Preceptor: Robin Ortiz, MD 
Coordinator(s): Ryan Wilkerson, MPH; Reanne Rahim
Contact: Reanne.Rahim@NYULangone.org
Tel: 404-640-3731

Prerequisites: None

Who should enroll in this elective?

Students who are considering medical research, education, practice or policy in any field but who aim to apply a health equity approach to their work as a career. 

Clinical sites

Survivors of Torture Clinic
Family Support Center & The Table food pantry
Internal Medicine clinic for those with high social needs

Description

The two-week Health Equity elective allows students to build off prior experience in the health equity foundations block of the pre-clerkship curriculum. Students will examine the impact of racism and other forms of oppression within scientific and health care settings, explore strategies for systems and policy change, and put anti-oppression efforts into practice. The program will be organized along four central pillars: research, medical education, clinical care, and community engagement. Health equity will be viewed through the lens of a translational research approach, and students will have an opportunity to engage in community-based research initiatives at NYU Langone. This offering is sponsored by the Institute for Excellence in Health Equity in collaboration with the Office of Professional Development. 

Objectives of the Elective

1. Describe the historical and contemporary role of racism, and other forms of oppression, in the practice of science and medicine. 
2. Outline (list, specify, etc.) foundational research in health disparities.
3. Define key terminology related to health disparities and health equity. 
4. Identify strategies, organized along four central pillars: research, medical education, clinical care, and community engagement, to achieve patient health equity.
5. Apply a framework that considers historical and socio-ecological contexts to develop a health equity research question and/or methodological approach.

Key Responsibilities of the student while on Elective

By enrolling in this elective, you have agreed to:

1. Participate in at least 35 contact hours of education each week
2. Provide communication of any excused absences to the Office of Student Affairs (excused absence form) and to the elective coordinator, in a timely fashion 
3. Arrive in a timely fashion to all locations to which you are assigned  
4. Participate in daily morning rounds and patient care with residents and attendings
5. Be an active participant in the care of patients being followed by the team, as dictated by the resident/attending
6. Attend all didactics provided for trainees

Key Responsibilities of the preceptor/residents/faculty while you are on Elective

By accepting your enrollment in this introductory elective, the director and course faculty facilitators agreed to:

1. Clearly communicate their expectations of you
2. Maintain a supportive clinical learning environment 
3. Ensure you have access to a broad case mix and clinical experience  
4. Provide the education necessary for you to gain an understanding of the patients and pathology reflective of this specialty
5. Provide feedback on your clinical skills

Scheduling information 

Duration: 2 Weeks 
Months Offered:  April
Student point of contact before start of elective: Dr. Robin Ortiz, Robin.Ortiz@NYULangone.org, or Ryan Wilkerson, Ryan.Wilkerson@NYULangone.org
Students per elective block: 10