The clerkship in public health: a positive experience.

Cornell University Medical College's required third-year clerkship in public health offers a unique educational experience well received by faculty and students. Within a two-week period, a combination of field trips, seminars, lectures, required reading, and a research paper enables students to gain familiarity with a broad range of issues by placing them in situations exposing them to relevant problems and solutions. Nearly all students find some aspect of either the field trips or seminars provocative. Some are motivated to plan follow-up electives. A similar course using local resources could be offered elsewhere.