At the University of Rochester, we use our expertise and unique offerings to foster student’s passions, optimizing how they will deliver health care. Our Elective Pathways are mentored programs that run in conjunction with the Double Helix Curriculum—Translations and Transitions. Pathways provide opportunity to work with like-minded students and faculty to explore nuances, address needs of underserved, create curriculum, and institute policy in areas of interest. We offer five different elective pathways:
Deaf Health Pathway
For students with interests in the health, language and culture of the Deaf community, this student-centered curriculum provides an appreciation for the health disparities between the Deaf community and the general population and greater awareness of unique Deaf health needs. Drawing on the large deaf population in Rochester, the pathway provides engagement with the community with linguistic and cultural immersion to prepare graduates to better care for Deaf patients.
Global Health Pathway
Students gain additional knowledge and skills in the health problems and solutions of populations that transcend socioeconomic and ethnic status and national borders. Didactic lecture series, direct experience and independent projects combine with volunteer work and patient interactions to foster compassion and appreciation for the plights of underserved populations. Participants develop a sense of global health advocacy, appreciating the role of the physician as an agent for change in community and global health.
Medical Education Pathway
Preparing students to be academic medical educators, the pathway provides knowledge in educational theory and develops skills in teaching. Activities include serving as a problem based learning tutor, leading a small group, developing learning objectives and delivering a lecture. In addition students write high quality examination questions, perform assessments, and provide feedback.
LatinX Health Pathway
The pathway provides an enriched learning experience over the four years of medical school for those students with intermediate and advanced Spanish language proficiency interested in developing language, cultural and clinical skills to work with Spanish speaking patients, families, and communities.
Medical Humanities and Bioethics Pathway
The Medical Humanities and Bioethics Pathway provides medical students with an enriched experience in medical humanities and bioethics throughout their four years of medical school. Students have diversified opportunities in a variety of clinical and research activities, courses and electives, as well as special events and competitive awards.
Read more information on the Pathways.