SPECIAL TOPICS
Stanford's Arbor Free Clinic offers hands-on learning
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 View larger. Student managers Angela Venegas and Jessica Tsai and co-directors Lars Osterberg and Ian Tong discuss their experiences at the Arbor Free Clinic. Video length: 6 min 15 sec |
The real purpose of a medical education is to care for patients. That’s why Stanford gives students a remarkable opportunity to gain hands-on experience beginning in their preclinical years. By volunteering at Arbor Free Clinic, students not only acquire basic clinical skills, they also learn how to work closely with diverse populations and find out what it takes to run a community health service center.
Founded by students in 1990, the clinic provides free care to underserved patients every Sunday at the Menlo Park VA Hospital. Under the supervision of faculty volunteers, students see patients with a range of acute and chronic illnesses, diagnosing, determining treatment and making referrals to other facilities as needed.
Student learning goes well beyond clinical skills. Taking into account the socioeconomic and cultural issues affecting the patients they treat helps students identify the gaps in today's healthcare system and what they can do to address them.
-- Text courtesy of Center Focus, a publication of the Office of Medical Development
Posted: 04/20/09
Office of Communication & Public Affairs
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