Cardiovascular risk factor self-assessment program: using the general clinical research center to provide a clinical experience for third-year medical students

An educational program at the University of Iowa has been designed to provide medical students with the opportunity to do a self-assessment of their personal risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. The University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic's General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) provided the personnel and resources to work with students in small groups to allow them to experience the diagnostic testing that is a standard part of cardiovascular assessment procedures. This report presents preliminary data from the first 88 students to participate in the program.