We recognize the shift from the “office” and “hospital” as the focus of healthcare in the modern world. Our Community Medicine education is a bridge to take you from the exam room into the lives and communities in which our patients live. You will know more about the circumstances in which our patients live, where they come from, the challenges they face in their daily lives and how they access health care. Thus you will learn to elevate the exam room experience to something more meaningful for the patient and for yourself. We can become the healers we all dreamed of being.

During your 3 year residency with us you will have an opportunity to experience first hand the diverse communities that exist in the Dallas urban area. Family Medicine at UTSW maintains relationships with over 60 community partners. Each year of residency you will have a 4 week rotation that will include didactics, patient education and direct clinical experiences with diverse patients. The rotations focus on linking your clinical skills to the community needs. We encourage residents to help design their community medicine experiences to meet their personal learning goals.

• The following are a sampling of some of the experiences available to you:
  • HIV clinic
  • Childhood Obesity Coalition
  • Medical services at the Dallas County Jail
  • Literacy programs for children and seniors
  • Community health fairs
  • Homeless care
  • Migrant and refugee services
  • Tours/experiences with organizations that provide food, shelter and other social services
  • Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs)

• What else can you expect from the Community Medicine Rotation?
  • You will most likely be off campus 2 days each week in the community
  • There is no call or hospital service associated with this rotation
  • Emphasis is non-clinical services
  • Ability to design a rotation that fulfills your interests
  • A better understanding of disparities in health care
  • Improved communications with diverse patients
  • Learning to become a partner in your community and how to identify resources for a variety of patient problems
  • How to provide health promotion and disease prevention
  • An opportunity to develop your own community-based research project