WISCONSIN ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS' (WAFP)
SUMMER EXTERN PROGRAM

Begun in 1969, this Program has provided the opportunity for over 1300 students to experience family practice. The Program matches students with practicing family physicians in rural and urban locations for a period of 8 weeks during the summer after the M-1 year. In consideration of the distance, the stipend for the rural experience is $2500. The urban experience stipend is $2100. Stipends are received in two equal installments.

The goals of the Summer Externship Program are

• To provide the student an early one-on-one experience with a family physician to gain a better appreciation and understanding of primary care medicine, especially family practice.
  
• To provide an opportunity to better understand what it is like to be a doctor and keep an appropriate perspective through subsequent medical training.
  
• To provide family physician preceptors the opportunity to teach and to learn while introducing family practice to interested students.
  
• To provide Wisconsin communities the opportunity to promote themselves as an attractive place in which to practice medicine.

Student extern responsibilities are

• To commit to the completion of the Program (8 weeks).
  
• To be accountable to your preceptor practice.
  
• To be a learner, not expecting yourself to behave as a physician. The Academy wants you to enjoy your experience.
  
• To submit your written evaluation form upon completion of your experience (to receive the 2nd check!)

Application forms will be available at the yearly January informational meetings - watch the December MCW Heartbeat for the announcement.
Your application will be reviewed and acted upon by the Summer Externship Committee. You will receive notification of your application approval/disapproval in early February. If approved, you will be informed of a subsequent date and place to meet for preceptor selection. Further instructions will then be given.

WAFP Summer Externship Program
http://www.wafp.org/infobrief0402.htm#6

Thank you for your interest in the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians' Summer Externship Program. We wish you every success.