Special Curricular Programs & Opportunities
The MD program provides a variety of clinical settings in which students can explore medicine as it is delivered in rural, urban, and underserved settings. The options may include summer programs, pathways, and longitudinal clinical programs. City and state-specific tracks permit students to complete the required clinical clerkships and a number of electives in their home states.
Pathways
Pathways provide students an opportunity to take selected coursework with an emphasis on specific skill sets or specific populations:
- The Global Health Pathway provides medical students with the information and experiences necessary to practice in underserved communities It is designed for students interested in research or clinical practice in resource poor settings and with international communities.
- The Latinx Health Pathway provides medical students with experiences and educational opportunities in the area of Hispanic health. This pathway is designed for students interested in experience or clinical practice in urban or rural communities with a high Hispanic
- The Indian Health Pathway provides medical students with experiences and educational opportunities in the area of Native American health. The coursework includes health issues that affect American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN)’s and provides preceptorships in tribal and urban Indian health settings.
- The LGBTQ Health Pathway provides medical students with experiences and educational opportunities in the area of LGBTQ health. The coursework is designed to enable students to provide LGBTQ- competent healthcare.
- The Underserved Pathway provides medical students with a general introduction to communities with health disparities, such as rural, homeless and various racial and ethnic groups. This pathway is for students who are considering careers working with underserved patients and want a broad exposure to underserved populations and
- The Black Health Justice Pathway provides a curriculum that highlights the systemic oppression of Black people and its resulting socioeconomic and health sequelae. This pathway provides students with the foundational knowledge to assess health inequities through a critical lens. The pathway provides students with tools to advocate for health equity within the UWSOM, in Black communities throughout WWAMI, and in their future practices as physicians.
- The Humanities and the Arts Pathway provides a unique educational experience for students to thoughtfully and creatively engage with patient stories and the experience of becoming a physician using specialized modules, clinical experiences, reflection, and creative expression.
- The Spokane Leadership Pathway provides a foundation for students to be capable, effective physician-leaders within their organizations and communities.
- The Clinical and Translational Research Pathway introduces students to the key components and framework of designing, implementing and disseminating the results of clinical or translational research.
Rural Programs
Targeted Rural and Underserved Track (TRUST)
The TRUST program is focused on training specially qualified and selected students to serve in underserved areas, including both rural and small city community health centers. Students participating in TRUST are required to complete the WRITE program during their Patient Care Phase. Application to the TRUST program occurs during the medical school admissions application cycle.
Community-focused Urban Scholars Program (CUSP)
CUSP is focused on training specially qualified and selected students to serve in urban underserved areas. Application to this program occurs between medical school acceptance and matriculation.
Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program (R/UOP)
R/UOP is a four-week, elective immersion experience in community medicine for students between their first and second years of medical school. When done in conjunction with a community-based scholarship project, R/UOP may be used to meet the III requirement. During the four-week rotation, students live in rural or urban underserved communities in the WWAMI region and work side-by-side with local physicians providing healthcare to underserved populations. Application to this program occurs in December of the student’s first year.
Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholars Program
Beginning in the 1970s, the AHEC program was launched to develop a rural and urban underserved workforce, focused on addressing the needs of these communities. The University of Washington received the five-year HRSA grant for the WWAMI AHEC Scholars program in September 2017. The program targets health profession students who are seeking a degree or certificate, specifically targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The purpose of the AHEC Scholars program is to develop a rural and urban underserved workforce that will be educated on core issues facing such communities. The program is based on inter-professional education (IPE) and meant to encourage team-based learning and clinical care. These objectives are the same as many of the School of Medicine’s special programs and will highlight the work these medical students are doing with this nationwide certificate. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly encouraged to participate although anyone in good standing can apply.
Clinical Programs
Tracks
The Track program allows students to complete 24 weeks of the Patient Care phase and 12 weeks of the Explore and Focus phase required clerkships in one specific city or state in the WWAMI region. Students participating in this program are required to meet their minimum time of eight weeks of required clerkships in Seattle. Application to this program for the Patient Care Phase occurs during the spring of the student’s first year. Application to this program for the Explore and Focus Phase occurs during the spring of the student’s second year.
Greater Seattle Option
The Greater Seattle Option (GSO) allows students to complete 24 weeks of the Patient Care phase required clerkships in the greater Seattle area, including Everett, Renton, and the Eastside. It does not include Bremerton, Tacoma or Madigan. Application to this program occurs during the spring of the student’s first year. Interested students should contact the Curriculum Office, medevalu@uw.edu, for more information.
WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience (WRITE)
The WRITE program provides a four to five-month opportunity to work with physicians in a rural area during the Patient Care Phase of the clinical curriculum. Application to this program occurs during the spring of the first year.
Olympia Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC)
The Olympia LIC program allows students to complete the majority of the Patient Care phase required clerkships in Olympia, Washington and its surrounding communities. Students participating in this program are required to meet their minimum time of eight weeks or required clerkships in Seattle during the Patient Care and Explore and Focus phases. Application to this program occurs during the spring of the students’ first year. Interested students should contact the Assistant Dean for Rural Programs, Dr. John McCarthy, mccajf@uw.edu, for more information.