Welcome to John Sealy SOM Educational Affairs

Areas of Scholarly Concentration

Purpose of the areas of Scholarly Concentration:
To provide interested students opportunities to receive expanded learning experiences in non-specialty-based areas of emphasis while completing the 4-year Integrated Medical Curriculum.

Scholarly Concentration benefits:
  • A fantastic way for MD students to customize their education and engage in experiences that lead to multidisciplinary scholarship, research and community engagement
  • Strong interest in scholarly concentrations during residency interviews
  • Earn several weeks of elective credit toward graduation (preceptorships and electives) and BSHS credit
  • A scholarly concentration designation that appears on graduation recognition (commencement program recognition, certificate, and cords)
  • Strengthened curriculum vitae and MSPE through research and scholarly presentations and journalism and the ability to receive LORs for residency
  • Aerospace Medicine
    The Aerospace Medicine Concentration is designed to educate medical students about Aerospace Medicine and space biomedical research. Students are introduced to aerospace physiology, space medicine and space life sciences research, an introductory course in aerospace medicine, and career opportunities.  For more information, please contact Heather Medley.
  • Bilingual Health
    The Bilingual Health Scholarly Concentration is designed to graduate culturally and ethically competent bilingual in Spanish physicians. For more information, please contact Norma A. Perez Raifaisen, MD, DrPH.
  • Community Engaged Public Health
    The Community Engaged Public Health Scholarly Concentration offers an enriched curriculum that merges the core principles of public health with the hands-on experience of community engagement. Designed for medical students passionate about public health and community-based initiatives, this scholarly concentration equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge to address pressing public and community health challenges. For more information, please contact the course directors, Dr. Sara Siddiqui and Dr. Robert Rodriguez, or the course coordinator Tawny Stromberg.
  • Global Health
    The Global Health Scholarly Concentration is the home to many global health training opportunities at UTMB.  Various training opportunities are open to students in all four of our academic schools.  Please contact Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria or Bradley Brock for more information.
  • Geriatric Health
    The Geriatric Scholarly Concentration at UTMB is a four year learning experience that provides a unique opportunity to enhance knowledge, skill sets, values and expertise in the care of older adults.  Please contact Dr. Vinod Kaushik or Leslie Simpton for more information.
    • Learn to Lead
      The Learn to Lead scholarly concentration focuses on the cultivation of effective leadership skills within, but not limited to the sectors of research, health systems, and education. This concentration ultimately aims to develop leaders who are equipped to address the challenges in health care systems and academic medical centers, promote research-informed practices, and enhance the overall quality of care and learning in their communities. The program also focuses on mentorship and professional identity formation as instruments in the development of leadership skills. A key component of this program is self-reflection and development of a growth mindset, which will help students to understand and refine their roles as future leaders in health care. Please click the link above for more information.
    • Physician Healer
      The Physician Healer Scholarly Concentration is designed to mentor students as they develop their professional identity as doctors. The training focuses on self-awareness, self-reflection, interpersonal communication skills, self-care and work-life balance. Being a source of healing for the suffering of another is both a responsibility and a privilege. In addition to our technical knowledge and skills, being a healer requires training in equanimity, wisdom and compassion.  Please email Pht@utmb.edu for more information.
    • Rural Health
      UTMB medical students that have an interest in working in a rural area will benefit by joining the Rural Health Scholarly Concentration. The Rural Health Scholarly Concentration provides opportunities that serve to expand existing curricular experiences that emphasize the practice of rural medicine throughout the 4 years of medical school.  Please contact Dr. Oscar W. Brown or Brian Sullivan for more information.
    • Translational Research
      Translational research integrates basic research, patient-oriented research, and population-based research and leads to the transformation of scientific discoveries made in the laboratory, clinical setting, or population setting to clinical applications such as interventions to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease.  Please contact  Dr. Jonathan Hommel or Maria Pelonero Bible for more information.