The UWSP Pre-Medical and Allied Health Preceptorship is a one-of-a-kind experience in which students will see first-hand a full range of practitioners in a variety of specialties, including their duties and responsibilities, the rewards and stresses of the health-care profession and the inner workings of hospital, clinics, and staff.
Since 2003, the Marshfield Clinic Health System has placed 205 students in three clinic sites to gain insights directly from doctors, nurses, medical students, and other medical professionals. There are past students currently employed with Marshfield Clinic who completed the Preceptorship as students.
This rewarding program for undergraduates allows them to take their understanding of human physiology and anatomical structures and connect more deeply with experiential learning in a medical setting. The Preceptorship takes place over the winterim semester. To wrap up the experience, students submit a final paper about a medical technique or condition they encountered that impacted them.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN MEDICINE?
FAQs
Who Can Apply for the Winter Preceptorship?
Beginning with sophomore year, students in the Department of Biology pre-medical and pre-physician assistant programs can apply to expand what they’re learned in courses by enrolling in the Pre-Medical and Allied Health Preceptorship through the Marshfield Clinic Health System. Students are selected through a competitive application process.
What Areas of Medicine are Included?
Students are able to select preferences among dozens of medical specialties for the Winter Preceptorship. They can shadow doctors, nurses, medical students, and other medical professionals across a range of specialties, from Anesthesiology to Urology. Coordinators will do their best to match you up to your preferences. Students will require transportation to the sites.
Do I Earn Credit?
Yes. To complete the program for 2 credits, students spend the week observing in one of the sites. They are then required to submit an 8-10 page, 2-part essay about the experience, typically on a medical technique or condition they encountered.
How Else Can I Gain Experience?
UW-Stevens Point has a very active pre-med/PA club on campus, which is a great way to meet other pre-med students and hear from professionals about different medical fields. In addition to our weekly meetings, we regularly hold a wide variety of events such as EMT skills nights, suturing clinics, dinner with the docs, and many more fun activities throughout the year.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Thirty-three years and nearly 500 students later, the Winter Preceptorship remains a transformational hands-on learning experience for undergraduates, not widely available within the UW System. Emeritus professor Sol Sepsenwol, biology, was involved in the first 24 years of the program. He said this rare opportunity for UWSP students allows them to gain an understanding of the skills they will someday use, and just as important, they gain access to working medical professionals. It is an exciting and challenging experience with real learning impact!
Exploring a Future Medical Career
Biology – Pre-PA emphasis major Hannah Panitzke came to UW-Stevens Point from southern Minnesota, specifically for training in the Department of Biology’s PA program. She enthusiastically took notes and noted how well the medical providers explained procedures to her, including a heart valve replacement surgery she observed.
“Just connecting the dots—I loved it. I think the more I showed interest, the more they were filling me in.”
To learn more or apply email Dr. Jennifer Bray, Pre-Medical Preceptorship program coordinator.