An interdisciplinary program that will enhance understanding of the role of sex and sociocultural differences in the delivery and acquisition of healthcare, research, and medical education.  This concentration aims to encourage young physicians to promote awareness of these topics to their peers through research, education, and advocacy.

Curriculum

Medical students in the Sex-Based and Sociocultural Differences in Health & Disease Scholarly Concentration will participate in three types of activities: didactic sessions, research, and community service. In the first two years, students will participate in a minimum of 20 hours of direct scholarly interaction in a hybrid format of virtual and in-person interactions. In the last two years, it is expected that students will continue to develop their capstone projects and remain in contact with the leaders of the scholarly concentration.  In the final year, students are expected to present their capstones projects to the group during the Spring semester. Students are encouraged to avail themselves of all opportunities to broaden their experience in Sex-Based and Sociocultural Differences in Health.   

Monthly Meetings: Faculty leaders/mentors and guest lecturers present on a variety of topics. There will be “workshop” time to critique and brainstorm the progress of participants’ capstone projects. At least twice a year a “journal club” will take the place of a monthly meeting. Meetings are scheduled monthly in the evenings.   

Community Service Project: During each academic year, the course leaders will facilitate one or more opportunities for group community service. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in all sessions.  

Scholarly Manuscript/Paper: Possible activities would include preparation of a scholarly manuscript/paper on a particular health issue to be agreed upon by the faculty mentor and faculty leader. The student will work with the faculty mentor to submit this for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.  

Capstone/Final Project: The capstone (also referred to as the final project) requirement is a scholarly project that scholarly concentration program (SCP) students must complete by February of their fourth year. Students must approval for their capstone project from both their faculty mentors and from the leader of the ssdSC. The capstone project must demonstrate scholarship. It may be original research, a service project, a clinical experience or a case study of a particular health issue. Students are encouraged to publish their SCP capstone projects in a peer reviewed scientific journal and present their abstracts at national and local meetings.

Opportunities 

• Engage in small group interactive learning
• Have the chance to create close connections with faculty mentors
• Participate in a broad range of research/project opportunities which can span many specialties

Examples of Student Work 

• “Impact of an Obstetric Hemorrhage Protocol on Maternal Morbidity”  
• “Contraceptive use among reproductive age women with cardiomyopathy”  
• “Women’s health education in rural Nicaragua: a review of barriers and attitudes towards cervical cancer screening”  
• “The role of obesity in postpartum complications among women infected with HIV”                                          

Faculty Leadership

Samantha Baer, MD, ScM, FACOG
Cheryl Vamos, PhD, MPH