Population health in medical school: Educating future physicians using the public health paradigm

The Stanford University School of Medicine's required Population Health curriculum provides future physicians with a population health perspective and an understanding of the physician role in influencing policies and political processes that affect health. This curriculum combines collaborative projects between students and community partners, seminars, and didactics to expose future physicians to a population health perspective. Resulting from a collaboration between community agencies, local health departments, and the medical school, the curriculum was informed by a survey of both the literature and existing population health curricula. Community partners serve as lecturers, facilitators, and project leaders, bringing their expertise to the medical school. Through projects, students integrate their understanding of health determinants and policy solutions to address local issues. This experience culminates in a presentation at a symposium for the medical school community and partners.

The curriculum aims to equip medical students to: (1) identify and describe the key social, economic, and environmental determinants of health; (2) apply an understanding of the policy process to advocate for change that will benefit population health; (3) articulate the core functions of public health and the roles for physicians within the public health system; and (4) work collaboratively and effectively with community-based organizations to positively impact determinants of health. The development and implementation of the Population Health curriculum was funded by a grant from the American Association of Medical Colleges and the Centers for Disease Control and offers a flexible model for the inclusion of the public health paradigm in medical education.