The power of interdependence: Linking health systems, communities, and health professions educational programs to better meet the needs of patients and populations.

Promoting optimal health outcomes for diverse patients and populations requires the acknowledgement and strengthening of interdependent relationships between health professions education programs, health systems, and the communities they serve. Educational programs must recognize their role as integral components of a larger system. Educators must strive to break down silos and synergize efforts to foster a health care workforce positioned for collaborative, equitable, community-oriented practice.

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in Undergraduate Medical Education Curricula: A Survey Report.

Purpose: Social determinants of health (SDH) are recognized as important factors that affect health and well-being. Medical schools are encouraged to incorporate the teaching of SDH. This study investigated the level of commitment to teaching SDH; learning objectives/goals regarding student knowledge, skills, and attitudes; location in the curriculum and teaching strategies; and perceived barriers to teaching SDH.

Socially Accountable Medical Education: An Innovative Approach at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Problem: Despite medical advances, health disparities persist, resulting in medicine's renewed emphasis on the social determinants of health and calls for reform in medical education.

Approach: The Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Education Learning Program (NeighborhoodHELP) at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine provides a platform for the school's community-focused mission. NeighborhoodHELP emphasizes social accountability and interprofessional education while providing evidence-based, patient- and household-centered care.

Breast Health Disparities: A Primer for Medical Students.

Introduction: While breast cancer incidence rates have remained stable and mortality rates have declined for white women, breast cancer mortality has steadily increased for African American women since the 1950s. It has often been assumed that genetic risks linked to African ancestry are the cause for these disparities. However, a better understanding of the role of stress and social and environmental factors in health lends evidence to the social determinants behind the increasing gaps in breast health outcomes.

Strategies for improving the Office of Minority Health.

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) was established in 1986 to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities. Since its initial congressional mandate, it has produced multiple programs, campaigns, publications, and educational materials promoting the health of ethnic minorities. However, its continued existence is by no means assured.

Cultural differences in adolescent drug abuse.

This chapter describes the epidemiology of drug use among adolescents from different racial and ethnic groups. Second, it addresses the cultural variables prevalent in each of these groups and their relevance in the delivery of clinical care. Third, it describes the risks and protective factors for adolescent drug use and their interface with culture and the screening tools available for the pediatrician.