Clinical Experience

The Clinical Experience (CE) program is a practical portion of the Health Systems Sciences curriculum. It places pre-clerkship students in clinical environments, where they screen patients for health-related social needs, which are a result of the underlying social determinants of health (conditions which people are born, grown, work, and age). Phase 1 students learn about the broader context of health, including interprofessional teamwork and community-based resources. Students work in a clinical setting where they interface with patients to address underlying social and environmental factors that impact health. The experience gives students the opportunity to actively participate in care, and to reflect upon the systems and approaches helpful in optimizing health.