First Year Courses
Social Context of Medicine
Social Context of Medicine meets once a week to discuss issues about the social context that will affect their medical careers. This will include developing a basic understanding of the types of organization in which physicians practice, the effects of race and of class on people's health and on the delivery of medical care, Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance, managed care, challenges facing hospitals, problems with cost, quality, and access to care in the U.S., possible ways to address these problems. In addition, students are asked to begin to develop a cognitive map of the career possibilities, to think critically, to understand both sides of a controversial issue, and to express thoughts clearly and succinctly in writing. The presentations also cover three major points of view (professional, state, market) which underlie conflicting reform proposals for U.S. health care, and be able to use this conceptual framework to evaluate proposals and discuss other ways in which a health care system may be organized (Canada and Great Britain). Small group discussions and guest presentations supplement the lectures. There are short multiple choice quizzes and a final paper in the course.
- Next Course: Clinical Skills 1C
