• The goals of the program are to provide students with:

• A well-balanced medical education.

• Accurate and current career information on Family and Community Medicine.

• Curriculum planning and career advising.

• Information and guidance in residency selection.

• Hands-on experience in Family and Community Medicine sites through the courses offered and successful role models.

• Opportunities to develop leadership skills through student activities, such as student-run clinics, FPSIG officer positions, conferences and community outreach.

• Preparation to work with patients from diverse, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds

The award is designed to recognize excellence and achievement in areas of leadership, academics and community service. Students are selected for meritorious achievements during pre-clinical and clinical years, as well for distinguished service, primary-care research and distinguished leadership. Students will receive the award in excellence in their senior year to ensure that residency directors are aware of their special accomplishments. Additionally, students receive special awards and support to family practice conferences.

The rural pathway recognizes students who are interested in rural medicine by providing them stipends to precept in rural areas.

Medical students have a number of opportunities to develop leadership skills in the pathway, from local committees, advisory boards and statewide networks to national organizations. These committees include:

The FMIG (Family Medicine Interest Group) consists of fourteen members representing all four years of medical school who coordinate noontime lectures on family practice issues, facilitate suturing, casting and phlebotomy workshops, and promote family practice by advertising workshops, forums, dinners and speakers to other medical students. Participating members are often selected for statewide and national conferences, such as CAFP's Scientific Assembly and UC Davis' Network Education Conference.

TheCAFP (California Academy of Family Physicians) is a statewide network of students, residents and physicians interested in participating in family and community medicine. CAFP sponsors annual statewide conferences on career opportunities and residency selection.

Pathway forums are held regularly, primarily for third-year and fourth-year medical students. Topics include the role of the family physician and how it differs from other specialties, how to apply to residency programs, medical ethics, economic changes in health care, and family practice as a career choice are discussed.

Dinners are hosted at the homes of family and community medicine faculty. It is an opportunity for faculty and students to meet each other in a casual and more personal setting.

The Department of Family and Community Medicine is dedicated to guiding students through the career decision process. The department's staff and faculty are genuinely concerned about each student and committed to guiding a student's career path in a direction that best suits each individual. Career information is provided for students throughout their four years of medical school.

Family practice physicians, both full-time and volunteer clinical faculty, are available to be advisors and mentors to medical students. Advisors share their perspectives on health care, being a physician, how to thrive in medical school, and write letters of recommendation for residencies. Brief descriptions, backgrounds and interests of the department's full-time faculty are available on the Family and Community Web site.

For more information on forums, faculty dinners or FPSIG lectures, please view the pathway calendar

Membership in the pathway is voluntary. To join, simply sign up by calling our office at (530) 752-3057. Your participation is only limited to your interests and availability.