What Some Students and Faculty Have to Say About the SCP Experience

Photo of Katie, MS I, with examining a little patient.

I spend every Wednesday afternoon at my pediatric SCP site and it is the highlight of my week. Even as a first year, I am taken seriously by the patients, but even more importantly by the doctors I work with. They ask for my opinion, they value my judgment and are eager to teach me everything they know about this incredible profession. There is no doubt in my mind that SCP is one of the most valuable pieces of my medical education.

Katie, MS I

My experience as an SCP preceptor has been the most personally rewarding aspect of my medical career. Being a mentor for students, helping them mature into capable, caring clinicians over the three years they are with me, is the essence of why I am a physician.

A. Ciardella, M.D.

Photo of Vicki, MS III, examining a patient.

As a third year student, non-stop rotations through various hospitals can leave one feeling somewhat nomadic. It is at this stage more than ever that SCP feels like a second home to me. I know that each time I walk through Dr. Ciardella’s office doors, I will be greeted with warm smiles, surrounded by an abundance of knowledge, and given the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. When it is time to walk back out, I do so richer in many respects – with better understanding of the patient as well as the disease, and always with renewed confidence for the week ahead.

Vicki, MS III

SCP is the time of the week where I am reminded of why I spend endless hours in the library – for my patients. Every time I go, my decision to become a doctor is reaffirmed.

Matt, MS II

SCP has been one constant in my medical education. It has helped to shape me into a doctor through interaction with a multitude of patients, and in turn has built my confidence as a clinician. I have also had the opportunity to build great relationships, and find a lifelong mentor. It is truly a unique and special component of the curriculum.

Arshad, MS III

I am very excited to be an SCP preceptor as I myself was an SCP student not too long ago. I know how important SCP was in my training in exposing me to the "real world" of medicine while I learned the all important pathophysiology and theory of medicine in the classroom. It is like coming full circle to now precept a student as once someone else precepted me.

Sarah, SCP Preceptor

SCP is a terrific integration of the classroom and its relevance to the real world. It is often easy to forget, while trying to absorb significant amounts of information, what brought me to medical school in the first place. However, I feel as though getting the experience of seeing real patients will not only help to develop my clinical skills, but also serve to rejuvenate my drive to learn so that I can apply my knowledge to providing better care.

Kristen, MS I

Jessica Magda, M.D., '01, and Michael Curi, M.D., '01, made it a priority to sign up as SCP preceptors when they moved back to Connecticut. "SCP was so integral in our education, we were terrifically excited to reconnect with the program and with UConn Med School. It has been a blast so far – a great way to teach and learn at the same time!

Jessica Magda, M.D.
J. Michael Curi, M.D.

Photo of Jessica and Michael, SCP preceptors.

Although SCP is a constant, it is a continually evolving entity in its benefit for me as a medical student and physician in training. As a first year, the weekly clinical experience allowed me to keep hold of my medical student perspective despite what seemed like never-ending basic science lectures. Then as a second year, under the guidance of experienced preceptorship, I was able to apply classroom knowledge into full comprehension through my patients and their symptoms. Now as a third year, I am relishing the continuity of relationship with my patients especially in light of revolving clinical rotations. I will always learn the most from my patients and UConn's SCP curriculum is a unique gift to its students that begins from day one.

Hagen, MS III