FMIG Manual

Timeline

Monthly during autumn, winter, and spring quarters. There is typically also a Zoom meeting during summer quarter to prepare for primary care week or month in the fall.

Description

FMIG planning meetings occur monthly scheduled around student schedules. FMIG leaders discuss events they are planning for the quarter and select projects they’d like to spearhead. There are some recurring programs every year but new ideas are always welcome. FMIG students lead the meetings with faculty and staff advisors present to provide guidance when needed.

Meetings take place around lunchtime when both first and second year students are available along with the FMIG faculty and staff advisors. Lunch is provided. The date and time of the following meeting is decided at the end of each meeting.

Planning and Preparation

Approximately one week prior to the meeting, FMIG leaders send an e-mail to invite all students to the meeting. They include the meeting’s agenda along with a WeJoinIn link for students to RSVP for the meeting which assists with ordering lunch.

Timeline

Program runs through autumn, winter, and spring quarters.

Description

The goals of this program are:

1. Allow pre-clinical medical students the chance to work with family medicine faculty and residents
2. ​Give students the chance to see a birth

Two students sign up per week for Baby Beeper. The two students complete inpatient rounding with family medicine faculty and residents one morning during their week. The primary student is on-call to see a delivery that week, and the alternative student is contacted if the primary student is unable to make it.  

Quarterly Responsibilities

• Student leaders create a WeJoinIn for all the weeks each quarter so people can sign up for specific weeks (see prior sign-ups as an example).
• Student leaders promote the program and distribute the WeJoinIn link to get classmates to sign up!
• Student leaders coordinate communication between students who sign up and the residents. They also solicit feedback from the residents to improve the program.

More Information

See the Baby Beeper Program page!

Timeline

Throughout autumn and winter quarters.

Background and Description

Guest speakers are invited to talk about various topics in family medicine in an informal setting.

Topic-Based Brown Bags

The topic-based brown bags are a great opportunity for faculty, residents, and community physicians to meet eager MS1 and MS2 students and to share a specific interest with them. Brainstorm with FMIG advisors for a list of potential topics and speakers to contact. Usually students give suggestions of topics that interest them at the quarterly planning meetings.

Some past topics include:

• Adolescent medicine
• OB within family medicine
• Opening own practice
• Direct Primary Care
• Financial realities of family medicine
• Health policy advocacy
• Choosing fourth-year family medicine rotations

Planning and Preparation

The Brown Bags take place during lunch on days when both MS1 and MS2 students are free.

• Free parking is arranged for the speaker when needed.
• The speaker will provide a short biography and a blurb about their topic to include in advertising to the students.

Timeline

While the first full week of October is the “official” National Primary Care Week, spreading activities and workshops throughout a month — and in November — can result in higher attendance for each event.

Background and Description

National Primary Care Week is an annual event put on by the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). The FMIG partners with other student organizations on campus, such as the Pediatric Interest Group and Internal Medicine Interest Group to offer events related to primary care. Prior events have included physician and resident panel discussions, film screenings, wound care and IUD workshops, a variety/talent show with primary care trivia, and social dinners with residents and physicians.

Preparation and Planning

Planning spans over the summer (typically Zoom meetings) and into fall quarter. Preparing for these events is much like any others – see what the budget allows for food, reserve rooms, set up parking for any guests, etc. Student organizations divide costs as necessary. 

Description

Faculty and residents from a local family medicine residency teach students various suturing techniques including simple and straight lacerations, deep layer closures, skin closures, and interrupted and mattress sutures. Students practiced these newly learned skills with guidance from the guest instructors.

Planning / Logistics

• Order food for event.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – Cap the amount of students available to attend since each participant will need their own station.
• Arrange parking for the faculty and residents.
• Book a classroom through Classroom Services.

Supplies

Suture kits – one per student.
Sharps container
 
 

Description

A faculty member or resident gives a presentation on the basics of gender-affirming care, including LGBTQ+ health disparities, trauma-informed care, hormone therapy, and reflection discussions with students. See the 2025 recorded presentation “FMIG Gender Affirming Care 2025” in the video library here.

Planning

• Order food for event.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs
• Arrange parking for the instructor(s)
• Book a classroom through Classroom Services.

Supplies

N/A
 
 

Description

Physician advocates give a short presentation on the various ways to be an advocate for patients, the basics of a public narrative, and lead discussions about students’ advocacy experiences, issues they’re most passionate about, and ways to get involved as medical students.

Planning / Logistics

• Order food for event.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – Cap the amount of students available to attend since each participant will need their own station.
• Arrange parking for the faculty and residents.
• Book a classroom through Classroom Services.

Supplies

N/A
 
 

Description

Faculty come to teach students about the basics of recognition, identification and management of acute and chronic wounds. The presentation covers essential principles of wound assessment and treatment strategies. 

During the hands-on activity stations, participants practice: 

• Debridement – Techniques for removing necrotic tissue to promote healing. 

• Compression Wraps – Proper application of compression wraps for managing venous insufficiency and edema. 

• Wound Dressing – Selecting and applying appropriate dressings for different wound types. 

This workshop equips attendees with practical skills to promote wound healing. 

Planning / Logistics

• Order supplies – see below
• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – discuss the attendance cap with instructors
• Arrange parking for the instructors
• Book a room

Supplies

Student leader should discuss supplies with instructors at least a month before workshop in case any supplies need to be ordered. 

Description

The physician instructor gives a presentation on how to describe different skin lesions with examples of different skin concerns often seen in primary care. They also give insight on the importance of dermatology skills in primary care, particularly in community health, as patients often have social barriers to seeking dermatology care and many skin disorders can be caught/treated early with a trained eye. The second half of the workshop focuses on how to perform a shave biopsy and when it is indicated. Students spend the last half practicing shave biopsies on oranges with dermablades. 

Planning / Logistics

• Supplies – see below
• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – discuss the attendance cap with instructors
• Arrange parking for the instructors
• Book a room

Supplies

Student leader should discuss supplies with instructors at least a month before workshop in case any supplies need to be ordered.

• Oranges
• Several permanent markers
• Dermablades

Description

Faculty and residents from a local family medicine residency teach medical students a variety of hands on skills including vacuum assisted delivery, forceps assisted delivery, episiotomy repair, and fetal heart tone auscultation.

Planning / Logistics

• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – Cap the amount of students available to attend since each participant will need their own station.
• Arrange parking for the faculty and residents.
• Book two classrooms through Classroom Services; one for the main workshop and a breakout room for exams and pregnant women (usually recruited by the residency leading the workshop).

Supplies

All supplies for Seattle FMIG are brought by the residency and include birthing mannequins, models for perennial repair demonstrations, and 1-3 patients.
 
 

Description

Faculty teach students how to perform the procedure for miscarriage management and abortion care using papayas as models. Students also had the opportunity to ask many questions about the procedures and overall reproductive health. 

Resources:

1) Slidedeck from a Seattle workshop (2025)

2) TEACH: Training in Early Abortion for Comprehensive Healthcare — curriculum PDF

Planning / Logistics

• Supplies – see below
• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – discuss the attendance cap with instructors
• Arrange parking for the instructors
• Book a room

Supplies

Student leader should discuss supplies with instructors at least a month before workshop in case any supplies need to be ordered.

• Papayas (one per every two students)

Description

Faculty and residents from a local family medicine residency teach medical students advanced musculoskeletal exam skills. The first 30 minutes are spent reviewing the exams followed by an hour of students practicing exams with each other under the guidance of the faculty and residents.

Planning / Logistics

• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – Cap the amount of students available to attend since each participant will need their own station.
• Arrange parking for the faculty and residents.
• Book a classroom through Classroom Services.

Supplies

N/A

Description

Faculty and residents from a local family medicine residency teach medical students how to place leads, decipher EKG printouts, and then lead a discussion on irregular readings.

Planning / Logistics

• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – Cap the amount of students available to attend since each participant will need their own station.
• Arrange paid parking for the faculty and residents.
• Book two classrooms through Classroom Services; one to practice placing leads (and reading EKG if a machine is accessible), second room to review sample irregular EKG readouts.

An EKG machine can be hard to borrow since it is such an expensive piece of equipment. So we came up with this workaround tailored to students’ education level.

• MS1s: followup for cell phys focusing on normal physiology and placing leads. Maybe video of someone getting 12 lead ECG
• MS2s: exam review focusing on high yield abnormal rhythms

Supplies

• leads (usually purchased online)
• sample printouts of EKG readings for review containing a variety of different samples physicians may come across

Description

This hands-on workshop is always hugely popular! Family physicians that practice OB give a short introduction to IUDs and a tutorial on how to place the device. Students then practice placing the device themselves using model uteri and model IUDs with guidance and feedback from the instructors.

Planning / Logistics

• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders plan and order the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – cap the amount of students able to attend depending on IUD kits available.
• Arrange parking for the instructors.
• Book a room.

Supplies

IUD model kits can be purchased once and then reused.
 
 

Description

Instructors led a discussion on weight-centric healthcare values that exist in our current system. Students explored anti-fat bias and how bias affects research, patient care, patient experience, and health outcomes. Finally, students explored methods, language, and core values for providing weight-inclusive care. 

Planning / Logistics

• Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
• Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs – cap the amount of students able to attend depending on IUD kits available.
• Arrange parking for the instructors.
• Book a room.

Supplies

N/A
 
 

Timeline

Volunteer shift sign-ups are sent out once per quarter. Shifts are available each week. This program often runs even in the summer since clinical students are on rotations and often still want to volunteer.

Description

Student leaders coordinate weekly volunteer shifts open to all UWSOM students with a local shelter, recruit student volunteers, and maintain communication with the shelter manager.

Planning / Logistics

• Coordinate with shelter manager about volunteer needs and if volunteers need to have background checks, submit vaccine records, complete applications, wear specific clothing or identification, or other requirements
• Create quarterly WeJoinIn sign-ups based on student schedules/general availability
• If there is a budget for it, volunteers can sign up to bring food for shelter guests and be reimbursed.

Supplies

N/A
 
 

Timeline

Training takes place autumn quarter and is organized by student leaders. Workshops at schools take place throughout autumn, winter, and spring quarters.

Description

UW FMIG leaders work with a local under-resourced high school to promote the health professions via a hands-on workshop and answering questions about medical school.

If there is funding, the high school students can visit the campus for the workshop and a brief tour of the health sciences buildings. 

Planning / Logistics

Student leaders reach out to the high school contact to inquire about scheduling. Two to three students lead the workshop at the high school.

Supplies

The supplies needed depend on what is taught at the workshop.
 
 

Timeline

Training takes place autumn quarter and is organized by student leaders. Workshops at area elementary schools take place throughout autumn, winter, and spring quarters.

Description

UW FMIG leaders developed a workshop aimed at educating youth on the consequences of vaping. The workshop includes a 15-minute presentation and an activity for the student participants in which they run in place while breathing through straws to simulate lungs damaged from smoking and vaping. Lastly, the kids are shown inflatable lung models of healthy and diseased lungs and are given the chance to touch the lung models to feel the difference.

Planning / Logistics

To prepare for the workshop, FMIG students attend a training led by students with prior program teaching experience. A discussion on approaches to presenting the material and how to deal with questions or issues that may arise followed the training. Student leaders contact local schools (there is a list from previous years) to inquire on interest and scheduling. Leaders will then pair up and lead the workshop at schools.

Supplies

• Straws
• Lung models
   
   

Timeline

Starts in October and runs until end of autumn quarter.

Description

This is an annual collection of clothing donations and toiletry items for local organizations that serve those experiencing homelessness.

Planning / Logistics

FMIG student leaders identify which charities will be the beneficiaries of the clothing drive and contact them to find out about specific needs.

Students then obtain permission from SOM administration to place boxes (sometimes decorated with holiday gift wrap) with signage around the school to collect clothing donations.

Boxes are put out, and student leaders empty them weekly, storing donations in the Family Medicine offices. Student leaders email MS1s, MS2s, and the School of Medicine faculty and staff advertising the locations to bring donations.

At the end of the quarter, there is a sorting party (typically lunch is provided for students who participate) to divide donations amongst the shelters depending on their needs. Student leaders transport the donations to the shelters.

Supplies

The only needs are large cardboard boxes which can often be acquired for free. There is little to no cost for this event. 

Timeline

Annually in July for the new MS1s.

Description

This is a one-hour Zoom evening event to help MS1s understand how to use Anki to study, recommendations for settings, and includes Q&A time. The session is recorded for the video library.

Planning / Logistics

MS2s lead this event, which includes a brief presentation with a slidedeck. A WeJoinIn sign-up is used to collect RSVPs. Watch the recording of a previous session here.

Supplies

None needed for this virtual event.

Timeline

Historically this session was held annually in August for the new MS1s. Ideally it is held in the first month of medical school.

Description

This is a one-hour Zoom evening seminar with a panel of MS2s. They discuss study methods and strategies for success in medical school with a focus on Foundations Phase.

Planning / Logistics

MS2s lead this event, which includes a brief presentation with a slidedeck. A WeJoinIn sign-up is used to collect RSVPs and those students are sent a survey to collect questions to guide the panel discussions. Watch the recording of a previous session here.

Supplies

None needed for this virtual event.

Timeline

Annually in March before the rising MS3s start clerkships.

Description

This is a one-hour Zoom evening event in which a few MS3 discuss their experiences in clerkships, offer some collected wisdom from previous classes about how to succeed, and answer questions. The session is recorded for the video library.

Planning / Logistics

MS3s who have completed many of the required clerkships lead this event, which includes a brief presentation with a slidedeck. A WeJoinIn sign-up is used to collect RSVPs. Watch the recording of a previous session here.

Supplies

None needed for this virtual event.

Timeline

Annually in March before the rising MS4s start Explore & Focus rotations.

Description

This is a one-hour Zoom evening event in which a few MS4s discuss how to approach planning for the final year of med school, including Step 2, Sub-Is, and managing interests in multiple specialties.The session is recorded for the video library.

Planning / Logistics

MS4s lead this event, which includes a brief presentation with a slidedeck. A WeJoinIn sign-up is used to collect RSVPs. Watch the recording of a previous session here.

Supplies

None needed for this virtual event.

Timeline

Spring quarter

Description

Family Medicine career advisors present on being a competitive applicant to family medicine residencies.

Planning / Logistics

• Virtually is best to include all of WWAMI. If held in-person:
  • Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
  • Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs
  • Book a large room through Classroom Services for any slides presenter may want to show. Get as large a room as possible so as not to have to cap attendance.

Supplies

If in-person: anything needed for food such as plates, napkins, utensils, etc.

Timeline

Spring quarter

Description

Family Medicine residents from the Seattle area share their experience with residency from the application process through the end of third year. Students are encouraged to ask the panel questions and thoughtful discussions ensue.

Planning / Logistics

Student leaders contact local residencies to recruit family medicine residents.

• • Food – consult the budget for this event. Student leaders can help plan the food.
  • Create a WeJoinIn for RSVPs
  • Arrange parking for the faculty and residents.
  • Book a classroom or lecture hall through Classroom Services.

Supplies

If in-person: anything needed for food, such as plates, napkins, utensils, etc.