Infectious Diseases and Health Equity (KISC)

4 units

Health inequities place those who are already the most socially and economically marginalized at even greater risk for infection, severe disease and death. This 4-week KISC will engage learners in identifying determinants and propose solutions to disrupt the systemic health inequities that disproportionately affect disparity populations. It will blend didactic and experiential learning focusing on the intersection of Health Equity/Social Determinants and key infectious diseases, both at WUSTL, the county and city health departments and the North County multi-specialty clinic. Students will have a two-week outpatient focused rotation and two weeks of hospital-based learning. Every week, a full day or equivalent will be dedicated to public health experiential learning and didactics. The students in all their clinical rotations will be expected to develop a critical, Social Determinants lens and will have the opportunity to learn about the available resources to assist patients. Weekly Social Determinants of Health Rounds, meeting local public health leaders are few of the innovative experiences planned for this course.