Community preceptors play an integral role in our students' educational experience, guiding and teaching students in perfecting skills in a real-world environment. Share your expertise and professional passion in one or more of our educational programs on a schedule that fits your personal needs and the needs of your work environment.

Our students benefit greatly from one-on-one educational experiences as well as interprofessional team environments. While we have a significant need for clinical educators, we also have a need for community educators in the less or non-clinical areas of environmental health, epidemiology, health management and health promotion.

Community educator needs for the MD program

  • Clerkships
    • MDs and DOs are needed in every specialty for clerkship precepting as well as career exploration electives.
    • Third-year medical students complete six-week clerkships, many of which are comprised of multiple 1-4 week experiences.
  • M4 Electives
    • Fourth-year medical students complete a mix of two- and four-week clinical rotations in electives of their choice from July until May.
    • MDs and DOs are needed in all specialties to increase the elective opportunities for students.

Community educator needs for Health Professions programs

  • Physician Assistant
    • Students complete five-week rotations for a full year starting in May.
    • Community educators who hold MD, DO, PA-C or NP credentials are needed in Pediatrics, OB-GYN/Women’s Health, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine and Specialty Medicine.

  • Surgical Assisting
    • Students complete six-week surgical rotations for a full year starting in May.
    • Surgeons and SAs with a minimum requirement of two years of experience are needed to mentor SA students. Rotations include general surgery and training in surgical specialties such as Orthopedics, Spine, Plastics, Cardiac, Vascular, Labor & Delivery, and Neurology.

  • Pathologists' Assistant
    • Students are required to complete eight-week rotations from August to December and from January through June.
    • The EVMS PathA Program welcomes collaborative partnership with high-caliber institutions that are capable of providing outstanding clinical experiences in Surgical Pathology and Autopsy Pathology, as well as experience in frozen section intraoperative consultations, biobanking science, and laboratory management.
  • Master of Public Health
    • Public Health students complete a 200-hour practicum project in their last semester, from January to May.
    • Community educators with the credentials or roles including but not limited to MPH, MD, PA-C, NP, Epidemiologist, Researcher, Department of Public Health Administrator, Health Promotion Officer, Health Educator, Hospital Administrator, Environmental Scientist, Occupational Safety Manager, Health Policy Analyst and Health Insurance Analyst are needed.

  • Art Therapy and Counseling
    • Students complete 15-week internships from August through December and January through May.
    • Internship placements and art therapists with ATR credentials are needed to educate students for child, adolescent or adult clinical rotations. Internships include: assessment, individual and group art therapy. Specialties may include: outpatient, in-home, residential, acute, school and medical art therapy.

Benefits of becoming a community educator

Community educators who work with our students have found future employees among their mentees. We offer additional benefits to community educators,  including:

Students can bring enthusiasm, innovative ideas and technological expertise to your practice. Stay current in the field and give back to your profession by teaching students.

Ready to become a community educator?

If you would like to discuss how a student would fit into your schedule or you are ready to begin the process of becoming a community educator for students at Eastern Virginia Medical School, please contact Mary Ann McLendon at 757.373.5641 or mclendm@evms.edu.