Multi-Disciplinary Learning Program Grows and Adapts in the Midst of Pandemic

With the academic year 2020-21 almost behind us, what was a year of challenges, also afforded the GME Pathways program unique opportunities to grow and adapt. GME Pathways is a multi-disciplinary, inter-professional program open to UCSF learners at all training levels. Compared to 2019-2020, learners that participated in our various pathways almost doubled to over 200 participants; and we believe the flexibility of virtual learning, the creativity of our lecturers and leadership team, and the resounding need of learners to have a community of practice were key components for this success. 

Some highlights from this past year:

• Global Health (GH) Pathway: Despite the limitations that COVID-19 imposed on research opportunities abroad, the GH Pathway was able to add unique elements to the traditional curriculum by re-imagining several sessions, inviting international partners, such as Dr. Agnes Binagwaho (former Minister of Health for Rwanda) to lead sessions, and offering an in-person workshop for developing clinical skills trainees can utilize in resource limited settings.
• Health Professions Education (HPE) Pathway: This year the HPE Pathway hosted two pathways that diverged and converged at various points in the curriculum to better support the scholarship needs of the UME and GME learners that participated in the pathway. With a curricular footprint expanding over 4 weeks and offering 53 different sessions that spanned the gamut of education science, this pathway continues to be popular among participants, some of whom have taken advantage of the program’s partnership with UC Berkeley’s Master’s in Education (MAEd) program.
• Health Equity and Racial (HEAR) Justice Pathway: The STEPUP pathway of years past was reformatted and launched as the HEAR Justice Pathway this year. The HEAR Justice Pathway broadened its scope from improving training in caring for vulnerable populations and focused on addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in health care, and creating meaningful opportunities to advance racial justice. With partnerships with Family and Community Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US) program, this was a popular pathway with close to 80 participants! The HEAR Justice Pathway continues to offer race-based caucusing (RBCs) and social justice discussion club (SJDC) open to all GME trainees throughout the year.

 
Looking forward to 2021-2022, we are excited to launch our sixth pathway, Clinical Informatics and Data Science (CI-DS), that will be led by Dr. Xinran (Leo) Liu. The CI-DS Pathway is an introduction to the fields of Clinical Informatics and Data Science and will provide opportunity for learners to learn basic concepts, principals, and skills in these fields, as well as act a resource to help them consider and pursue careers in these areas.
 
Interested in one of our pathways? Our program is open to trainees at all levels, and most of our programs are offered at no cost to UCSF affiliated trainees. We would be happy to connect with you. Our application for 2021-2022 is now open and we look forward to seeing what opportunities arise in the coming year.