Influences on Health: From Genes to Communities
(SOMI 233)
Family, community and cultural influences on health as well as new
efforts to tailor diagnosis and treatment based on genetic variation
will be presented. Health care systems and their effects on health
equity will be discussed. Family, community and cultural influences on
health as well as new efforts to tailor diagnosis and treatment based on
genetic variation will be presented. Health care systems and their
effects on health equity will be discussed.
Beyond the Bench and Bedside: Partnering with Communities (SOMI 234)
This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and
skills to partner with communities to develop, conduct and evaluate
community-based research, and design and conduct program evaluations of
community programs. This course is designed to provide students with the
knowledge and skills to partner with communities to develop, conduct and
evaluate community-based research, and design and conduct program
evaluations of community programs.
co-curricular & Service-learning opportunities
PRIME-HEq students are given the opportunity to enhance their cultural
competency and knowledge of traditionally underserved communities
through excursions, performances, and presentations, including
program-sponsored community tours, theatrical productions, and
conferences. The following list provides examples of program-sponsored
activities:
- Community Engagement Days
- The Cultural Immersion Days of planned learning occur in
communities where culturally diverse people reside. During cultural
immersion days, ethnic foods, stories, and music contribute to learning
about the children, families, and the assets and needs of that
community. For example, PRIME-HEq students will meet in a cultural
community, eat and share a traditional meal with leaders and community
members, and learn directly from their hosts about the history, views,
beliefs, and traditions of that particular community or culture. It is
through this direct interaction with the community that the PRIME-HEq
student is able to learn about the reality of that culture. Learning
during cultural immersion days focuses on themes such as cross cultural
communication, understanding the needs of specific communities, affects
of immigration, level of acculturation, religion, and health beliefs on a
patient’s decision making, and increasing the appreciation of the
numerous cultures and communities in San Diego.
The immersion day is taught by a Transcultural nurse (Teresa
Cooper) and Community Pediatrics staff (Frank Silva, MPH; Ashley Maier,
MSW).PRIME-HEq students are toured through the Mid-City or Logan Heights
areas of San Diego County. During this experience, students will
observe how different individuals and organizations work together to
improve the health of the people living within that community. They will
visit various community-based organizations and government institutions
that serve the residents of these communities, meet with community
leaders and discuss various related topics. Discussion topics include:
impact of environment, social inequalities, poverty, and blight on
health; community mobilization and empowerment, role of the medical
professional in community health, and the refugee resettlement process.
These discussions will occur at community-based organizations. During
the Logan Heights Cultural Immersion Day, there is also a tour of
Chicano Park with a brief history of the park and the murals in the
park. The following describes the learning objectives of these
activities.
- Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies
- DOC-4-A-Day Educational Outreach
Master’s Degrees opportunities
PRIME-HEq students are given the opportunity to enhance their cultural
competency and knowledge of traditionally underserved communities
through excursions, performances, and presentations, including
program-sponsored community tours, theatrical productions, and
conferences. The following list provides examples of program-sponsored
activities:
- Learning Objectives
- Understand the needs of specific communities
- Understand the affects of immigration, level of acculturation,
religion, and health beliefs on a patient’s decision making
- Identify agencies in the community that assess, plan, and
provide services for children and families
- Identify the roles and practice parameters of individuals who
provide health-related services in the community
- Utilize a range of community resources when creating a plan of
care for patients and their families
- Understand how to work with community based organizations when
providing care to families in need
- Describe eligibility criteria for services available for
uninsured and/or fiscally needy
- Describe the impact of zoning, development, and migration on
health
- Describe the cultural make up of San Diego’s refugee communities
- Describe the refugee resettlement process, barriers and
challenges refugees face
- Understand the specific health concerns of the community
- A PRIME-HEq student interested in moving to a community to
provide care in a Community Health Center might be interested in
obtaining a Masters in Public Health in order to best match the services
of the health center to the community’s needs.
- A PRIME-HEq student interested in returning to their hometown
where no physician practices might be interested in a Masters in
Business Administration in order to help make the financial case for
opening a new medical office.
- A PRIME-HEq student interested in making an impact beyond the
community in which they practice might be interested in obtaining a
Master’s in Public Policy in order to work more effectively with elected
leaders to affect policy change to meet the needs of her patients as
well as others.