The formal patient presentation allows you to demonstrate your ability to analyze, prioritize, and present a patient problem.   You will prepare this presentation in advance, unlike the presentations made in rounds or morning report.  Since the presentation represents a significant portion of your grade, you should carefully prepare and practice your presentation.  Remember to incorporate good overall presentation skills, i.e. maintain eye contact with your audience, speak clearly, and avoid reading directly from your handout.

Remember these requirements as you plan your presentation:

• Topic: Must be on a patient with a common medical problem encountered during the Family Medicine clerkship.  The site coordinator must approve your presentation topic in advance.
• Presentation Length: 20 minutes with 5-minute question and answer session.  Time limits will be enforced.
• Content: At least one attending in addition to other evaluators will grade your presentation using the Patient Presentation Evaluation Form (Appendix C).  Your presentation should address all items described on this form.  Remember, this is a patient presentation, not just a talk about a patient’s disease and you will be evaluated accordingly.  To maintain patient confidentiality, the patient’s name should not be referred to in any manner.
• Bibliography: Include a listing of the specific sources you used to create your presentation at the end of your handout.
• Handout:  You must distribute a handout that covers each component on the evaluation form.  You may include your best article or charts or graphs from the article.  Ensure that you:
  • make your copies before the presentation time,
  • have a copy for each person who attends (ask ahead of time for the estimated number of attendees), and
  • turn in an additional copy to the site coordinator that will be sent to the clerkship director for review.
• Audiovisual Equipment: Discuss with your site coordinator the type of AV equipment that is available to you.  You may prepare overhead transparencies, slides or a PowerPoint presentation to illustrate the points in your presentation.  You are responsible for any charges incurred for either transparencies or slides.  You are strongly encouraged to have a back-up plan if you choose to use PowerPoint in case of computer difficulties.
• Question and Answer Session: Prepare for questions from the audience after your formal presentation.