What is a WOS Clinical Faculty appointment?
Do I need to be in private practice to teach medical students or residents?
What are the benefits of having a WOS appointment?
How can a physician obtain a WOS appointment?

WOS stands for “without salary”. It is used to designate unpaid faculty appointments. These appointments are granted to physicians and other health professionals who teach medical students and residents in the medical education programs of the Department of Family & Community Medicine at UCSF. Teaching may be done at the University, at a physician’s practice site, or at the Family Medicine Residency Program sites.

The majority of the volunteer faculty in FCM practice in the community at private offices, community clinics, large medical groups, or other sites, and perform teaching activities at their own practice locations. If physicians do not work at settings that are suitable locations for clinical preceptor teaching, opportunities for teaching are available on-site at UCSF or at the Family Medicine Residency Programs.

A teaching appointment confers the professional distinction of selection for membership on the faculty of one of the nation’s elite medical schools. In addition, volunteer faculty benefits include reduced or no fees for UCSF CME courses and the use of the UCSF Campus Library and other University facilities. These opportunities are explained to new volunteer faculty in a letter from the Department Chair. Clinical faculty at UCSF are covered for professional (malpractice) and general liability while conducting activities within the course and scope of their university work (i.e., when teaching students and residents).

Candidates must be physicians or other health professionals with a current state license. Physicians should be Board Certified (or eligible). Physicians interested in a volunteer clinical faculty position may contact the Department Student Programs Office (415-476-2503), the Student Programs Director (415-476-1807), or the Family Medicine Residency Programs (San Francisco: 415-502-7617, Salinas: 831-755-4201, Santa Rosa: 707-576-4075, Fresno: 559-459-5705).