Goals/Objectives

• Learn to assess and understand the important health needs of the community in which they work.
• Understand and be able to interact with community health resources that may be utilized in the care of patients and their families, including school health services and public health (including environmental health) services.
• Understand basic concepts of epidemiology and their application to community medicine.
• Understand and be able to implement disease prevention/health promotion, including appropriate strategies and behaviors such as immunizations and healthful lifestyle changes that will protect children, adults, and families from illness or injury.
• Delve deeper into common public health topics such as -Prevention and management of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections -Immunizations -Suicide and Mental Health crisis -Any current public health crisis

Description of Rotation

The objective of this course is to provide the student with exposure to and experience in public health and preventive medicine. This virtual course is a 2-week self-directed experience to increase students' medical knowledge regarding the basic concepts of public health, and common public health topics. Public health topics will look into medically driven issues such as sexually transmitted infections, immunizations, and includes a deep dive into the HIV epidemic. Other topics will cover socially and environmentally driven public health crises, such as suicide, and racially driven health equities. Education regarding the public health crises will include participation in online learning modules and written reflections. 

Evaluation Method

The standard evaluation forms will be utilized by the instructor and student. In addition, the student is expected to study an area of interest in some depth and will meet with Dr. Huynh to discuss.

IMPORTANT: Grade is Pass/Fail. Please disregard the grading scale below.

Grade

• Honors: An exceptional performance which exceeds all course objectives
• High Pass: A performance which exceeds most course objectives
• Pass: A performance which meets the course objectives
• Fail: A performance which does not meet the course objectives

Special Notes

This elective can be used for MPH credit for MD/MPH dual degree students. Students enrolled in the MD/MPH program may request a six-week experience, which will culminate in the completion of a scholarly project.