North Country HealthCare became a training site for AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) when it was founded in 2007 because of our aligned missions to train future physicians to work in primary care and care for underserved populations.
ATSU-SOMA isn’t like other medical schools. Students complete their first year at the main campus in Mesa, AZ, and then move to one of 15 community health centers across the country for their remaining three years. North Country is one of those partner sites.
A core tenet of the SOMA training model is early clinical exposure in the community health center with a dedicated mentor. Mentors help student connect to the FQHC care model, develop their clinical skills over time, and form a sense of belonging in the community and with our patients.Â
Ten students join North Country each August and need a mentor for their 2nd year. Pairing each student with a mentor is essential to moving our mission forward and growing community-minded physicians with local connections. Being a mentor allows you to develop a relationship with the student, observe and support their progress in clinical skills, and impact their professional identity as a physician.Â
Mentor Commitment
- One semester commitment (August – December) with the opportunity for a second semester (January – April)
- One 4-hour half day each week supervising the student and providing same day feedback
Important skills to teach fall semester:
- Developing an HPI that includes appropriate descriptors (OLD CART)
- Gathering pertinent positives and negatives
- Creating and opening statement with relative details
- Presenting an HPI in an organized manner
- Minimum goal of 3 patients per day
Important skills to teach spring semester:
- Performing a focused physical exam
- Developing a basic assessment and plan
- Writing a full SOAP note
- Developing a basic differential before seeing the patient
- Minimum goal of 3 patients per day
Student Goals
- Be on time for clinic each week
- Prepare by checking provider schedule before assigned clinic time starts
- Perform at least 3 skills form the Medical Skills Checklist provided by ATSU-SOMA over the two semesters, as well as the skills listed above
Core professional attributes to uphold:
- Critical thinking
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Cultural proficiency
- Social responsibility
- Interpersonal skills
Incentives
- $1,000 incentive pay per semester
- Adjunct faculty status with ATSU available
- CME credit availableÂ
- Access to ATSU online library
Resources
- Guide for Preceptors (PDF)
- ATSU OMSII 2021 Academic Calendar
- ATSU-SOMA Preceptor Evaluation of 2nd Year Student
- OMSII Academic Schedule for Class of 2024
- Interested Preceptor Letter
- Adjunct Clinical Faculty Application
- My ATSU (a faculty designation and login may be required to access journal library)
