Medical Student Rotations

We offer inpatient/outpatient family medicine rotations to current medical students. For Information about medical student rotations, please email: 

Layla Franks, UME Program Administrator - [email protected]

Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz Family Medicine Clerkship
Morehouse School of Medicine

Our fourth year clerkship provides a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the practice of family medicine at our new Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program located in Santa Cruz, California. 

The residency is sponsored by the Morehouse School of Medicine, in partnership with CommonSpirit Health, dedicated to diversity, inclusion and health equity.  The clerkship is recommended for students who would like to explore family medicine for the underserved in a community setting. It is not a prerequisite for acceptance into the residency program.

The fourth-year subinternship elective is designed to prepare medical students for residency. Each rotation consists of a four-week block, though shorter two- to three-week rotations can be arranged based on the student’s needs. During the rotation, students will work closely with experienced and engaged physicians in both ambulatory and inpatient settings, gaining hands-on experience to support their transition into residency.

Each student may design their rotation to meet their individual interests and learning goals in the following clinical learning environments provided by the Residency Program:. 

• Inpatient: Typically the student will spend 1-2 weeks on inpatient medicine at Dominican Hospital, working 5-day shifts with an attending hospitalist on the Family Medicine Faculty. 
• Ambulatory Community Medicine: Students will have the opportunity to work alongside Family Medicine Faculty and Residents at our Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) residency continuity clinic, Santa Cruz Community Health Center.
• In addition, students will gain experience in a faculty-run private practice, including a Patient-Centered Medical Home with Dr. Gary Zane, a ‘direct patient care’ micro-practice providing home care.
• As part of their clinical training, medical students will have the opportunity to rotate through a variety of family medicine settings that reflect the full spectrum of patient care. Students will spend dedicated time with specialists in geriatrics at a skilled nursing facility (SNF), gain valuable experience in palliative care, and participate in outpatient care across several family medicine clinics throughout the community. These rotations are designed to provide a well-rounded view of primary care, with an emphasis on continuity, compassion, and comprehensive care across all stages of life.

Spanish: encouraged but not required

Scholarship Opportunities

We are pleased to be able to offer subinternship applicants scholarships for their four-week rotation. 

Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Scholarships:

Given the mission of our program, we offer an Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Scholarship. To qualify you must self-identify as being part of one of the following underrepresented groups in medicine: racial or ethnic minority, LGBTQ+, disability, low socioeconomic status or first-generation to college. Please write a 1-page essay that describes your experiences in community medicine and health equity, how they relate to your long term-career goals, and how you plan to use your experience to improve the health of your patients and community. URiM scholars will be invited to DEIB committee meetings while they are here.  Applications can be submitted here.

We are proud to support the next generation of healthcare professionals through our medical student scholarship program. Our Residency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging Executive Committee will review and if selected, award the URiM Scholarship to support your rotation with us. Award amounts are based on the level of financial support received from your medical school:

$1,000 Award – For applicants who receive financial assistance from their medical school

$2,000 Award – For applicants who do not receive any financial assistance from their medical school

These scholarships are designed to help ease the financial burden of medical education and support students who demonstrate a strong commitment to their future in Family Medicine.

Application Procedure and Requirements

The subinternship program is open to 4th year medical students.

To apply, interested students must provide the program with a completed application, curriculum vitae, transcript and letter of academic good standing from your medical school’s Dean. We currently accept only students with a U.S. passport or green card.

Upon acceptance, the Dominican Family Medicine GME office will email a checklist of all required onboarding documents that must be returned to the UME Administrator no less than 4 weeks prior to the start of the rotation.

Sample Rotation Schedule

3 Weeks Ambulatory Care & 1 Week Inpatient Medicine

Inpatient Medicine (8 - 5 pm) with Hospitalist at Dominican Hospital 

Ambulatory Care

SCCH (Santa Cruz Community Health):  FQHC Family Medicine (primary care ambulatory experience including integrated behavioral health; community medicine; other areas of student interest)

University of CA, San Francisco Family Medicine Group: Dr. Elisa Washburn and Dr. Andrew Lewis

Outpatient Clinics:

Geriatrics/Pacific Coast Manor (SNF): Dr. Robert Potts

Dignity Health Family Medicine: Dr. Robert Chen and Dr. Mindy White

Palliative Care: Dr. Lisa Segnitz

Patient-Centered Medical Home: Dr. Gary Zane