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Interested in learning more about this rotation? Start the process for a free introductory meeting with our team
Physician ID:
359
Hours:
Monday – Tuesday 11 AM to 5 PM; Wednesday 2 PM to 5PM; Thursday - Friday 11 AM to 5 PM
Hours have been provided by the preceptor. Hours are subject to change at the preceptor’s discretion, but the minimum total hours will remain approximately the same.
Location: San Francisco
This outpatient US clinical experience will take place in San Francisco.
Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Internal Medicine in San Francisco
Specialties: Internal Medicine
Location: San Francisco
Price:
Hospital Letterhead: No
Faculty Appointment: No
Information about this clinical experience:
You will be under the supervision of an internal medicine physician who has considerable experience teaching medical students. In the past, the preceptor taught students from the UCSF School of Medicine.
Through the course of over three decades in medicine, this physician has had a remarkable impact on several groups of patients that suffer from healthcare disparities. Both LGBTQ+ and HIV patients encounter significant barriers in accessing and receiving healthcare. Although there are many factors leading to disparities in the care of these patients, there is no doubt that inadequate clinician knowledge of or experience in LGBTQ+/HIV care contribute to the overall problem.
This stems from curricular gaps in undergraduate and graduate medical education, with one study showing only a median of 5 hours of time spent teaching LGBTQ health in U.S. medical schools. Of note, nearly one third of schools reported having zero hours of content in their curriculum. The lack of training and education in medical school and residency have made it difficult for these patients to find informed and knowledgeable clinicians to provide the care that they deserve. According to GlobalRxPh, 90% of primary care physicians rate their HIV knowledge as “none” or “low”.
As this physician preceptor is highly experienced in the care of LGBTQ+ and HIV patients, this will be an excellent opportunity to see how a primary care physician meets the diverse needs of this patient population. To help you make the most of your learning during this clinical experience, we recommend that you read the following resources:
A Guide to Taking a Sexual History (CDC)
Goals Framework for Sexual History Taking in Primary Care
Managing HIV in Primary Care: What Every Physician Needs to Know in 2025
Primary Care for Adults with HIV
Best Practices in LGBT Care: A Guide for Primary Care Physicians
The preceptor is known for having a wonderful bedside manner and is well regarded for the amount of time spent with patients. Patients praise this physician for being kind and attentive, a great listener, and making them feel heard and supported. The physician will be an excellent role model for rotators seeking to refine their communication skills.
During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision (please note that this experience remains within the regulations of California pertaining to the unlicensed practice of medicine):
Taking patient histories under supervision.
Performing exams under the physician's supervision.
Presenting patients.
Writing or entering progress notes (Practice Fusion EMR)
Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.
Spending time with other healthcare professionals to understand their roles and responsibilities.
Who should consider this rotation:
International medical graduates (IMGs) and students seeking US clinical experience in internal medicine or family medicine.
How to obtain a letter of recommendation:
The rotator should ask the preceptor for a LOR near the conclusion of the rotation. Dr. Desai has provided the physician with guidelines about best practices in letter writing that meet residency program requirements. In some cases, the preceptor may ask the rotator to write a letter of recommendation draft.
During the rotation:
Our team will be checking in periodically with you to ensure that you are having an optimal experience. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions during the rotation.
Testimonials
Because this rotation takes place at a teaching hospital, I had the opportunity to join attending rounds while spending much of my time working alongside the residents. One of the greatest strengths of this rotation was the residents’ enthusiasm for teaching. They created a very welcoming and low-pressure environment where I felt comfortable asking questions, discussing cases, and learning throughout the day.
During attending rounds, I was able to present new consults as well as follow-up patients and receive feedback on my presentations and clinical reasoning. There were also opportunities to become more involved depending on the student’s initiative, such as sharing short teaching points or giving presentations to the team.
The attending was very approachable, energetic, and enjoyable to work with. Because of the doctor's significant responsibilities within GME, the preceptor was understandably very busy, which sometimes limited the amount of one-on-one time available. However, whenever I specifically asked for feedback - whether regarding my rotation performance, personal statement, or presentations - the attending was very willing to take the time to provide thoughtful and constructive guidance.
I think this rotation may be particularly rewarding for students who have already completed one or two U.S. clinical rotations and are comfortable taking initiative. For those students, there are many opportunities to engage with the team and make the experience as educational as possible.
EK
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