The Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University provides a unique opportunity to integrate with family physicians and real patients in a primary care setting early in medical school (during Medical Foundations 1-3).

During this time, you are able to practice clinical skills including physical exams and patient communication as well as developing professionalism skills.

This experience in a family physician’s office is for one half-day per week for six weeks.

You can request an additional six-week elective based on supervisor availability.

The core clerkship experience in family medicine is a six-week experience where you are placed with a primary preceptor in community practices throughout the Hamilton and MacCARE regions.

Through direct clinical care and close connections with your preceptors and patients, you will develop core competencies related to primary care medicine.

The clinical curriculum is augmented by small-group, learner-driven, problem-based learning sessions, as well as focused palliative care and geriatric half-day sessions. Additionally, an e-module has been developed to enhance care of children curriculum and provides ‘own time’ learning to complement clinical experience.

Family Medicine learning opportunities at the clerkship level are available to McMaster learners as well as Canadian and International learners.

Preceptors throughout the region are committed to providing exceptional clinical experiences designed to meet your needs.

McMaster Learners

For McMaster learners seeking assistance in locating a local Family Medicine preceptor for an elective, please submit your request through MedSIS.

Visiting Electives

International and Canadian medical students interested in electives should visit the McMaster Page on the AFMC portal. Any further questions can be directed to the Elective Office directly at mdelect@mcmaster.ca.