Become a Physician Volunteer
Volunteer physicians perform a pivotal role in the success of our clinical and educational mission. We provide excellent care through a network of physicians at Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Students practice their clinical skills under the strong mentorship of a volunteer attending physicians.
Clinic Hours
WCCC provides services to 3-7 patients every Monday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Physicians are asked to arrive at 5:00 PM in preparation for the service, but no later than 5:30 pm.
Responsibilities
During a clinic session, the attending physicians will:
- Meet with senior medical student volunteers as they present patients
- Examine patients
- Order and review appropriate laboratory tests
- Work with student volunteers and patients to devise appropriate treatment plans
During the week after a clinic session:
- Respond to urgent lab results. (Pager accessibility is required.)
- Review non-urgent lab results and subsequent treatment plans. (A senior medical student volunteer will arrange to meet with you at a time that is convenient.)
CME Credit
Physicians who volunteer may claim a limited number of Category 2 credits towards their hospital reappointment requirement. There is no official application for this type of credit. If you are interested in receiving a letter documenting your service in order to receive such credit, please email us at wccc@med.cornell.edu.
Malpractice Insurance Coverage
All physicians will be covered for their service at the clinic if they currently have admitting privileges at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Protocol for a Typical Patient Visit
- Patients will first be screened by an NewYork-Presbyterian Community Health Plan facilitated enroller for eligibility for public benefit programs (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid and Family Health Plus).
- Following this eligibility screening, patients will be seen by the clinical team, which is composed of one 3rd/4th year student and one 1st/2nd year student.
- The clinical team will then present the patient to the attending physician.
- The patient will then be seen and examined by the attending physician.
- The student volunteers and attending physician will work with the patient to develop an assessment and treatment plan.
- Trained on-site student volunteers and student social workers will then facilitate access to prescription medications and scheduling of appropriate follow-up or referral appointments.
(Note: patients in need of emergent care will be referred to the NewYork-Presbyteriain Emergency Department.)
Please contact us at wccc@med.cornell.edu to sign-up.