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The UCSF
Areas of Concentration Program
| The Areas of Concentration (AoC) program establishes
standards and provides institutional structure for sustained interdisciplinary
projects in seven thematic areas throughout a student's curriculum.
The AoC is comparable to a "minor" concentration in college,
and themes cut across traditional clinical disciplines and careers.
Students identify a project and work with faculty advisors to complete
a thorough program of preparation and to focus their inquiry. The
experiential phase of the program involves completing the project
and investigating its links to the practice of medicine. Prior to
graduation, students produce and present a tangible legacy, which
may be in the form of traditional scholarship such as a scientific
paper, but may also be innovative, such as an exhibit, performance,
Web-based curriculum module, or patient registry. |
 
Currently, seven Areas of Concentration are offered:
The first step in getting involved in the AoC is to log onto iROCKET,
go to the "Areas of Concentration" course, and fill out the
Interest Form the AoC that interests you.
- Global Health: IDS 140.03, Summer Block 2
This four-week course uses a multi-disciplinary approach to creating
solutions to problems in infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases,
maternal amd child health, reproductive health and injury control. Through
an understanding of culture/anthropology, politics, epidemiology, foreign
policy and economics, students develop a project proposal or research
protocol for their AoC work. The course runs concurrently with the "Designing
Clinical Research" course (IDS 150.03).
- Medical Humanities: IDS 140.04, Fall Block 2
This four-week seminar introduces students to a range of methodological
approaches within the humanities; sessions focus on specific topics
that lend themselves to compelling discussion and debate in relation
to medicine.
- Medical Education: IDS 140.05, Fall Block 3
This four-week course is for all students interested in enhancing their
teaching skills and engaging in medical education. Through an understanding
of basic educational principles, hands-on teaching experiences, and
step by step guidance, students will develop and advance their lecture
and small group teaching skills for their continuing role in the education
of future physicians.
- Community Health and Social Advocacy: IDS 140.06, first half of
Fall Block 2
In this two-week seminar, students will have the opportunity to develop
the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to work with communities
to improve overall health status, reduce health disparities, and will
provide the opportunity to actively participate in the design and implementation
of individual projects.
- Social Sciences in Medicine: IDS 140.08, first half of Fall Block
2
In this two-week seminar, "The Clinician as Ethnographer,"
students will explore the idea that ethnographic concepts and techniques
both complement & enhance clinical learning and practice. The course
features immersion in principles of ethnographic research and intro
to social science topics and methods to prepare them to conduct a research
project, and emphasis on applying ethnographic principles to cross cultural
healing systems and integrative medicine.
- The Science of Medicine and the Physician-Investigator: EPI
150.03, Summer Block 2
Students interested in the Clinical Science Pathway should contact Mary
Croughan for details.
Rising fourth-year students should meet with either Cathy
Lomen-Hoerth or Dan
Lowenstein to discuss options available for meeting the requirements
for this AoC.
Students who have had fairly substantial and sustained research experience
prior to or during medical school may be approved to do a shorter research
experience (minimum three contiguous months) than that required in the
formal program. On the other hand, students with minimal research experience
should pursue a five-year plan in order to meet the AoC requirements.
- Health Care Systems and the Physician Leader,
IDS 140.07, first half of Fall Block 2
In this two-week seminar, students will be introduced to core concepts
and skills that will enable them to become effective physician leaders
in a variety of settings. Topics include understanding the legislative
process, implementing organizational change and translating research
into policy. Please contact Diane Rittenhouse, MD, MPH (Rittenhouse@fcm.ucsf.edu)
for updates on this course.
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