Community Medicine

We provide residents an opportunity to deliver community-responsive primary care, advocate for under-resourced communities, and expand public health, population health, and preventive care skills through service with vulnerable populations.

Opportunities Throughout Residency

• Public health, population health, and/or preventive medicine learning modules are incorporated into most rotations and longitudinal experiences, as these topics are fundamental to family medicine. Service-learning opportunities with a variety of vulnerable groups are available to residents longitudinally.
• The Community and Preventive Medicine (CPM) rotation is a required 4-week rotation completed during the third year of residency. The majority of each resident’s time is spent in outpatient care Salt Lake City’s Meliheh Free Clinic, and the resident’s Continuity Clinic. This rotation also includes experiences with street medicine through Salt Lake City’s Fourth Street Homeless Clinic, among other activities.
• All University of Utah residents see under-resourced patients in our Sugarhouse and Madsen continuity clinics.
• All residents add a secondary longitudinal clinical experience at a nearby location focused on the care of patients unique to that resident’s interests, often in the community health centers, public health clinics, or with refugee or semi-rural care.
• Service-learning opportunities with a variety of groups are available to residents longitudinally in addition to a focused community and preventive medicine block during third year.
• Through service experiences, residents experience the joy and connection that comes through collaboration. Skills and confidence for community service are developed through organized medical service activities that meet community needs and provide an enhanced sense of civic responsibility and cohesiveness.