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Vermont Medicine Magazine

Doctoring in Vermont

The Class of 2015 recently fanned out across Vermont for their first experiences with patients through the College of Medicine's Doctoring in Vermont course. All students spend a minimum of four afternoon sessions at their assigned practice in their first spring, and another four the following fall. About 60 Vermont primary care, pediatric, and internal medicine physicians located within an hour’s drive of main campus serve as preceptors to the 113 members of the Class of 2015.

UVM medical student Medhavi Bole talks to a patient at the Vermont Center for Cancer Medicine in Colchester, Vt.

Doctoring in Vermont is the first extended patient care experience for students.

Course director Dennis Beatty, M.D. describes the experience as “the first experience of taking a real history from a real patient.”

Medical student Emily Schloff, a Middlebury, Vt., native, did her Doctoring in Vermont preceptorship at the Middlebury College Health Center.

“I’d have a chance to take a history from the patient on my own, and then go back to the doctor and report,” says Emily Schloff. “So I learned on my feet to present a patient summary.”

Mark Peluso, M.D., teaches patient examination techniques to Emily Schloff at the Middlebury College Health Center.

UVM medical student Joshua Price examines a young patient at the practice of Joseph Nasca, M.D., in Georgia, Vt.

Joshua Price (left) and preceptor Joseph Nasca, M.D., discuss a case at Nasca’s practice.

“You have to start head-to-toe and narrow it down,” says Joshua Price, commenting on the art of the physical examination. “It’s a challenge and, ultimately, it’s fun.”

Joshua Price works on a patient report at the practice of Joseph Nasca, M.D., in Georgia, Vt. Says Nasca: “I feel that my patients appreciate having medical students at the practice. I think any chance you have to put these bright young people in front of patients adds validity to what you’re doing.

Last modified January 25 2013 09:37 AM