DJ Smith is shown here fulfilling his 4-month family practice preceptorship under Jon Lowe, PA-C, at Group Health in Bellevue, WA. Asked about the rigors of the clinical year at MEDEX— a year that is divided into six one-month clerkships and one four-month preceptorship— DJ replies, “You have to move every four weeks or so. With those moves, you have to meet a new staff, figure out a new style or brand of medicine, and get used to a new electronic medical record system every four weeks. Just when you feel you get your feet back underneath at about two weeks in, you’re getting ready to change rotations. For some students, this can be fairly stressful, especially as we bounce around the WWAMI region.” With 20 years in the US Army— part of that as a Special Forces medic— DJ has now earned his certification as a PA, and is a part-time teaching associate with MEDEX.