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The future of family medicine starts with community-based teaching faculty

Community-based teaching faculty are one of the most important pillars of the Department of Family Medicine at Western University. For many medical students you are the ‘face of family medicine.’

Our community teaching faculty and their many contributions are regularly recognized and celebrated by both students and the wider university community.

Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities:

Pre-Clerkship Students (Year 1 and 2):

• Electives - Students spend time in your practice learning about Family Medicine. Student and faculty member arrange mutually convenient time and determine the length of time spent in practice. Total of 6-12 hours per student.
• Clinical Methods: Patient-Centered Interviewing - Students interview standardized patients followed by group discussion. This activity is done on campus. Faculty member leads group. Total of one morning a week for eight weeks.
• Clinical Methods: Family Medicine Skills - Students spend time in your practice. Emphasis on patientcentred approach, interviewing, physical examination and decision making. Total of six hours per student.
• Lectures, Case of the Week, etc. - In the preclinical years, every systems-based block has started to incorporate the family physician perspective. As such, there are numerous opportunities to provide lecturebased teaching from your perspective.
• PCCIA Small Groups (Patient-Centered Context: Integration & Application) - To compliment the inclass lecture, there is a small group series that meets weekly where you can facilitate and contribute to the small group discussion of 8-10 medical students. There is not an expectation to be an expert on the material, just to be an expert in your experience as a family physician. This is often the first  experience students have with a REAL DOCTOR, so they really enjoy your support. Total of one morning or afternoon per week, for 12 weeks.

Clerkship and Elective Students (Year 3 and 4):

• 3rd Year Clerkship Students - Students placed in community practices for their “Family Medicine Plus” clerkship rotation to gain an appreciation of the scope of Family Medicine, the importance of the doctor/patient relationship,  and to develop experience in dealing with the common problems that are seen in Family Medicine. 4 week placement.
• 4th Year Elective Students - Students placed in community practice for electives. Students will have individual goals and objectives based on needs and interests. Total of 2-4 week placements.

Postgraduate Teaching Opportunities:

• Academic Program - Weekly seminars (Wednesday afternoon) presented to 1st and 2nd year residents in Family Medicine on topics relevant to the practice of family medicine. Behavioural medicine curriculum (designated Wednesday mornings) - various topics on communication/counseling skills, psychiatry and determinants of health.
• Pre-residency Program - This program is to prepare International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who have been selected for a residency training position in our program.  As part of this program, we place our IMGs in community family practices for two week periods just prior to the start of their residency for orientation purposes. Our IMGs function as clinical clerks during this time.
• Clinical Supervision: Community based family medicine - Our curriculum allows for our residents to spend time in a community-based practice both in urban/suburban and rural/remote settings. These are one-two month placements.
• Resident Selection Interviews - Each year we invite interested candidates to be interviewed for residency training positions for the following July.

Benefits of Becoming Involved in Medical Education

• Contributing to the development of the next generation of family physicians
• Modeling the joys and challenges of a career in family medicine
• Having the potential to influence career choice of medical students
• Intellectual stimulation
• A variety of teaching opportunities to choose from
• Compensation for your participation
• Helps you stay up to date and relevant
• Equipped with a log-on and password, Community Teaching Faculty have extensive use of on-line medical and e-journal resources from the Taylor Library at Western. Comprehensive training on access to these resources is provided through Continuing Professional Development.
• Access to a wide range of Faculty Development seminars offered in London and throughout Southwestern Ontario communities varying from computer applications to workshops on “Confronting and Assisting the Failing Clinical Learner”.
• Access to Mini Fellowship Funds for the purpose of attending conferences as it relates to teaching and medical education.

From more information on community teaching faculty opportunities please contact:

Undergraduate teaching opportunities:

Postgraduate teaching opportunities:

Faculty appointment information: