Seattle Non-Clinical Elective Courses
Below are the Non-Clinical Electives offered by quarter. Please note that, while students can see the current quarter’s Non-Clinical Electives, there may be updates up until the start of the quarter.
Students must not sign up for Non-Clinical Electives, preceptorships, or shadowing experiences which routinely conflict with classes or required activities (e.g., PCP, hospital tutorials and FCM workshops, required Foundations coursework). Please contact the appropriate Non-Clinical Elective course administrator or faculty for permission to accommodate absence from the elective; students should only reach out if their schedule allows them to attend most of the class times.
As a reminder, these courses are not available for first and second year regional students. Please refer to the WWAMI Non-Clinical Electives Courses (Spokane, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) page for site-specific courses. For questions, please email the SOM Non-Clinical Electives team,
Academic Year 2024-25
More information on the courses can be found by clicking here.
BIME 527 Disseminating and Advancing Clinical and Translational Research (1)
Focuses on how to communicate scientific results in poster, oral, and written formats. Explores topics necessary for advancing a research career, including financial considerations such as grants and budgets, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, and career development and training opportunities. Prerequisite: BIME 525 and BIME 526; recommended: BIME 594. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
FAMED 525 African American Health and Health Care Disparity (1)
Examines the most pressing health issues facing African Americans. Provides a forum to examine the root causes of health disparity in African descendants. Explores strategies to remedy problems in public health and healthcare delivery systems. Prerequisite: current graduate health science student; permission of course coordinator. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
FAMED 561 LGBTQ Health and Health Disparities (1)
Covers the history and health status of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQ) community in the United States; effective strategies and skills for working with the LGBTQ community; designed to help the learner understand and respond better to healthcare needs of the LGBTQ community. Prerequisite: permission of course coordinator. Offered: W.
G H 501 Core Topics in Global Health (1)
Examines a variety of foundational global health topics including maternal, adolescent, and child health; nutrition; infectious diseases; environmental health; non-communicable diseases; and mental health. Within each topic area, we will define the problems, complexities, and context, and establish the need for multidisciplinary approaches. Offered: A.
G H 532 Responsible Conduct of Research: Global and Local (3)
Prepares international and U.S. students to develop research proposals; conduct international and domestic field research; and present scholarly work. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: jointly with EPI 586; A.
G H 554 Bioengineering Solutions to Improve the Health of Families Worldwide (1/2)
Seminar series that engages students in interdisciplinary discussions about global health. Explores how bioengineering approaches contribute to (1) the study of problems of global health importance, (2) the development of diagnostics, and (3) the discovery of interventional strategies to improve human health. Emphasizes collaboration between students and researchers with backgrounds in infectious disease, basic science, and bioengineering. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: jointly with BIOEN 554; A.
G H 572 Global Health Fieldwork: Preparation, Integration, Reentry (2)
Prepares students for community-based global health experiences, and provides them the opportunity to share, discuss, and reflect on these experiences after returning to the United States. Explores the problems and promise of current global health strategies. Prerequisite: participation in International Health Opportunities Program or similar experience. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
G H 576 Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (2)
Covers the principles of planning, implementing, and evaluating health programs for refugees and internally displaced persons during complex humanitarian emergencies in resource poor countries. Topics include rapid assessment; surveys; surveillance; nutrition; camp management; epidemiology of infectious diseases; water and sanitation; and vaccination campaigns during international relief operations for complex humanitarian emergencies. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
G H 590 Selected Topics in Global Health (1-5, max. 15)
Focuses on topics relevant to global health. Offered: AWSpS.
MED 503 Cardiac Ultrasound (1)
Instruction will be given in how to 1) acquire cardiac ultrasound images at three acoustic windows, 2) identify cardiac anatomy in standard views, and 3) recognize key pathologies: left and right ventricular dysfunction and dilatation and pericardial effusion. Following a course introduction, students will work self-paced, alone or in pairs, on a mannequin-based simulator. Prerequisite: MED C standing or Undergraduate premedicine students with Senior status. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: AWSpS.
MED 549 Clinical Medical Genetics (1, max. 6)
Review of current clinical advances in medical genetics. Includes lectures and discussion of cases from medical genetics clinic. Prerequisite: genetics or human genetics and permission of instructor.
MED 556 Visual Thinking and Medical Diagnosis (1)
Uses visual thinking strategies to look at art and enhance diagnostic acumen. Expands observational and critical thinking skills, and encourages open-ended discussion. Skills applied in assessing patients. Combination of slide sessions and observation of original objects at Seattle museums. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A
MED 557 Hispanic Health and Healthcare Disparities (1)
Covers Hispanic culture and language, history of Hispanics in the United States, Hispanic health status issues, and effective strategies for working across cultures and linguistic barriers. Designed to help the learner understand and respond better to the healthcare needs of the Hispanic community. Credit/no-credit only.
MED 569 Addiction Medicine (1)
Themes relevant to treatment of substance-using patients. Designed to build curiosity and increase familiarity with individual and societal factors that impact such patients, including various forms of bias and discrimination. Students develop and practice skills in order to become competent future providers for drug-using patients. Prerequisite: enrollment in graduate health science programs. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
MED 573 Clinical Management of HIV (2)
Provides in-depth case-based training on the diagnosis and clinical management of HIV and associated conditions. Includes interactive format with clinician-educators from the UW Division of Infectious Diseases. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
UCONJ 531 Introduction to Mind Body Medicine-An Experiential Elective (2)
Sessions contain a didactic component followed by an experiential component and cover a variety of self-care techniques including meditation, exercise, and nutrition. Goals are to promote personal well being, a healthy lifestyle, reduce burnout, and reduce academic difficulties. Credit/no-credit only.
UCONJ 565 The Healer’s Art: Awakening the Heart of Healthcare (1)
Encourages the cultivation of humanism, meaning, and interprofessional connection in healthcare. Through large and small groups, students co-create community alongside practicing clinician facilitators. Students practice self-reflection, curiosity, and generous listening. Explore themes of wholeness, grief, mystery, service, and courage within healthcare. Prerequisite: enrollment in health science professional training program. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A.
UCONJ 624 Health Equity and Community Organizing (1)
Equips students with tools to organize themselves and others to address social and structural injustices that perpetuate health disparities. Didactic coursework complemented with opportunities to apply skills and gain confidence through hands-on collaboration with local leaders and engagement in community-driven listening and advocacy campaigns. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: AW.
UCONJ 646 Introduction to Advocacy for the Health Professions (1)
Learn from advocacy and topic specific experts about fundamental elements of health advocacy. Develop hands-on skills for moving beyond witnessing health disparities to upstream action rooted in community-centered advocacy. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: AWSpS.
More information on the courses can be found by clicking here.
BIME 525 Designing and Developing Clinical and Translational Research (1)
Introduces the concepts of designing clinical and translational research projects. Topics include developing a research question and study plan, choosing study participants, measurements and controls, and estimating sample size. Explores specific types of study design, including cohort, case-control, observational, and randomized clinical trials. Recommended: BIME 594. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: W.
CONJ 570 Introduction to the Clinical Management of Transgender Patients (1)
Covers the steps and protocols providers need to know to provide culturally proficient care for trans-identified patients. Prior completion of FAMED 561 highly recommended. Prerequisite: current graduate health science student and permission of course coordinator. Credit/no-credit only.
MED 503 Cardiac Ultrasound (1)
Instruction will be given in how to 1) acquire cardiac ultrasound images at three acoustic windows, 2) identify cardiac anatomy in standard views, and 3) recognize key pathologies: left and right ventricular dysfunction and dilatation and pericardial effusion. Following a course introduction, students will work self-paced, alone or in pairs, on a mannequin-based simulator. Prerequisite: MED C standing or Undergraduate premedicine students with Senior status. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: A,W,Sp,S.
MED 549 Clinical Medical Genetics (1, max. 6)
Review of current clinical advances in medical genetics. Includes lectures and discussion of cases from medical genetics clinic. Prerequisite: genetics or human genetics and permission of instructor.
MED 555 P-Mind, Body, and Pen: Writing and the Art of Becoming a Physician (1)
Provides forum for medical students to write about issues in medicine and medical education. Focuses on writing as a process for giving voice to the conflicting demands and dilemmas of becoming a physician. Explores personal narratives, dreams and disappointments, chronic illness and death, empathy and revulsion, authenticity and power. Offered: W.
UCONJ 530 Issues in Indian Health (2)
Surveys historical and contemporary issues in Indian health. Covers Indian contributions to health, traditional Indian medicine, current disease epidemiology, development of federal Indian health policy, the Indian Health Service, tribal health programs, and consequences of major legislation on Indian health. Prerequisite: current health science student or permission of instructor.
UCONJ 531 Introduction to Mind Body Medicine-An Experiential Elective (2)
Sessions contain a didactic component followed by an experiential component and cover a variety of self-care techniques including meditation, exercise, and nutrition. Goals are to promote personal well being, a healthy lifestyle, reduce burnout, and reduce academic difficulties. Credit/no-credit only.
UCONJ 550 Healthcare in the Underserved Community (1)
Gives graduate/professional students in health sciences an introduction to health related issues faced by underserved populations. Credit/no-credit only.
SPRING 2025 INFORMATION COMING SOON