This elective provides an opportunity for Phase 2 and Phase 3 medical students to provide clinical care at student-run free clinics and health fairs while advancing their knowledge of the social determinants of health and the barriers that underinsured patients encounter in obtaining preventive, primary, and specialty medical care. This elective will provide medical students with an engaging clinical experience that will prepare them to more effectively advocate and care for underinsured patients.
In addition to their clinical roles, students will be actively involved as both teachers and learners. Working under the direct supervision of physicians, students will participate in training and educating volunteer earlier level students by leading clinical care teams and conducting wrap-up sessions at the end of each clinic session. To prepare them for their educator roles, students will receive training outside of clinic on various topics pertaining to teaching skills and the social determinants of health.
This longitudinal experience provides students with the opportunity to receive two weeks of elective credit by completing the required assignments and at least 18 clinic sessions or equivalents as described that may be scheduled over the course of Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Students must sign up at time of offering in the 1st semester of the MS2 year and selections will be made during the first Clerkship block of Phase 2. There may be a required submission of CV and a paragraph explaining why this elective is important to you based on demand, at the discretion of the course director. Students will receive credit for sessions only while active in an M.D. degree track; they will not receive credit for sessions attended while on Leave of Absence (research, personal) or while doing a 2nd degree that is not part of a 4-year M.D. combined degree program.
Course Director Contact Information
adeshpande@med.miami.edu
ashley.johnson@med.miami.edu
jrm605@med.miami.edu
