In 1994 the Division of Primary Care obtained funding for the Generalist Initiative, which made possible the creation of the Physician, Patient, and Society (PPS) course for first- and second- year medical students and an ambulatory medicine clerkship. The division also offers a yearlong fourth-year elective in ambulatory practice.

The division plays a leadership role in teaching physical diagnosis and medical professionalism. In 1998, with Macy Initiative funding, the division expanded its teaching of first-, second-, and third-year medical students, adding 33 new hours of instruction in communication skills to the clerkship year.

More recently, Dr. Adina Kalet has strengthened the division's focus on the teaching of professionalism through a series of student-run case-based workshops on professional behavior and development for first- and second-year medical students. In 2004 an innovative online professional development assessment portfolio was incorporated in the undergraduate curriculum.

Division faculty Drs. Allen Keller, Adina Kalet, and Mark Schwartz are also leaders of Master Societies in the Master Scholars Program, a unique initiative of the NYU School of Medicine designed to promote the principles of humanism and professionalism in all aspects of the education of young physician-scholars. Leaders of the theme-based Master Societies provide intellectual guidance for the program and serve as mentors to students.