Advocacy, Social Determinants Must Be Part of Physician Training

During my medical school training, there was a brief mention of social determinants of health. We did not have dedicated curriculum and we were not taught to screen for societal issues. The American Medical Student Association and AAFP started my education on how societal issues and health policy ultimately affect the health of the public. From these "introductory courses," so to speak, I was inspired to pursue my Master of Public Health degree concurrent with my Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine.

By being involved in these organizations and obtaining this additional graduate degree, my perspective of how medicine should be practiced and what additional skillsets a physician needs to learn changed. It became increasingly important to me that the next step of my training would include education in population health. So, I sought out a residency program where there was a focus on public health as it relates to physical health and well-being, and where I was given the opportunity to participate in activism on behalf of and alongside the patients I was seeing in office.

Had I not been a part of these medical organizations or trained at a residency program that teaches residents how systems of oppression and social factors of disease impact the lives of patients, I may have been yet another doctor who overlooked the actual cause of this patient's weight loss.

It is crucial that medical education integrate curricula around activism, advocacy and public health if we wish to truly train physicians to be able to take care of communities.

The full AAFP article can be viewed at this link.