School of Medicine Public Health Scholarly Concentration

The Public Health Scholarly Concentration provides medical students interested in public health careers or concerned about public health issues with focused training in public health research and practice skills within the four-year Integrated Medical Curriculum.

Public Health Scholarly Concentration courses and activities guide students in developing knowledge, skills, and values regarding:

• Structure and functions of public health systems
• Physician’s role in public health practice
• Evidence based public health planning
• Public health research

Upon successful completion of scholarly concentration requirements, students will earn the designation Scholar of Public Health. This designation is noted on the student's medical school transcript, as well as during the commencement ceremony.

• Concentration Requirements:
• PMCU 1050 (Topics in Public Health): this is our first year preclinical preceptorship that students take during the first 4 weeks of the summer block after MS1 courses are over (typically from late April – mid May). This course introduces students to a variety of services/resources that meet health needs outside of health care and introduces basic public health topics/principles (environmental health, social determinants, systems thinking, etc.).
• PMCU 4001 (Public Health in the Community): this is a 4-week rotation that students complete with a local health department or other health organization/agency. The rotation includes some clinical work, but also experience conducting epidemiological investigations, food safety inspections, etc. This is taken during 4^th year.
• PMCU 4016 (Public Health Research): this is a 4-week research course where students work with a faculty mentor on a research-oriented project and submit a final paper. This is taken during 4^th year.
• Participation Hours: The Public Health Concentration requires at least 12 hours of participation in seminars, activities, webinars, etc. These 12 hours can be completed at any time during a students’ course of study at UTMB.  These hours need to be logged here to count towards this requirement.
• Other requirements: Two other electives, clerkships, etc. that students complete as part of the SOM curriculum count towards PH concentration credit. These two courses should involve working with an underserved population, in an underserved area, or be related to public health and/or primary care.
• Concentration Application: To officially join the public health concentration, students must fill out the application found here: Concentration Application Form. The application should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete. Previous public health experience is not a requirement to join the concentration. That question is included in the application so concentration contacts can learn more about the students they are working with. There is no official deadline to apply; however, it is recommended that students apply by December or January of their first year so that they can be included in announcements, especially those related to registering for PMCU 1050.