These certificate programs will enhance the education of the participating students with specific interests in areas such as health policy, health system operation and health politics that are commonly under-represented in the standard curriculum.  

The additional work (equivalent to 12 to 15 credit hours) will be completed in parallel with the standard medical curriculum.  All required “courses” will be taken as medical school electives.  By utilizing time during parts of the summer between M-1 and M-2 years and senior elective rotations, the requirements can be completed within the standard four-year program.  

The requirements will focus on experiential and active adult learning modes.  The curriculum will include three components:  

1.  a one-month rotation in state government as part of the already established Tennessee Interdisciplinary Health Policy Program (TIHPP);   

2.  participation in a monthly seminar/journal club series related to health systems and health policy throughout the second, third and fourth years of medical school;

3.  monthly meetings with community and health care leaders to discuss issues related to leadership;

4.  on-line modules related to health policy and health system function; and

5.  "journalizing" of health system issues encountered during clinical rotations and discussion of these issues with colleagues and faculty.

Students will complete the TIHPP rotation after their M-1 year and the UMCA rotation during their M-4 year.  The other parts of the curriculum will be integrated with the M2 and M3 curricula. 

Students will also be expected to complete a project as part of some rotations.  They will submit a brief, written report of this project at the end of the rotation and may present a poster describing their projects during Health Services Research Day during their senior year.