Background: Medical schools are paying increasing attention to the need to train students in the art of medicine. This includes early exposure to patients, training in communication skills, attention to the context of the family and community, an understanding of biomedical ethics, the structure of the health care system and preventive medicine, and commitment to both service and lifelong self-directed learning. Description: Tulane University School of Medicine implemented an interdisciplinary, longitudinal course, Foundations in Medicine (FIM), in 1995 to begin this educational process for 1st-year medical students. FIM emphasizes patient interaction, experiential learning, student leadership, and service to the community. It was implemented in the absence of a department of family practice or external grant funding. Evaluation: The course is highly successful by both student and faculty measures. Students especially value the learner-centered, student-led medical ethics discussions, community preceptor experiences, community visits, and community service. Through these activities, students learn leadership and organizational skills, interact with communities and individuals in a contextual and nonmedical environment, and experience working in teams with peers. Data on student outcomes are being collected. Conclusion: In a supportive environment, it is possible to implement an interdisciplinary course emphasizing clinical and community experiences and the human aspect of medicine, with no external and limited internal funding.