Teaching Opportunities in the Curriculum

We invite you to consider becoming a clinical preceptor for our first- and second-year medical students in the Compassionate Action and Real Engagement in the Community (CARE I, SOMC 246; CARE II, SOMC 251) course.

The CARE program is designed to introduce students to the human side of medicine early in their training, helping them develop compassion, professionalism and meaningful connections with patients and the community. As a clinical preceptor, you play an important role in shaping these future physicians through observation and mentorship.

What’s involved?

• Host first- and second-year medical students in your clinical setting
• Provide 8 hours of observational shadowing per student each quarter
• Offer students insight into compassionate, patient-centered care and the day-to-day practice of medicine

The time commitment is minimal, but the impact on students’ professional growth is significant.

We are seeking more than 300 preceptors to support our incoming students for the 2026–2027 academic year, and we would be thrilled to have you join our CARE community.

If you're willing to participate, please complete this brief preceptor participation form. Please feel free to share with colleagues!

Thank you for considering this opportunity to inspire and guide the next generation of compassionate physicians.

Questions can be sent to: somcarecourse@health.ucsd.edu.

We are seeking faculty to serve as small group facilitators in the Equity in Systems Science (ESS) course at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. ESS is a longitudinal course for our first- and second-year medical students. Entering its third year, ESS is a core component of our renewed curriculum and integrates Health Systems Science and Health Equity education in line with AAMC recommendations.

As a facilitator, you will support student reflection, dialogue, and collaboration around critical themes. Subject matter expertise is not required — just a willingness to create a supportive learning environment.

Facilitator Responsibilities

Each case includes:

• Day 1: Small group discussion (2 hours)
• Day 2: Optional attendance at a topical panel session
• Day 3: Facilitation of a team-based learning (TBL) session (2 hours)
• Just-in-Time Training: 1-hour session prior to day 1

In total, facilitation time is approximately 5 hours per case, plus 1–2 hours of preparation and student assessment.

Scheduling Details

MS1 Sessions

• 15 cases offered across Fall, Winter and Spring
• Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Just-in-Time Training: 9:00–10:00 a.m. on day 1

MS2 Sessions

• 14 cases offered in Fall and Winter
• Mondays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Just-in-Time Training: 9:00–10:00 a.m. on day 1

Facilitators may sign up for one or more sessions. Please complete the Facilitator Sign-Up Survey by June 16, 2026. Final assignments will be confirmed by July 1, 2026. While you may indicate interest in multiple sessions, we may not be able to accommodate all preferences.

Faculty Compensation
Faculty who contribute 20 or more instructional hours across SOM courses in the academic year are eligible for compensation through the Dean’s Office. Time spent in ESS contributes toward this total. Additional hours beyond the initial 20 are also compensated.

Are you interested in:

• Teaching first- and second-year medical students in small group settings?
• Supporting student growth in history taking, physical exam and communication skills, and professionalism?
• Collaborating with colleagues to support student growth?
• Engaging in a meaningful and lasting impact role?

If so, we welcome your involvement in the Practice of Medicine (POM) course for our first-year and second-year medical students at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Sessions are held on Wednesday afternoons. Opportunities include:

• Longitudinal small group facilitators
• One-time substitute facilitators
• Group Objective Structured Clinical Exercises
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination facilitators
• Guest content experts

If you're interested, please complete the survey.

Questions can be sent to:

• Sarah Dovi: pom1-course@health.ucsd.edu
• Matt Allison, MD: mallison@health.ucsd.edu
• Desiree Shapiro, MD: dlshapiro@health.ucsd.edu