The Family Medicine Subinternship (Acting Internship) is an advanced clinical rotation offered in the final phase of medical school. It aims to provide students with advanced training in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are foundational to family medicine. By the end of the subinternship, students should be ready to assume the role of a family medicine intern.The STFM Subinternship Curriculum was designed by an STFM task force consisting of UME and GME educators and learners to create a standardized national subinternship curriculum. Subinternships are a critical educational experience in family medicine and are a way to further expose students to positive family medicine experiences.This curriculum has been endorsed by STFM and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD) and is supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Key Features of the Curriculum
- Builds off the foundations of the STFM National Clerkship Curriculum with the input of multiple stakeholders
- Uses Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) as a cornerstone of curricular elements and student assessment
- Provides a framework while allowing for flexibility and individualization
- Incorporates self-assessment by learners
- Recommends institutions provide appropriate support for this rotation through dedicated faculty and administrative support staff time
The Family Medicine Subinternship Curriculum emphasizes the following primary care concepts experienced across various family medicine practice settings:
- Biospychosocial Model
- Comprehensive Care
- Contextual Care
- Continuity of Care
- Coordination of Care
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)
7 Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are recommended as areas of focus and growth:
- EPA 2: Prioritize a differential diagnosis following a clinical encounter
- EPA 3: Recommend and interpret common diagnostic and screening tests
- EPA 4: Enter and discuss orders and prescriptions
- EPA 7: Form clinical questions and retrieve evidence to advance patient care
- EPA 8: Give or receive a patient handover to transition care responsibility
- EPA 9: Collaborate as a member of an interprofessional team
- EPA 10: Recognize a patient requiring urgent or emergent care and initiate evaluation and management
STFM Subinternship Curriculum Project Task Force Members
Chair
- Tomoko Sairenji, MD, MS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Past Chair of the STFM MSE Collaborative Steering Committee
Faculty
- Sarah Stumbar, MD, MPH, Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Marisyl de la Cruz, MD, Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
- John Emerson, MD, Greenville FMR, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC
- David Kelley, MD, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
- Dolapo Babalola, MD, Morehouse University, Atlanta, GA
- Jeff Cashman, DO, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
- Karly Pippitt, MD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
- Alec Chessman, MD, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Residents and Students
- Chivon Stubbs, MD, Morehouse FMR, Atlanta, GA
- Chinomnso Ekeke MD, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System FMR, Spartanburg, SC
- Kelsey Harding, MD, University of Washington; FMR of Idaho, Boise, ID
- Megan Olson, MD, University of Washington; University of Wyoming, Thermopolis Rural Training Track, Thermopolis, WY
- Elizabeth Buck, MD, University of Washington; University of Washington FMR Chelan Rural Training Track, Chelan, WA
- Christine Adams, MD, MS, Florida Atlantic University; University of North Carolina FMR, Chapel Hill, NC
- Neil Liotta, MD, University of Washington; FMR of Idaho, Boise, Idaho
MSE Committee Chair and Project Liaison
- Annie Rutter, MD, MS, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
