Electives - Family Medicine

Families in Health and Illness

Elective Number: 1410 (arranged)

Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Steven Heim

Designated Signer: Wanda Hudson, McKim 3161

Evaluation should be given to: Dr. Heim

Duration: 4 weeks (no 2 week rotations are offered)

Available: Rotations 1, 2 & 5 - 12 - Class of 2008; 1, 2 & 6 - 13 - Class of 2009

Report to: Dr. Heim

Time to Report: TBA by Dr. Heim

Place to Report: Primary Care Center, room 1067

Typical day: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Attendance: Attendance at elective activities is mandatory.

• Anyone who is ill or has a personal or family emergency must contact Student Affairs and the Attending on Service.
• Students are allowed to take off up to 1 day per week to interview between November 1 and February 1.
  • Specific days missed must be approved by the Attending on Service.

Number of students per rotation: 1 

Course Description: The goal is to provide students with the opportunity to become more familiar with the complexities and importance of psychological care in a Family Practice setting through participation in the clinical and teaching activities of the UVa Family Stress Clinic.

Objectives: Students will:

• be able to identify and describe methodologies to integrate medical and psychological care;
• be able to identify a variety of psychological problems that are commonly presented in family practice settings;
• gain preliminary skills in assessing, diagnosing, and treating psychological problems that are routinely presented to family practice physicians;
• be able to identify potential sources of stress and describe their dynamic relationship on patients and their families seen through the Family Stress Clinic;
• be able to identify available support systems for common psychological problems seen in a family practice setting;
• be able to describe counseling approaches used with couples, families, and individuals seen through the Family Stress Clinic;
• investigate an area of specific interest related to either a disease-based or problem-based psychosocial issue, for possible presentation;
• participate in Family Medicine Morning Report, Inpatient Rounds, and the weekly Behavioral Medicine Conference;
• observe counseling sessions via one-way mirror for two half-day clinics per week and participate in corresponding case discussions;
• participate in intake counseling on select patients, under the supervision of Dr. Waters or Dr. Allen;
• participate in counseling sessions on select inpatients, under the supervision of Dr. Waters or Dr. Allen.

There is no night or weekend call or weekend rounds.