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Primary Care Clerkship

Elentra eLearning 
Primary Care Clerkship Support

The Primary Care Clerkship comprises a six-week clinical rotation and is undertaken by all medical students during their third or fourth year. Clerks spend approximately five weeks in one of seven allocated Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC), and one week in clinical musculoskeletal teaching at Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital.

Every day, students will see patients at the PHCC and will be taught and supervised by a Preceptor in family medicine. Responsibility is quickly given to the training clerks to assume charge of the consultations with their Preceptor’s guidance, and practice how to take concise histories, perform appropriate assessments and physical examinations, order investigations, suggest therapy, and develop treatment and management plans. Following up patients adds value to appraised outcomes. Facilities at each PHCC enable self-directed learning, scholarship, and professional interaction with other medical staff including nurses, dentists, and allied health professions. 

There are no “on-call” requirements, but all students may undertake morning and/or evening shifts, in addition to interactive Clerkship Director sessions at WCM-Q or other training venues. Establishing a sound foundation of knowledge in primary care is essential for the best professional experience on your rotation. Additional reading is advisable on patients’ situations to continue building your knowledge.

Student assessment is by faculty assessment both in class and at the health centers. OSCEs, formal case presentations, Interprofessional Education (IPE) assignments and an NBME shelf examination also contribute to your final grade. All elements must be completed and passed to qualify for an overall clerkship grade. The final grade is one of honors, high pass, pass or fail.

Complete details are in the Primary Care Clerkship Syllabus.


Clerkship Co-Director: Mohamud A. Verjee, MD, CCFP, FCFP

Clerkship Co-Director: Sumeja Zahirovic, MD

Staff Support: ocs@qatar-med.cornell.edu

Duration of each rotation: Six weeks