The REF Preceptorship Experience
The ACR Workforce Study estimated that nearly half of practicing rheumatologists will retire within eight years, meaning that by 2025 there will be a severe shortage of rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in the US. In an effort to combat this approaching void in patient care the REF continues to increase its funding to sustain the workforce.
REF Preceptorships introduce the best and brightest medical and graduate students to the field of rheumatology as a possible career path by supporting a mentored one-on-one interaction and real-world learning experience focused on rheumatology. Preceptorship opportunities are available for medical and graduate students who are in the very early stages of their medical career, and vary from introducing students to a career in rheumatology-related health care to a full-fledged research experience in a rheumatology lab.
The REF recently revamped its program in order to increase availability for medical and graduate students interested in rheumatology. The changes allow students to complete the preceptorship experience during their elective month(s), rather than requiring all experiences to be over the summer. The revised program cycle also allows for quarterly submission of preceptorship applications; however awards are limited to one per student per year.
Chirag Vora’s preceptorship experience is a shining example of the value of REF preceportships.
Chirag Vora, MS is a second year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. He completed an ACR REF/Abbott Medical Student Clinical Preceptorship with Dowain Wright, MD, PhD at Children's Hospital of Central California last year.
"I am so grateful to have been a recipient of the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation/Abbott Medical Student Clinical Preceptorship Award. As a first year medical student, I spent hours in front of the textbooks without having a true understanding of clinical medicine. This preceptorship allowed me to appreciate the reasons I actually wanted to go into medicine. Furthermore, it opened my eyes to the realm of Rheumatology and has stimulated my interest in wanting to pursue it. I am also thankful to my preceptor, Dr. Wright, who has helped me develop a foundation in clinical medicine that I will continue to build on. " –Chirag Vora, MS
