau, Daniel H. Lasser

Judith A. Savageau

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While some family medicine residency programs are designed to train residents in community health centers (CHCs) for future careers serving underserved populations, there are few outcome studies on such programs. Our residency program provides three options for ambulatory health center training, but otherwise residents participate in the same curriculum. We analyzed relationships between ambulatory training site and likelihood of practice in health professions shortage areas (HPSAs).

METHODS: We sent a mail survey to all graduates of one family medicine residency about practice locations, types, and populations; influences on practice choice; and sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS: Training in a …

The Effect Of Medical Students' International Experiences On Attitudes Toward Serving Underserved Multicultural Populations, Michael A. Godkin, Judith A. Savageau

Judith A. Savageau

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of international electives on the attitudes of preclinical and clinical-year medical students with respect to serving underserved multicultural populations. METHODS: A self-assessment instrument was used to measure attitudes of 146 students before and after participating in international electives. The same attitudinal items were also analyzed at two time intervals for 18 students who completed international electives as preclinical students and 76 class cohorts who did not. RESULTS: Analyses show that the effect of international experiences is different for preclinical students and clinical students. For both groups, however, these experiences can develop and support perceptions and …