relationship where we can work together to
build a very impressive clinical experience
for these students,” said Gallagher who will
provide administrative support for the program.
“We are looking forward to our first year with
the clerkship program and hope to continue
providing the training indefinitely.”
hospital is required to provide housing for the
students, along with physician leadership and
administrative support.
“In addition, each of our physicians who serve
as mentors to the students completed a faculty
development course provided by the program
and accepted faculty appointments with Tufts
University School of Medicine,” said Gallagher,
who formerly practiced as an Obstetrician/
Gynecologist at Pine Health Services. “These
young students will really keep our providers on
their toes and our staff has really been looking
forward to the experience.”
Carl Flynn M.D., a Family Medicine physician
who has practiced at Pines and Cary over the
past 20 years will serve as Medical Director for
the program. Flynn, who directs a very busy
primary care practice at the Pines Family Health
Center in Caribou, said that the enthusiasm of
the hospital’s and health center’s physicians was
key in making the program a reality.
The majority of students who participate in
the clerkship program take an innovative nine“When we were invited to participate in this month Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC)
program we knew it was imperative for the during their third year. Based in many rural
physicians here to get on board,” said Flynn. sites and in Portland, the LIC provides a strong
“We were very impressed with the staff’s response educational approach and allows for excellent
and we knew we could create a special experience career exploration and close faculty mentoring.
for the students. We believe that the challenges Students are assigned to third year options based
and diverse chronic illnesses that these students on a lottery where student choices are taken
will be presented with will provide them with into consideration regarding participation in the
a very valuable window into the rural health rural LIC, the Portland-based urban LIC or the
care environment. We are so grateful to our traditional block clerkship. The two students
physicians for their support in helping to make who began their Clerkship training program
this program possible.”
at Cary and Pines in June selected the Caribou
location after conversations with both Dr. Flynn
Jim Davis, CEO at Pines Health Services, said and Dr. Gallagher.
the potential for the program to help support
The Tufts University School of Medicine the recruitment of physicians to rural Maine Maine Medical Center Program (TUSM-MMC)
provided a great motivator for the health center 3rd year Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship
and the hospital to participate.
(LIC) began placing Maine Track students at
urban and rural hospital sites within Maine in
“The recruitment of health care professionals May of 2011. LIC students participate in the
to remote, rural parts of Maine is a significant comprehensive care of patients over time, thus
challenge,” said Davis. “We need more creative developing continuing learning relationships
ways to draw primary care doctors to underserved with these patients’ clinicians, and meeting the
areas. This program has the potential to majority of the year’s core clinical competencies
demonstrate to medical students that they can across multiple disciplines simultaneously.
have a very successful, professionally rewarding
career, while enjoying the great quality of life
that our rural communities have to offer.”
Dr. Regen Gallagher said that in order to
participate in the training program the
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