Our Education Aim

The Seq2Care course (formerly Precision Health Scholars or PHS) aims to offer training and hands-on experience in genomic analysis and interpretation for pre-clinical medical and pharmacy students. Our interactive content guides students as they work through strategies for critically engaging with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in genomics research and clinical practice. The overall experience is crafted to build empathy and compassion for the diversity of patient needs and journeys in precision healthcare and clinical genomics. 

For more information on Seq2Care outcomes and bringing the course to your institution, visit our course webpage.

• Fall 2021: Our inaugural offering, this course was comprised of 9 weeks of in-person content, including didactic instruction from experts in the field of genomics and interactive exercises. Learners built skills for facilitating compassionate patient interactions and applying genomics knowledge to future practice.

• Fall 2022 and beyond: This revamped course incorporates two in-person workshops which bookended asynchronous, experiential learning over 10 weeks. Participants have the option to engage in a voluntary, clinically validated personal genetic testing experience through the course, to learn about their own genetic variants and engage with content from a patient perspective through online modules.

SOMI 296- Seq2Care: Genomic Insights and Empathy for Inclusive Healthcare

Seq2Care employs an innovative experiential learning approach to develop fundamental skills for integrating precision health tools in clinical settings. Students will have the option to participate in a voluntary, no-cost, secure, clinically validated personal genetic testing experience, to learn about their own genetic variants and engage with course content from a patient perspective. Students will receive an equivalent learning experience regardless of whether they opt-in or opt-out of the genetic testing experience.

Skills learned in this course provide a baseline foundation for incorporating genomic healthcare into any specialty. Course activities explore the utility of clinical genomics technologies for identifying and managing hereditary health risks. Key issues of ethics, social justice, and health equity provide real-world framing for strategies that can support the inclusive delivery of genomic healthcare. A central focus is on skill-building to support compassionate interaction, interpretation, and communication of genomic information with diverse patients and families.

Learning activities are delivered through a series of self-paced, asynchronous modules, bookended by two in-person sessions (attendance required). In-class interactions focus on case scenarios, peer-to-peer role plays, and group discussion.

SOMI 296- Precision Health Scholars: Journeys in Genomic Testing 

This two-day workshop offers hands-on training for medical and pharmacy students in clinical applications of genetic technologies, with attention to justice and equity issues in precision health and medicine. Participants have the option to engage in a voluntary, clinically validated personal genetic testing experience through this course, to learn about their own genetic variants and engage with content from a patient perspective. The cost of this experience is covered for participants who opt-in. All workshop participants receive an equivalent learning experience regardless of whether they opt in or opt-out of genetic testing. Workshop content builds understanding of the strengths and current limitations of clinical genomics technologies and an appreciation for the role of empathy and compassion in enhancing patient experiences, in preparation for clinical work in any specialty. Learning activities include asynchronous exercises, in-class role plays and scenarios, and group discussion.

FMPH 491- Race, Equity, Justice, and Technology in Public Health

This course examines emerging technologies and their relevance to public health through the lens of justice, equity, and access, with a focus on how different "precision” technologies can enable or constrain progress towards alleviating disparities across diverse communities. Topics include commercial genetic testing, facial recognition and the law, forensic genetics, marketing and predictive data analytics, digital surveillance, genome editing, and artificial intelligence. Examining relevant case studies, students will learn to identify the potential for bias and recommend strategies for enhancing equity through technology in policy and practice. 

SOMI 296- Precision Health Scholars: Journeys in Genomic Testing 

This two-day workshop offers hands-on training for medical and pharmacy students in clinical applications of genetic technologies, with attention to justice and equity issues in precision health and medicine. Participants have the option to engage in a voluntary, clinically validated personal genetic testing experience through this course, to learn about their own genetic variants and engage with content from a patient perspective. The cost of this experience is covered for participants who opt-in. All workshop participants receive an equivalent learning experience regardless of whether they opt in or opt-out of genetic testing. Workshop content builds understanding of the strengths and current limitations of clinical genomics technologies and an appreciation for the role of empathy and compassion in enhancing patient experiences, in preparation for clinical work in any specialty. Learning activities include asynchronous exercises, in-class role plays and scenarios, and group discussion.

SOMI 296- Precision Health Scholars Immersive Learning Experiences 

This course is designed for pre-clerkship medical students and other health professional students interested in learning about the clinical implementation of genomics and precision medicine. Exploring a variety of case studies, the class encourages students to critically examine the meaning of genomic information and its significance for understanding and treating health conditions. Hands-on learning activities include guided demonstrations, in-class exercises with real-world genetic data and test reports, and opportunities to engage with patient advocates, genetic counselors, leaders from the San Diego genomics community, and genomics experts in industry. By unpacking commonly held assumptions about race, biology, and genetic ancestry, students build a toolkit for precision medicine inspired by the values of compassion, empathy, social justice, and health equity in clinical care.