A LONGITUDINAL PRIMARY-CARE PROGRAM IN AN URBAN PUBLIC MEDICAL-SCHOOL- 3 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

The experience of the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of M edicine with implementing a pilot generalist program focuses on instit utionalization and management. Various features of the program make it an interesting case study: It is inter disciplinary, comprising pedia tricians, general internists, and family practitioners; students join the program in the autumn of their first year; and it is changing from a voluntary to a required, institutionally ingrained course of study. The difficulties and procedures encountered in making room for an int erdisciplinary primary care program in a traditional medical school cu rriculum are discussed.