Students participate in unique learning experiences throughout all four years of their undergraduate medical education

The International/Inner City/Rural Preceptorship (I2CRP) program is a 4-year longitudinal program for students who declare an interest in and commitment to working with medically underserved populations in urban, rural, or international settings. The program is designed to foster the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to provide high quality, compassionate care to underserved populations, and to increase the number of primary care physicians who practice in underserved areas.

Students participate in unique learning experiences throughout all four years of their undergraduate medical education. Through a combination of didactics, discussion, reflection, community experiences, and clinical preceptorships, students explore and apply foundational concepts of community-oriented primary care, systems based practice, cultural competency, social determinants of health, and health equity.

I2CRP Honors Elective - Students Working in Groups

Program Goals

Students will:

  • Enhance their knowledge of underserved patient populations and their communities, both domestically and abroad.
  • Enhance and/or develop the skills necessary to provide high quality, compassionate care to underserved patients and their communities.

Program Logistics

During the MS1 and MS2 semesters, students participate in:

  • 6-week honors elective courses during the spring and fall semesters
  • An optional clinical elective in an underserved setting during the spring of MS2a
  • A clinical preceptorship in an urban or rural underserved setting as part of the Practice of Clinical Medicine course
  • Journal club sessions
  • Grand Rounds sessions on topics related to the lived experiences and care of medically underserved populations

During the third year, students complete core clinical rotations in community based, underserved settings in family medicine, pediatrics, adult medicine, and general surgery.

During the fourth year, students complete a community immersion month and a community based scholarly project.

Honduras Brigade - Walking with Children on a path

Applying to the Program

The International/Inner City/Rural Preceptorship program is open to all MS1 students currently enrolled at the VCU School of Medicine. Up to 24 seats are awarded within each class on a competitive basis. The application deadline is October 15 at 11:59 PM.

The electronic application will be available in the "Student Records" section of the VCU SOM eCurriculum from August 15 - October 15. Click on the "I2CRP Application" link from the subsequent navigation menu.

The admissions procedure includes submitting an on-line application, including two essays. Each essay should address the following questions:

Essay 1:

  • Why are you interested in working with medically underserved communities?
  • What previous exposure, if any, have you had to underserved communities (urban, rural or international)?
  • What service experiences have you had?
  • What do you hope to gain from participating in this program?

Essay 2:

  • Describe the career you envision for yourself as a practicing physician and how your practice will enable you to address the needs of medically underserved communities.

Students are accepted into the program based on a demonstrated interest in working with medically underserved populations. Applicants with a demonstrated interest in entering primary care (family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, or medicine / pediatrics) as well as national workforce priority disciplines (psychiatry, obstetrics & gynecology, and general surgery) will be given weighted consideration.

Analysis of graduate outcomes for the classes of 2000-2017 shows that 70% of I2CRP graduates matched into residency programs in primary care, and 80% of graduates matched into primary care or workforce priority disciplines. An analysis completed in 2016 showed that 40% of program graduates who have completed residency training currently practice in in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) or Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs.)

For More Information

Contact Mary Lee Magee, M.S. or Mark Ryan, MD

I2CRP VCU Libraries

CARITAS

Students from the VCU schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry partner with the CARITAS Shelter program to provide free health screenings to individuals who are participating in emergency shelter services. CARITAS is a nonprofit organization that provides year round emergency shelter for adults and families in the greater Richmond area who are experiencing homelessness. Screenings are offered approximately once per month in community settings for six months throughout the academic year.

Goals:

  • Build awareness of social and medical issues affecting the individuals who are experiencing homelessness;
  • Develop relationships with individuals who are experiencing homelessness and foster greater understanding of circumstances contributing to homelessness;
  • Gain experience in diagnostic screening techniques and the delivery of patient education;
  • Foster inter-professional collaborative relationships.

Read the full article to get the details about their positive impact.

For additional information, contact Mary Lee Magee in the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health.

I2CRP students awarded Health Care Equity Scholarships
Student News

I2CRP students awarded Health Care Equity Scholarships

December 1, 2023 Read more
I2CRP student Tala Khalefa wins STFM scholarship
Student News

I2CRP student Tala Khalefa wins STFM scholarship

October 26, 2023 Read more
Scholarly Capstone Awards for the I2CRP Class of 2023
Student News; Alumni News

Scholarly Capstone Awards for the I2CRP Class of 2023

September 29, 2023 Read more
Five VCU medical students earn scholarships to support the care of medically underserved communities
Student News

Five VCU medical students earn scholarships to support the care of medically underserved communities

November 1, 2021 Read more
Bringing needed care to medically underserved communities
Student News

Bringing needed care to medically underserved communities

January 8, 2021 Read more
VCU medical student’s interest in underserved populations leads to international research opportunity
Student News

VCU medical student’s interest in underserved populations leads to international research opportunity

August 5, 2020 Read more
Inside the VCU program that prepares medical students to serve the most vulnerable
Student News

Inside the VCU program that prepares medical students to serve the most vulnerable

December 5, 2019 Read more
Dr. Suzanne Giunta becomes newest family physician at Hayes E. Willis Health Center
Faculty Profile: Dr. Suzanne Giunta

Dr. Suzanne Giunta becomes newest family physician at Hayes E. Willis Health Center

December 4, 2019 Read more
I2CRP student strives to improve care for underserved populations
"I knew I wanted to become a doctor and provide care to all people, regardless of their background or insurance status."

I2CRP student strives to improve care for underserved populations

August 12, 2019 Read more
Medical School Spotlight: The Path to Serving the Underserved at VCU School
“I thought of the opportunity to be a physician as a way to make social justice a day-to-day part of my working life,” ~ Richard Moore II

Medical School Spotlight: The Path to Serving the Underserved at VCU School

January 15, 2019 Read more
VCU Clinicians & Students Storm Ravaged Puerto Rico
‘It was like life was on standby:’ VCU clinicians and students reflect on trip to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico

VCU Clinicians & Students Storm Ravaged Puerto Rico

January 30, 2018 Read more
AMSA fellow sees beyond the individual:
“I view the community as my patient”

AMSA fellow sees beyond the individual:

January 8, 2019 Read more
Campus Night
“Imposter syndrome is a real thing.”

M4, Fogarty fellow overcomes imposter syndrome, wins national award

October 16, 2018 Read more
M4 John Weeks returns to Eastern Shore to treat underserved population
“The I2CRP program is one of the big things that drew me to VCU,” says Weeks.

M4 John Weeks returns to Eastern Shore to treat underserved population

February 9, 2018 Read more