Practicing medicine takes more than just caring for individual patients. These days, physicians’ responsibilities include providing health care leadership and advocating for the welfare of their communities.
That’s why current medical students and residents are interested in electives that focus on developing those skills.
In response, the Texas Medical Association’s Subcommittee for Academic Physicians produced a curriculum toolbox that medical schools and residency programs can use to develop electives on topics such as leadership, advocacy, and health policy. The subcommittee is composed of representatives from the state’s academic health centers.
The curriculum explores professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice. It emphasizes:
- The importance of a physician’s attitudes and behaviors as they relate to leading others;
- Building relationships and teams;
- Dealing with ethical dilemmas in health care; and
- Taking a lead in advocacy on behalf of the welfare of patients.
The toolbox also suggests activities — including public health outreach projects and advocacy campaigns such as TMA’s First Tuesdays at the Capitol — as examples of educational opportunities to cultivate planning, organizing, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Suggested reading lists are included as well as links to syllabi for elective courses currently offered by Texas medical schools.
The free curriculum toolbox is available on the TMA’s website, along with information on TMA’s Academic Physician, Medical Student, and Resident and Fellow sections.
Photo credit: Matt Lemke
Last Updated On
July 20, 2023
Originally Published On
June 13, 2018