Caring For the Underserved

Course Purpose

In an era of molecular medicine, it has become possible to contain many of the genetic and biologic etiologies of disease. In contrast, much less success has been achieved in containing the social causes of disease. A disproportionate burden of disease continues to befall the most vulnerable members of society: the poor, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and the elderly. This class will deal with the strategies employed by publicly funded community clinic physicians and nurses, community based organizations and social justice advocates to achieve equity in health for underserved communities. This class will also afford students the opportunity to interact and learn from the perspective of the community. Overall, this class will give students a unique look into the diverse world of the medically underserved.

This course is not meant to be an exhaustive lesson on underserved populations or health care systems. It is rather an introduction to caring for the underserved and can serve as the basis for further instruction in this area of health care. It hopes to build student confidence in caring for underserved patients and increase student interest in this field.

Course Organization and Format

The course has been specially designed to give students unprecedented access to the communities from which many of San Francisco’s and the East Bay’s underserved come from. Students will have the opportunity to hear from physicians who work closely with the underserved and from the community based organizations central to the social network of many vulnerable groups.

These sessions have been designed to maximize the interaction between speakers and students. Thus most sessions will be run according to a panel-like format. Speakers have come prepared to lead a discussion about the most important issues affecting the work they do. Likewise students are expected to come ready to participate and having reviewed any readings.

Course Requirements

1. Mandatory Attendance - Attendance will be taken and students are expected to attend all lectures. Students may miss two sessions without penalty.
2. Completion of class surveys and pre/post class evaluation is mandatory.

Class Contact Information

Student coordinators:
Jolene Collins
Reshma Gupta
Ammu Ravindran
Khanh Trinh

Faculty Advisor:
Elisabeth Wilson, MD, MPH
Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Recommended Course Readings

Braveman P, Gruskin S. Defining equity in health. J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:254-258

Braveman P, Gruskin S. Poverty, equity, human rights, and health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2003;81:539-545

Piwowarczyki L, Moreno A, Grodin MA. Healthcare of torture survivors. JAMA 2000:284:539-541

Walter N, Bougois P, Loinaz H.M.  Masculinity and Undocumented Labor Migration:  Injured Latino Day Laborers in San Francisco.  Social Science and Medicine 59 (2004) 1159-1168.

Kiefer C. Health Work with the Poor. Rutgers University Press, 2000