VCU Department of Family Medicine

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Student Family Medicine Association (SFMA)

For students interested in learning more about family medicine, the Student Family Medicine Association provides educational opportunities and contact with family medicine faculty. This student club is one of the major student organizations on campus. Each year approximately 300 medical students join SFMA. The $15 membership fee is paid by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians (VAFP) and includes a subscription to the Family Physician Journal. As an SFMA member, students are automatically a member of the national organization, the American Academy of Family Physicians as well as the VAFP. Opportunities are available to serve on the SFMA Planning Committee at VCU, as well as on national and state committees if a student is interested in getting more involved. Funding for VCU SFMA programs comes from the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians and the VCU Department of Family Medicine.

Each semester the SFMA sponsors noontime programs for all medical students. A sampling of such programs includes: “Family Medicine – What is it?” “Suburban, Urban and Rural Family Medicine,” “Ethical Issues Involving Physician-assisted Suicides” and “Principles of Medical Malpractice.” Clinical skills workshops sponsored by the SFMA include: “Casting and Splinting,” “Suturing” “CPR” and “OB.” The club provides information about opportunities and occurrences in family medicine to the student body through their SFMA Web site, fliers and e-mails. Other activities include social functions and special programs designed specifically for the membership.

The SFMA Planning Committee, a group of eight-to-12 students, meets regularly throughout the academic year to generate, organize and implement the programs for the club. Students are recruited in their first year and may serve throughout their four years of medical school. A faculty adviser from the Department of Family Medicine works with the group to offer guidance and assistance when needed. Throughout the 31 years this club has been active at VCU, serving on the planning group has provided students with an opportunity to develop lifelong friendships and gain important experience while working in medical school. Gay Olsen, M.S. serves as the faculty adviser for SFMA. For more information visit the SFMA Web site.