Preceptorship

The UNM School of Medicine is internationally recognized for its evolving curricular innovations addressing community health needs and adapting adult learning theory to medical education. Physicians throughout New Mexico participate in medical student education, offering real life experiences in both campus and community-based settings.

Preceptorship Sites in New Mexico


The education initiatives are aimed at improving the integration of the basic sciences and clinical medicine; broadening the content of education beyond the biological to include behavioral and population perspectives; shifting teaching and learning to ambulatory and community settings; integrating problem-based learning throughout the curriculum; and emphasizing computer literacy and information management skills.

For more information about the Preceptorship Program visit their website.

The four-year medical student curriculum is organized into three phases:

  • Phase I, scheduled from August of the first year to December of the second year, features learning methods including small group, problem-based tutorials, lectures, seminars, and laboratory sessions. The curriculum is organized around organ systems, each incorporating three perspectives: biological, behavioral, and population.
  • Hands-on experience is gained through weekly clinical skills and laboratory sessions. Students have the opportunity to apply these skills in weekly Continuity Clinics throughout all four years.

back to top

Practical Immersion Experience (PIE) - is a nine (9) week Phase I, clinical experiences at the end of the first year. Students see patients and use clinical problems to study basic sciences. They view medicine from a community perspective and see the personal & professional side of being a physician.

Students are in the preceptor's office three half-days per week. During each half-day, students see five patients chosen by the preceptor. The student is encouraged to follow patients referred to specialists or admitted to the hospital.

One day per week students learn about health issues in the community to integrate the population, behavioral, biological perspectives of health care. Students are required to complete a community project based on this activity.

Students study basic science learning issues generated from patients seen with the preceptor. Students document patient encounters and log learning issues.

back to top

Continuity Clinic - Phase I - Each student participates in a Continuity Clinic experience through Phase II. These experiences provide sequential skill-building that includes the biological, population and the behavioral perspectives.

Continuity experiences throughout all four years allow students to develop long-term relationships with patients, families, multi-disciplinary health care teams and mentors.

Phase I continuity clinic is scheduled from January until April, one afternoon per week. Phase I continues again from September until December. Students may choose to stay with the same preceptor or change at six-month intervals.

Continuity Clinic - Phase II is scheduled one afternoon per week from September until February. Students may choose to extend their continuity clinic into Phase III. Preceptors work with one student three to four hours per week.

New Mexico Preceptorship for Phase III is provides medical students significant experience and responsibility for seeing patients in a community setting. Students learn about the life of a practicing physician, the organization where care is provided, and economics of health care.

The minimum duration of the senior preceptorship is 4 weeks. Student are in the physician's office during working hours, do morning and/or evening rounds and take call. Students spend a half-day per week doing a community service project.

back to top

Family Practice Clerkship - there are a variety of inpatient and ambulatory clerkship opportunities available for medical students. These clerkships provide in depth practical experience caring for patients in the context of family & community, emphasizing the medical, biologic and psychosocial aspects of health and illness.

  • Inpatient Family Medicine Clerkship
  • Healthcare for the Homeless Clerkships
  • Ambulatory and Rural Clerkships
  • Santa Fe Public Health Clerkship

back to top