The focus of the third year of RMED is preparation for the M4 16-week rural preceptorship. Evening sessions are held monthly and use both didactic and small group formats. Students may arrange to spend an extended weekend visiting their preceptorship community for the M4 year. The visit coordinated by the University of Illinois Extension gives students an opportunity to meet with community representatives and learn more about the resources and needs of the community in which they will spend 16 weeks.

M3 curriculum focuses on three objectives:

1.) Increasing awareness and understanding of community structure and assessment, by introducing concepts like “windshield analysis” and presenting material from the resources book titled “ Beyond the Examination Room: A Guide to Community Health Project Planning” (Atkinson et al. 2000).

2.) Reviewing the process of Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC) and having students begin to prepare for specific projects to be implemented as part of the M4 year, 16-week rural clerkship and to be presented as part of the medical school’s annual Research Day.

3.) Providing opportunities to discuss issues like family practice in rural areas, the professionalization of the physician, and future practice opportunities in Illinois.

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