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Curriculum | Community Health Scholars | M.D. Program Pathways | UC Davis School of Medicine

Curriculum

The Community Health Scholars (CHS) programs prepare future physician-leaders to identify, understand, and serve the health care needs of California’s rural, urban, Native American, Central Valley and Central Coast populations.

All CHS programs share a common curriculum framework, with training experiences and activities tailored to reflect the unique needs, cultures and communities of each region.

5 Pillars of Excellence

A four-year, longitudinal curriculum grounded in five core pillars:

  • Community Engagement
  • Leadership
  • Professional Development
  • Mentorship
  • Scholarship

Curriculum Objectives

The curriculum is designed to help students develop the skills to deliver high-quality, culturally responsive care in underserved communities.

Graduates of the CHS programs complete all the traditional M.D. program requirements and competencies along with the following additional objectives:

  • Provide outstanding, culturally humble clinical care for patients from disadvantaged backgrounds using an interprofessional team approach.
  • Identify health disparities within communities and understand how social determinants of health and structural inequities contribute to them.
  • Improve community health through a longitudinal scholarly project grounded in asset-based community engagement principles.
  • Demonstrate leadership in advocacy, change management, team facilitation, and dissemination of knowledge.
  • Exemplify professionalism in relationships with patients, colleagues, and staff, with a commitment to continuous self-improvement and adaptability.
  • Serve as effective mentors for learners from diverse backgrounds in support of their career goals and development.

Learn more about M.D. Program requirements

mediation

An Immersive, Community-Focused Curriculum

As a Community Health Scholars student, you’ll complete an additional 200+ hours of training focused on cultural humility, health equity, leadership, mentorship, scholarship, and community engagement.

You’ll also participate in immersive clinical experiences within your community of focus, gaining firsthand insight into the people and populations you aspire to serve.

Curriculum Components

CHS Orientation (1 week)

Connect with peers, faculty, and community partners.

Pre-Matriculation Program (2 weeks, strongly recommended)

Build foundational academic and learning skills that will facilitate success in medical school.

Learn more about the Pre-Matriculation Program

CHS Class Sessions

  • One to four hours per session, one to two times a month
  • Combination of faculty and community guest speakers and/or student-led seminars
  • Each session aims to address at least one of the curricular pillars as it relates to caring for vulnerable and marginalized populations
  • Students required to attend 80 percent of class sessions

CHS Immersion Days (I-FOSTER)

  • Full-day sessions that are scheduled during the pre-clerkship intersession weeks
  • Hands-on experiences with community partners, addressing social determinants of health

Longitudinal Scholarly Project

  • A four-year, community-based project addressing a real-world need
  • CHS students can work alone or collaboratively
  • Work-in-progress project regularly presented for peer and faculty feedback

Examples of scholarly projects: community engagement project with a local organization, community needs assessments and recommendations, community-oriented research, health fairs, curriculum development

I-FOSTER Summer Elective (4 weeks)

  • Students required to enroll in program-specific summer elective between years 1 and 2
  • Electives include:
    • Summer Institute on Race and Health
    • Summer REACH program
    • COMET Collaborative elective
    • Rural-based or tribal health or urban Indian health-based activity (requires advance approval of program leadership)

Learn more about COMET Collaborative

Core Clerkships

CHS students train across Northern California, Central Valley and Central Coast regions in rural and urban underserved areas in both inpatient and outpatient sites. Core clerkships offered in the following primary care and specialty areas:

  • Family Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • OBGYN
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Surgery

Learn more about our Clinical Experience Placements and Travel Policy

Electives in Underserved Settings

Opportunities to pursue or design community-focused clinical experiences based on community of interest

CHS Intersessions

Dedicated time for community engagement, clinical skill-building (e.g., addiction medicine), and scholarly project work

Teaching and Mentorship Opportunities

Serve as a clinical skills facilitator or lead teaching sessions for first- and second-year CHS students

Underserved Care Rotation (IMD 490, recommended)

A two-week experience focused on caring for marginalized populations and preparing for residency

Advanced Electives

Continue clinical training in underserved or community-based settings