Closer Look: Primary Care Medicine
- 1 Week Program
- Up to 40 Hours of Mentorship
- 1 Mentor Per Student
- Students are responsible for transportation to and from their placement location.
What You Will Learn
- What primary care practice actually looks like across a full working week
- The scope of practice for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners
- How care is delivered in rural and community settings
- The patient relationships that define primary medicine
- What the path into your chosen primary care profession requires
Who Should Join
- High school senior students interested in becoming a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner
- Students who have already completed two or more Central Louisiana AHEC programs
- Students ready for sustained one-on-one time with a working clinician
- Students interested in practicing in or near their own hometown
- Students who want depth in one field rather than a survey of many
Requirements
- High school senior student interested in becoming a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner
- At least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average, and completion of 2 or more previous AHEC programs
- Own transportation to and from the placement location, which will be in or near the student's hometown
Explore This Program
Overview
About This Program
Closer Look: PCM, or Closer Look: Primary Care Medicine, offers students an in-depth view of careers in primary medicine through job shadowing with local healthcare professionals. Students may experience up to 40 hours of one-on-one mentorship within their field of choice, and are placed with mentors, or preceptors, that work in or near their hometown to experience the provision of care in their own communities.
Why Join This Program?
Impact
By placing students with preceptors in their own hometowns, Closer Look shows them that a career in primary care is something they can build where they already live, which is exactly where rural Louisiana needs physicians most.
Purpose
The purpose of Closer Look: Primary Care Medicine is to give students who have already explored health care broadly a sustained, in-depth experience within the single field they are most serious about.
Value
Forty hours with one mentor is a fundamentally different experience from a one-day program. Students see the same practice across a full week, follow patients over multiple visits, and get to know a clinician well enough to ask real questions.
Benefits
Participants receive up to 40 hours of one-on-one mentorship with a primary care physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, placed in or near their own community, plus the professional relationships that come from a week alongside a working clinician.
Curriculum
What You’ll Learn
Closer Look runs as a one-week placement with a single mentor, offering up to 40 hours of one-on-one shadowing. Students may be placed with any of the following types of preceptor, depending on their stated field of interest.
Primary Care Physician
Students placed with a primary care physician follow a full week of practice, observing patient consultations, diagnosis, and treatment planning across a general patient population. Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and OBGYN are considered primary care physicians.
Physician Assistant
Placements with a physician assistant show how PAs practice within a care team, the breadth of their scope, and the training route into the profession.
Nurse Practitioner
Placements with a nurse practitioner cover how NPs manage patient care, the settings they practice in, and how the role differs from and complements the others.
Community-Based Care
Across every placement type, students are positioned to see how care is actually delivered in rural and underserved communities, and the role a single clinician plays in a small town.
Testimonials
Program Impact: Student Perspectives
Closer Look is designed for students who already know health care is their path and want to go deeper. Here is what participants who went on to medical school have said about it.
Ethan Deshautelle
Every AHEC program that I have been a part of has given me amazing insight into medicine that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else. AHEC genuinely cares about healthcare.
Morgan Setliff
Each of these programs gave me experiences that shaped who I am today. AHEC has been the most pivotal part of my journey into medicine.
Jennifer Deshautelle
AHEC provides guidance in allowing students to gain a full understanding of these responsibilities. Without a doubt, being an AHEC participant allowed him to achieve these milestones.
Trusted By
Closer Look placements are made possible by primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners practicing across Central Louisiana who open their offices to students each year.
Secure Your Spot Today
Spots are limited, so apply by March 1st by 11:59 pm. To be considered, you must first complete 2 or more other Central Louisiana AHEC programs. A completed online application must include the application itself, one letter of recommendation from your teacher, counselor, or high school principal, a copy of your ACT score, and a copy of your most recent high school transcript from your counselor.
FAQ & Contact
Need Help?
Have questions about placements, eligibility, or what the week involves? The answers below cover the questions we’re asked most, and our team is always glad to help.
How can I be considered for this program?
Complete 2 or more other Central Louisiana AHEC programs first. Closer Look is designed as a next step for students who have already explored health care through our other programs.
How long is the program?
Closer Look is a one-week program offering up to 40 hours of one-on-one mentorship.
Where will I be placed?
Students are placed with mentors, or preceptors, that work in or near their hometown, so they experience the provision of care in their own communities.
What kind of professional will I shadow?
This program may place students with a primary care physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner, depending on your field of interest and preceptor availability.
Is transportation provided?
No. Students are responsible for transportation to and from their placement location.
Who is eligible to apply?
High school senior students interested in becoming a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, with at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average and 2 or more completed AHEC programs.
What does the application require?
A completed application, one letter of recommendation from your teacher, counselor, or high school principal, a copy of your ACT score, and a copy of your most recent high school transcript from your counselor.
Get in Touch
If you have more questions or need personal assistance, feel free to contact us:
info@clahec.org
Drop us a message anytime, we’ll get back to you shortly.
Phone: (318) 443-2855
Available Monday to Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
CLAHEC Headquarters
1308 Dorchester Drive Alexandria, LA 71303
