Our Education Aim

• Fall 2021: Our inaugural PHS 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: A revamped version of PHS, this course incorporated two in-person workshops which bookended asynchronous, experiential learning over 10 weeks. Participants had 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- 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.  

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.