FMFM Summer Externs Discover Lifelong Lessons in Patient Care

The Family Medicine Foundation of Michigan (FMFM) continues to provide invaluable opportunities for medical students to immerse themselves in family medicine through its externship program. Each summer, students partner with dedicated family physician mentors to gain hands-on experience in clinics, hospitals, and communities, offering a full-spectrum view of what it means to practice family medicine.

Halle Ciganick

M2 at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Ciganick said her externship under the mentorship of David Klee, MD, FAAFP proved far more impactful than she anticipated. In addition to gaining insight into the day-to-day life of family physicians, she encountered a profound and difficult moment during her hospital rotation. On her second-to-last day, she witnessed a routine cesarean that became a life-threatening emergency requiring extensive intervention. Although heartbreaking, the experience underscored the importance of preparation for the “what ifs” in medicine. Ciganick said she left the program with a deeper appreciation for the resilience of family physicians and their ability to guide patients through both routine care and crisis.

Most days were lighter and filled with opportunities to learn. Ciganick said she valued building relationships with family physicians, observing their thought processes, and experiencing the wide range of cases in family medicine. From clinic visits and labor and delivery to rural street medicine, she said the externship strengthened her confidence heading into third-year rotations.

“Between scrubbing into surgeries, interviewing patients, and even finding my way around the hospital, I feel ready to tackle my first rotation,” she said. 

Simran Hehar

M3 at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Macomb University Center 

Hehar focused her externship on a quality improvement project with Abigail E. DeLand, DO, exploring how patient education materials can improve chronic condition management in underserved populations.

Hehar helped design brochures on hypertension written at an accessible reading level with supporting visuals. Early patient feedback showed the materials clarified treatment plans—especially medication adherence and dietary changes—and gave families a resource to review at home.

Hehar said the project demonstrated how small, thoughtful interventions can strengthen continuity of care and empower patients.

“This externship reaffirmed my passion for primary care and my belief that small, thoughtful interventions like accessible patient education can bring meaningful improvement to patient outcomes,” she said.

Moriah Maunu

M3 at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

During her MAFP Externship in Detroit, Maunu trained alongside Richard Bryce, DO, and a team of family physicians at the Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center and at the Henry Ford Harbortown Clinic. Maunu said the experience showcased the depth and diversity of family medicine, allowing her to gain hands-on exposure to infectious disease, pediatrics, prenatal care, women’s health, street medicine, osteopathic manipulative treatment, lifestyle medicine, and more.

“From street medicine to Spanish-speaking opportunities to gaining confidence with familiar procedures and learning brand new ones, I was inspired by each physician I worked with and impacted by the patients,” she said. 

At CHASS, she cared for patients while engaging with the community, spending time in the WIC office and helping lead a children’s cooking class for families. Maunu said her most meaningful moment was caring for clinic patients she had first met through street medicine as a first-year medical student.

“Seeing how people can thrive when they’re sought out and given the tools to succeed was incredibly impactful,” she said. 

Maunu encouraged other students to consider the externship, especially those who view family medicine as limited to chronic disease management. 

“Even as someone with a long-standing interest in family medicine, my perceptions of what a career in this field can look like were challenged,” she said. 

Jeremy Taigman

M3 at Wayne State School of Medicine

At Detroit’s CHASS Center, Taigman trained with Richard Bryce, DO and a team of family physicians. He described the externship as a model of holistic care for underserved and uninsured patients, strengthening his commitment to advocating for healthcare equity.

Taigman gained experience in prenatal care, women’s health procedures, addiction medicine, hepatitis C treatment, and osteopathic manipulative therapy. He also joined street medicine visits, providing continuity of care to individuals experiencing homelessness, and assisted in gender-affirming care. He said he was especially inspired by the impact of street medicine in connecting patients to long-term care.

Beyond the clinic, Taigman participated in community outreach events such as the CHASS 5K and Mercado, where healthcare providers distributed produce and school supplies. 

“Investing fully in the community where I train through education, outreach, and long-term patient partnerships is my goal as a physician in training,” he said. “Upon completion of this externship, I am more excited than ever to pursue this goal on my road to becoming a family medicine physician."

 Extern Program Details

Each extern receives a $2,000 stipend upon completion, with physician mentors receiving a $500 stipend. The program is made possible through the support of FMFM and matching grants from the AAFP Foundation, underscoring a continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of family physicians.

Visit mafp.com/externships to learn more about FMFM’s Medical Student Externship Program and read about past externs.