Teaching Opportunities in the Curriculum

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

General Responsibilities

ERM I is an established MS1 and P1 core course in the COAST Curriculum. It is offered from the last week of March until the second week of April each year, with in-person sessions on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 8 a.m.–10 a.m. The course ensures knowledge of pre-clerkship level physiologic and pharmacologic mechanisms of endocrinology, reproduction and metabolism and, in addition to ensuring students are ready for the associated portions of USMLE licensure examinations, prepares students to engage with more advanced clinically oriented coursework in the following ERM II during their MS2 year.

The ERM I Co-Director-Reproduction will partner with the ERM I Course Co- Director – Endocrinology and Metabolism in providing direction, leadership, and instruction on a continuing basis to the students and staff associated with the course.  Primary responsibility for assuring students acquire the knowledge base, skills and attitudes regarding Endocrinology, Reproduction and Metabolism necessary for pre-clerkship level training. 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. Responsible for the implementation of the course’s educational objectives.

Program Planning and Implementation

• Design, plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of the ERM I course in coordination with the ERM Co-Director – Endocrinology and Metabolism.
• Collaborate with Organ Block Directors and Pharmacology director to develop/design and implement appropriate experiences to meet curricular goals. 
• Participate in COAST Curriculum Steering Committee and associated curricular meetings; participate in Progress Week preparation and execution; 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 ERM I 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 ERM I Course Co-Director – Reproduction will receive financial and administrative support consistent with School of Medicine policies, which currently assigns 0.1 FTE of time allocation to each Co-Director.

The successful candidate will have substantial content expertise in clinically relevant reproduction and will express a vision of how to successfully convey this expertise to pre-clerkship level learners.

Application Deadline and Contact:  The deadline for submission is Friday, May 22, 2026. Please submit your C.V. and Letter of Intent to Jennifer Denson at jdenson@health.ucsd.edu.