- Clinical Adjunct Faculty appointment to the College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Ability to progress in academic ranking as a result of continued service
- Free access to our extensive online medical library
- Free CME credits for teaching students in accordance with your specialty guidelines
- Other CME opportunities/events offered by RVU
- Invitations to RVU-sponsored events, such as graduation
- A monetary stipend for precepting (if your organization allows)
- Opportunity for Advanced Preceptor rank with an advanced stipend (if your organization allows)
- Opportunity to make a valuable contribution in shaping the next generation of medical professionals
- Invitations to private and sponsored events
Become a Preceptor
Preceptors are integral to the clinical education at Rocky Vista University as they give our students hands-on training in the real world with real patients.
The role of Preceptor
Preceptors provide the experiential portion of the curriculum by supervising student physicians as they acquire clinical medical knowledge by helping to care for real patients—in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
At RVU we rely heavily on practicing providers to assist and supervise students in the development of the skills and judgment necessary to become a competent clinician and appreciate your interest in becoming a preceptor for RVU medical students.
Make a Difference
Physician Preceptors are pillars of the community who play a vital role in not only educating RVU medical students but also setting a shining example of what ‘giving back’ looks like in practice. The connection and humanity that this special group of leaders brings to medical learning make all the difference in how healthcare is shaped.
Mentoring is more than just allowing a student to shadow or participate in a rotation — it is emulating the values of education, caring, and community. Preceptor expertise helps future physicians develop the mastery and confidence necessary to provide high-quality patient care. Let’s work together in elevating healthcare.
More Information
Benefits of Becoming a Preceptor
Preceptor Expectations
- Have an orientation for the student on the first day and clearly state your expectations. Providing an orientation document is recommended.
- Introduce the student to others on your team (staff, other providers, etc.)
- Determine the student’s schedule. Students may work days, nights, and weekends as determined by the preceptor 35 to 60 hours a week on average.
- Minimum of 35+ and a minimum of 140+ per clerkship.
- Allow one weekday afternoon for dedicated didactic education time.
- 3rd year students should see an average of at least 4 outpatients or 2 inpatients per day.
- 4th year students should see an average of at least 6 outpatients or 3 inpatients per day.
- Have students write medical notes in the SOAP format.(Allowing students access to your EHR is up to you or your employer).
- Frequently ask students questions to gauge their medical knowledge
- Give frequent short discussions (e.g. 15 minutes) on common conditions seen in your practice. These may occur at any time (e.g. during lunch, en-route to see patients, etc.)
- Have a 10 minute mid-rotation bi-directional feedback session.
- Have a 15 minute exit interview for final bi-directional feedback.
- Sign-off/verify student’s patient encounter logs at the end of their externship.
- Complete student evaluation online in the New Innovations system before the student’s final day
Preceptor Qualifications
- Board Certified or Board Eligible Physicians.
- Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Nurses, Social workers, Licensed Counselors, etc. have access to becoming RVU Preceptors (generally under the supervision of a qualified/credentialed Preceptor);
- Active License in the state in which the professional practices (exceptions permitted for Military);
- Current CV and malpractice COI;
- Compliance with RVU’s Title IX Policy;
Preceptor Responsibilities
- Overall supervision of the student for the duration of the clinical externship rotation.
- Provide opportunities for real patient clinical experiences.
- Know the syllabus and student learning objectives.
- Hold students accountable for their self-directed learning of medical knowledge (e.g. ask the students to teach you what they read last night)
- Give honest criticism and constructive feedback to the student, which is critical to academic and professional development.
- Give honest criticism and constructive feedback to the Clinical Education Department (Clinical Coordinators) if improvements are needed in any areas.
- Immediately contact the Clinical Education Department (Regional Director or Site Director) if you see anything concerning about the student’s behavior, lack of professionalism, or major knowledge deficiencies.
Sample Academic Calendar
Our preceptors can pick and choose which rotation dates work best for them and their facility. One student per preceptor is standard, however, a growing number of preceptors are finding that taking two students at a time can make the process smoother. Other clinics share students between several doctors, working as a team to educate in different areas. We are flexible and open to discussing different structures based on your specific clinic needs. If you would like to discuss what this may look like for your clinic please contact the RVU Physician Liaison for your campus
- April 1 – April 26, 2024
- July 10 – August 4, 2023
- August 7 – September 1, 2023
- September 4 – September 29, 2023
- October 2 – October 27, 2023
- October 30 – November 24, 2023
- November 27 – December 22, 2023
- January 8 – February 2, 2024
- February 5 – March 1, 2024
- March 4 – March 29, 2024
Preceptor Spotlights
Preceptor Spotlight April 2024
Elizabeth Ricciardi, DO, MS
Dr Elizabeth Ricciardi, DO, MS of Evanston, WY, has mentored upwards of 40 students a year in Behavioral Health at Wyoming State Hospital and provides wonderful teaching experiences for each student. A disciplined eater, she and her husband enjoy cooking and entertaining in their home. She shares some of what makes her rotations so coveted below.
“I believe that the most important skill a preceptor must have to be successful is patience. The first few weeks can be challenging for preceptors as they must provide constructive critiques without dampening the student’s spirit. One must have patience and flexibility in navigating these situations.”
“Over the years, I have been able to set up a structured environment that allows for collaboration and teamwork. Providing a collegial and convivial setting also allows for friendships and networking to occur, which I believe is quite important, especially after Covid–19. Further, on day one of their rotation, the students are provided an orientation to the hospital setting and expectations for the month. This includes patient presentations as well as student-initiated daily didactic lessons. There are no surprises in this rotation and the guidelines are clear. Most importantly, the students understand that this is an environment in which they are allowed to learn from their mistakes as well as have fun. We laugh often, providing for a positive mental health environment.”
Quotes from RVUCOM Students
“Dr. Ricciardi is a fantastic preceptor. She set clear goals for students, always made time to teach, and kept her students safe whenever there was potential for danger. I absolutely loved this rotation and would highly recommend her to other students.”
“Dr. Ricciardi was the best preceptor I could have asked for. She challenged me and helped me grow as a professional while supporting me. I can’t say enough good things about her. She provided an environment that required hard work, but it was always for the betterment of the students and the patients. She had me present on common conditions almost every day in clinic and turned learning opportunities into discussions rather than lectures. I felt like a valued member of the care team. I learned so much, but honestly the best part was that with her help, I’ve gained confidence in my abilities. I’ve gained confidence not only in my clinical skills, but in my ability to learn new things on the fly and to not be afraid of making mistakes. Thanks to Dr. Ricciardi’s mentorship, I will be more comfortable showing initiative in trying new things and I will not only be a better clinical student, but I will be a better doctor in the long term. I genuinely cannot adequately express how fantastic Dr. Ricciardi was as a preceptor because words don’t do my experience justice.”
“Her kindness, compassion, listening was unmatched. She challenged me to come up higher in these areas. I loved our discussions and her advice.”
“Dr. Ricciardi is an amazing preceptor, she always made sure we felt comfortable talking to patients in the hospital as well as she helped me expand my knowledge of psychiatry through presentations, discussions on patient cases and progress notes.”
“Dr. Ricciardi was an excellent resource to students if we had any questions about psychiatry or even life! She was a straight shooter to us and was brutally honest when necessary. She challenged me to work hard but reiterated the importance of self-care in the field which I appreciated.”
Learn about our students
Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a proud of our students. We strive to provide our students with training throughout their years of medical school. Preceptors are extremely important in providing hands-on training to our students in the real world.
Learn about Rocky Vista University
Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a health-sciences institution of higher learning spanning three states: Colorado, Utah, and Montana. Each campus is equipped with a simulation center, standardized patient rooms, expansive active learning classrooms, a full gross anatomy cadaver lab, a research lab, a large library, and many study spaces throughout the buildings. RVU takes pride in its experienced and talented administration, faculty, and staff, as well as its exceptional student body. A strong sense of community is evident at RVU.
At our Core
We are an osteopathic medical school with the belief that a career in medicine is not just a job but a calling. That’s why we are committed to providing our students with the knowledge, skills, and experience required to become competent and compassionate physicians who can make a difference in the lives of their patients. If you share our passion for medicine and want to make a difference in the future of the healthcare industry, we invite you to consider teaming up with Rocky Vista University.
Our Campuses
The founding campus is located in the town of Parker, Colorado, just 20 miles southeast of Denver. The community is known for its excellent school system, extensive biking and jogging trails, recreational facilities, dining, and entertainment, as well as a wide variety of arts and community events held throughout the year.
Colorado Campus
Colorado Campus
Rocky Vista University Colorado location is located in a small town called Parker, just 20 miles southeast of Denver, which is a place rooted in history and heritage. The spirit of the west that lives here is matched in character only by our embrace of forward-thinking innovation. This rare balance offers experiences that are unique even for Colorado, making Parker the ideal one-day getaway. The community is known for its excellent school system, extensive biking and jogging trails, recreational facilities, dining, and entertainment, as well as a wide variety of arts and community events held throughout the year.
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Utah Campus
Utah Campus
Our Utah campus is located in Ivins, UT, approximately 15 minutes from downtown St. George. The City of Ivins is a known as beneath the Big Red Mountain, which is where the campus is located. The weather is beautiful and sunny most of the year which makes it a great place for outdoor recreation, hiking, boating, camping, kayaking to name a few. There are several National Parks which are close to the campus; Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. Snow Canyon State Park is located just 5 minutes from campus which offers a beautiful landscape of red and white rocks.
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Montana Campus
Montana Campus
Billings, sitting along the Yellowstone River and the famous Rimrocks, is known as Montana’s Trailhead because it serves as the border between western Montana’s mountains and Eastern Montana’s plains and badlands. Billings is an urban city offering modern amenities, exceptional views, outdoor recreation, and award-winning cuisine. Billings is the medical hub for two thirds of Montana and portions of bordering states. Although Billings is the largest city in Montana, it boasts small-town hospitality! Where you can explore recreation, dining, shopping, and events happening in Billings.
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