The four-year Care of the Underserved Pathway coordinates current offerings on underserved care and present them to students in a more formal and organized fashion across the four years. This pathway provides them with the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to provide care to underserved patients in the future, recognize them for their accomplishments while here at Baylor and encourage them to seek future residency and practice positions that will enable them to continue caring for underserved patients.
In addition, the faculty involved in this pathway strive to supplement the curriculum by serving as positive role models of physicians providing care to underserved patients.
Students who complete the pathway will receive a certificate at graduation.
To Enroll in the Pathway
You will receive an email from the course director in the first week of March in MS1 year to enroll in the Capstone Elective-MEFAM 535 Community Project in Underserved Care.
You can contact the course director or coordinator during the Spring of MS1 year (Dr. Anjali Aggarwal at aaggarwa@bcm.edu.)
Overall Goals of the Care of the Underserved Pathway
- Provide students with high-quality, hands-on clinical and service-based learning experiences at a variety of underserved sites, both ambulatory and in-patient
- Encourage students to develop a scholarly interest in underserved care by conducting a research project
- Encourage students to obtain residency training in a program that emphasizes care of the underserved
- Encourage students to care for underserved patients in their future practice
Requirements for Completing the Pathway
MS1 / MS2 Year
Complete one of these preclinical electives:
- MEFAM-407: Introduction to the Care of the Underserved
- MEFAM-409: Longitudinal Community Medicine & Primary Care
- MEOSA-441: Communicating Scientific & Clinical Research to Patients
- MEFAM-447: Refugee and Immigrant Medicine
- MEOSA-501: Deconstructing Race in Medicine and Health
- MEFAM-530: Underserved Care Clinics (Volunteering)
- MEPED-562: It Takes a Village: Foundations of Pediatric Advocacy
- MEPED-565: Hiding in Plain Sight: Identify/Understand Victims of Violence
- MEMED-583: A Readings in HIV-AIDS Epidemiology
- MEMED-593: Beyond the Exam Room: Physician as Advocate
- MEFAM 604 - Longitudinal Community Care Practices And Service
MS2 Year
Please note this elective is offered only in Fall of MS2 year.
- Capstone Elective MEFAM -535 Community Project in Underserved Care
This is an approximately 12-week course which meets on Thursdays in the evening from 5-7 p.m. from July through October. It is designed for the second-year medical students. In this course, students complete a community project and a scholarly activity.
MS3 / MS4 Year
Complete two advanced electives: 2-4 weeks (Can be Ambulatory or Inpatient).
Advanced Elective: Inpatient
- MESUR-501: Sub-Internship Surgery
- MEMED-503: General Medicine Sub-Internship (Ben Taub Hospital)
- MEPSY-503: Emergency Psychiatry elective (4 weeks)
- MENEU-503: Neurology Sub-Internship (Ben Taub Hospital)
- MEOBG-503: Obstetrics and Gynecology Sub-Internship - please ask to be assigned to Ben Taub Hospital
- MEPSY-504: Sub Internship Psychiatry
- MEFAM-515: Family Medicine Sub-Internship (Ben Taub Hospital)
- MEPSY-545: Inpatient Psychiatry (Ben Taub Hospital)
- MEPED-547: Pediatric Sub-Internship (Texas Children’s Hospital) – please ask to be placed on the PHM service
- VA MEMED 502 MEDVAMC: General Medicine Sub-Internship
Advanced Elective: Ambulatory
- MEPSY 200: Introduction to Emergency Psychiatry (2 week)
- MEOBG 201: HIV in Ob/Gyn elective (2 week)
- MEFAM 201: Addiction Medicine (2 week)
- MEMED-202: Comprehensive HIV Care for the Underserved (2 week)
- MEPED 206: Complex Care in Pediatrics (2 week)
- MEPED 207: Foster Care Pediatrics (2 week)
- MEERM-504: Emergency Medicine
- MEPED-506: Developmental Pediatrics
- MEPED-549: Emergency Pediatrics
- MEMED-579: Palliative Care for the Indigent
- MEMED-587: Medicine/Pediatrics Primary Care
- MEMED-630: Life with Intellectual & Developmental Disability
- MEFAM-530: HOMES Clinic Elective
- MEPED-201: Child Abuse Pediatrics -2 Weeks
- MEPED-545: Adolescent Medicine & Sports Medicine-Covenant House Of Texas (Homeless Shelter Clinic)
- MEPED-454: Child Abuse Pediatrics
Advanced Elective: Ambulatory Temple campus
- MEERM-820: Emergency Medicine: Introductory Pediatric Emergency Medicine- BSWH - 2 Week
- MEMED-805: Supportive Palliative Care – BSWH
- MEMED-806: Elective in Internal Medicine – BSWH
Advanced Elective: Inpatient Temple campus
- MEFAM-800: Hospital Based Family Medicine – BSWH
- MEPED-802: Hospital Based Pediatric Care – BSWH
Recognition of the completion of the above requirements will appear on the student's official transcript and will also be noted in the commencement program.
End of Pathway Reflection Paper
Students are required to submit an end of pathway reflection paper in March prior to their graduation from Baylor College of Medicine. In this paper, students are asked to describe key experiences that have contributed to their learning about underserved care in medical school. Students are asked to explain how these key experiences have contributed to their learning in at least three of the following competency areas:
- Patient care
- Knowledge for Practice
- Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Communication Skills
- Professional and Personal Development
- Health Systems and Social Context of Care
- Critical Thinking, Inquiry and Problem Solving
- Teamwork and Collaboration
Extracurricular Activities
In addition to the above curriculum, extracurricular workshops will be held periodically for students in the pathway for all four years. Activities for those workshops will include:
- Discussion of current community projects being conducted by either students or faculty
- Discussion of pertinent underserved care topics
- Presentation by a physician who practices underserved care on what he/she actually does
- Reflection on what they are learning from their underserved care experiences
- Students will also be encouraged to volunteer in the community in activities such as the HOMES clinic
Additional Optional Activities
- Bi-annual group meetings with the pathway director (strongly encouraged)
- Leadership in the pre-clinical courses as a student coordinator
For more information or to express interest in participating in this pathway, please contact Dr. Anjali Aggarwal at aaggarwa@bcm.edu.
Medical School Care of the Underserved Pathway At a Glance
View a downloadable version.
| Methods Preclinical Electives (One is required) | ||
| Content/Courses | Years Taken | Credits |
| MEFAM 409 - Longitudinal Community Medicine and Primary care | Year 1 | 0.75 |
| MEFAM 447 - Refugee and Immigrant Medicine | Year 1, 2 | .5 |
| MEFAM 530 - Underserved Care Clinics Volunteering | Year 1, 2, 3 | .5 / 1 |
| MEPED 562 - It Takes a Village: Foundations of Pediatric Advocacy | Year 1, 2 | 2.0 |
| MEPED 565 - Hiding in Plain Sight: Identify/Understand Victims of Violence | Year 1 | .5 |
| MEFAM 407 - Introduction to the Care of the Underserved | Year 1, 2 | .5 |
| MEOSA 501 - Deconstructing Race in Medicine and Health | Year 1, 2 | 1 |
| MEMED 583 A - Readings in HIV-AIDS Epidemiology | Year 1 | .5 |
| MEMED 593 - Beyond the Exam Room: Physician as Advocate | Year 1 | .5 |
| MEOSA 441 - Communication Scientific and Clinical Research to Patients | Year 1 | 1.5 |
| MEFAM 604 - Longitudinal Community Care Practices and Service | Year 1 | 2.25 |
| Clinical Experience/Elective (two of these are required) | Years Taken | Credits |
| (Inpatient) MEFAM 515 - Family Medicine Sub-Internship (Ben Taub Hospital) | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEMED 503 - General Medicine Sub -Internship (Ben Taub Hospital) | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEPED 547 - Pediatric Sub internship (Texas Children’s Hospital)-please ask to be placed PHM service | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MENEU 503 - Neurology Sub -Internship (Ben Taub Hospital) | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEOBG 503 - Obstetrics and Gynecology Sub internship (Ben Taub Hospital) | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEPSY 545 - Inpatient Psychiatry (Ben Taub Hospital) | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MESUR 501- Sub Internship Surgery | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEPSY 503 - Emergency Psychiatry Elective - 4 weeks | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEPSY 505 - Sub Internship Psychiatry - 4 weeks | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Inpatient) MEMED 502 MEDVAMC - General Medicine Sub-internship | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Advanced Elective Inpatient Temple campus) MEFAM-800: Hospital Based Family Medicine – BSWH | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Advanced Elective Inpatient Temple campus) MEPED-802:Hospital Based Pediatric Care – BSWH | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEPSY 200: Introduction to Emergency Psychiatry (2 week) | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEOBG 201: HIV in Ob/Gyn elective (2 week) | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEFAM 201: Addiction Medicine (2 week) | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Advanced Elective Inpatient Temple campus) MEERM-820: Emergency Medicine: Introductory Pediatric Emergency Medicine- BSWH - 2 Week | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEMED-202: Comprehensive HIV Care for the Underserved (2 week) | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEPED 206 - Complex Care in Pediatrics (2 week) | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEPED 207 - Foster Care Pediatrics (2 week) | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Two Weeks) MEPED 201 - Child Abuse Pediatrics -2 weeks | Year 3, 4 | 2.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEERM 504 - Emergency Medicine | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEPED 506 - Developmental Pediatrics | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEPED 549 - Emergency Pediatrics | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEMED 579 - Palliative Care for the Indigent | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEMED 587 - Medicine/Pediatrics Primary Care | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEMED 630 - Life with Intellectual & Developmental Disability | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEFAM 530 - HOMES Clinic Elective | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEPED 545 - Adolescent medicine & sports medicine-Covenant House of Texas (homeless shelter clinic) | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Ambulatory - Four Weeks) MEPED 454 - Child Abuse Pediatrics | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Advanced Elective Inpatient Temple campus) MEMED-805: Supportive Palliative Care – BSWH | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| (Advanced Elective Inpatient Temple campus) MEMED-806:Elective in Internal Medicine – BSWH | Year 3, 4 | 4.0 |
| CAPSTONE Elective | ||
| Research Elective/Scholarly Activity | Years Taken | Credits |
| MEFAM 535 elective: Community Project in Underserved Care (this elective is required) | Year 2 | 1.0 |
| Voluntary Activities | Years Taken | Credits |
| Student-organized monthly meetings with invited speakers | Year 1, 2, 3, 4 | 0.0 |
| Community Outreach Activities | Year 1, 2, 3, 4 | 0.0 |
| Students write an end-of-pathway paper summarizing their learning experiences in underserved care including self-reflection (required for pathway completion) | Year 4 | 0.0 |
