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School of Medicine School of Medicine

Teaching Opportunities in the Curriculum

We invite passionate educators and medical professionals to explore rewarding opportunities to inspire the next generation of health care leaders at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Whether you're looking to contribute your expertise or further develop your teaching career, we're excited to connect with you.

Current Teaching Opportunities

See below for teaching opportunities that are currently available. After reviewing these opportunities, please reach out to the noted contact to indicate your interest.

Faculty Curriculum Director | Multiple Organ Systems Disorders (MOSD)

General Responsibilities

MOSD is an established MS2 core course in the COAST Curriculum. It is offered for one week in mid to late March and serves as the final pre-clinical course prior to students entering their dedicated USMLE Step 1 Study period.

The course ensures knowledge of pre-clerkship level pathologic and pathophysiologic mechanisms of multiple organ system diseases and has traditionally utilized the multi-disciplinary nature of these diseases to serve as a capstone experience for the pre-clerkship phase of instruction and send-off to the clinical phase. Many of the diseases covered in this course are not taught in other pre-clinical courses and are commonly considered “orphan diseases” (eg lysosomal storage diseases), while others may be more common, but clearly span multiple organ systems (eg, diabetes, sepsis, trauma).

Unlike other pre-clerkship level courses, this course takes place on five consecutive days, it is intended to be intensively in-person, and features live patient interactions.

The MOSD Course Director will assume responsibility for direction, leadership, and instruction on a continuing basis to the students and staff associated with the course. They have primary responsibility for assuring students acquire the knowledge base, skills and attitudes regarding multiple organ systems disease necessary for a clerkship level training. They will develop goals and objectives related to clinical medicine that support a broad foundation of medical skills and knowledge, as well as habits of self-directed learning. They’re responsible for the implementation of the course’s educational objectives and will have the opportunity to evolve this course’s future iterations in alignment with the Medical Education Program Objectives of the School of Medicine.

Program Planning and Implementation

  • Design, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of the MOSD course.
  • Collaborate with Organ Block Directors to develop/design and implement appropriate experiences to meet curricular goals. 
  • Participate in COAST Curriculum Steering Committee and associated curricular meetings; review student progress, including service on the CLEAR Committee, address course related issues and long range, strategic planning of course goals and objectives.  

Teaching Activities

  • Participate in teaching activities related to the MOSD Course. 
  • Teaching methods will include lecture, discussion, reflection, seminars and other methods as appropriate.
  • Assist students in developing the clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to become an outstanding physician.
  • Evaluate student performance considering instructional goals; provide feedback to students as part of the development of appropriate skills and attitudes.

Individual Student Mentoring and Advising

  • Advise medical students on academic issues related to the course. 
  • Provide guidance to students in the development and/or continuance and implementation of activities related to developing mastery of the course material.  

This is a Core Pre-Clerkship level course, and the MOSD Course Director will receive financial and administrative support consistent with School of Medicine policies.

 Application Deadline and Contact:  The deadline for submission is Friday, June 27, 2025. Please submit your C.V. and Letter of Intent to Jennifer Denson at jdenson@health.ucsd.edu.

Facilitators | Equity in Systems Science (ESS) Course

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

  • 19 cases offered across Fall, Winter, and Spring
  • Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
  • Just-in-Time Training: 9:00–10:00 AM on Day 1

MS2 Sessions

  • 14 cases offered in Fall and Winter
  • Mondays and Thursdays, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
  • Just-in-Time Training: 9:00–10:00 AM on Day 1

Facilitators may sign up for one or more sessions. Please complete the Facilitator Sign-Up Survey by May 20, 2025. Final assignments will be confirmed by June 20, 2025. 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.

For questions, please contact course coordinator Shiva Jaimes at ESSCourse@health.ucsd.edu.

Facilitators – Physicians and Psychologists | Practice of Medicine (POM) Course

Are you interested in:

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

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
  • GOSCE/OSCE exam facilitators
  • Guest content experts

If you're interested, please complete the survey: https://ucsd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1zwWB2wNenOMhyS

Questions can be sent to:
Sarah Dovi, sdovi@health.ucsd.edu
Matt Allison, MD, mallison@health.ucsd.edu
Desiree Shapiro, dlshapiro@health.ucsd.edu

Please be aware that medical school accreditation standards prohibit faculty who have or are seeing students as patients from participating in their evaluation or promotion decisions, excluding exceptional circumstances. Should this apply to you, you must recuse yourself from that student’s evaluation/promotion process. This standard may be found on the LCME website.