Eligibility for Medical Students

Volunteering as a student-doctor at the HIPHOP Promise Clinic is a valuable opportunity to gain clinical experience during your pre-clinical years, and to experience continuity of care throughout your time at RWJMS. In a team of four or more students from years 1-4, you will mentor and be mentored about patient care, evidence-based practice, course work, and how to navigate the world of a medical student.

All medical students can apply to be a student-doctor at the beginning of the fall semester at RWJMS.

An open interest meeting will be held in the fall, and information will be available via email. As a student-doctor, one commits to the HIPHOP Promise Clinic until their graduation from RWJMS. Medical students can also apply to be on the HIPHOP Promise Clinic Steering Committee, a team dedicated to clinic operations. Interviews for positions on this committee are held during the fall semester.

To volunteer as a student doctor, you commit to following duties and more:

• Attend each of your patient’s appointments at The HIPHOP Promise Clinic, except in the event of a serious extenuating circumstance such as illness or emergency.
• Attend patient visits for specialty care, diagnostic tests or procedures, as appropriate.
• Continue to participate as a student doctor, providing continuity of care to your patient, throughout your time at the Piscataway/New Brunswick campus.
• Follow-up with the patient in a timely manner regarding any concerns, questions, laboratory results, or results of other diagnostic tests in consultation with the faculty preceptor.
• Treat each and every patient with respect, compassion, patience, and appropriate, thoughtful health care regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, political affiliation, or social standing.
• Work in a professional manner and collaborate cooperatively with your patients, the student doctor team, physician preceptors and clinic administrators.
• Be aware of your own limitations and reach out to others when you need help.
• Protect patient confidentiality.
• Attend training sessions that will provide you with increased understanding of the issues pertinent to working with a diverse population of indigent, homeless, and uninsured patients in this community, as well as inform you of clinic policies and procedures, and prepare you for your clinical role as a student doctor.