309572
Integrating Policy and Advocacy in Medical Education
During the first week of the forum students are introduced to skills and tools associated with policy and advocacy, and are asked to apply them towards the development of a policy agenda related to their community site. Student teams then identify a local or national coalition to support their initiative, and develop a policy tool (e.g. fact sheet) to communicate their agenda.
Each day of the second week highlights a particular issue within the US healthcare system that is currently under transition or reform (e.g. ACA, Medicaid, mental health). An overview of the system is provided, as well as the epidemiology of the issue. Community representatives, physicians, public health faculty, and state and local health department officials use case studies to engage students in interactive workshops. Evaluation of the forum includes pre-/post surveys, focus groups, and assessments by program directors.
This presentation will introduce the audience to the design, implementation, and evaluation of an elective that can serve as an innovative and realistic approach to integrating policy and advocacy into medical school curricula.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education
Learning Objectives:
Describe a special curricular program designed to integrate public health into medical education.
Describe a two week elective for medical students that develops skills and competencies in community advocacy and public policy.
Discuss the importance and impact of public health education, community-based engagement, and policy and advocacy training to develop physician-leaders who can serve urban, underserved communities.
Keyword(s): Curricula, Urban Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Associate Director of the Urban Medicine Program at the UIC College of Medicine. I am in charge of the development, implementation, and evaluation of this curricular program and am co-author on manuscripts and this submitted abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.