Beyond the Biologic Basis of Disease

Enrollment has opened for Beyond the Biologic Basis of Disease, an annual four-week immersion experience in northern Uganda for medical students. Offered by physicians affiliated with the Division of Global Health Equity at Brigham and Women's Hospital, this course links clinical tropical medicine with social medicine.

"Our social medicine course works to build deeply personal partnerships that teach us all critical lessons for advancing global health equity," says Dr. Michael Westerhaus, one of the course organizers and instructors.

The course, which lasts from January 9 to February 3, 2012, merges a number of unique pedagogical approaches including field visits, classroom-based presentations and discussions, group reflections, student presentations on previous international work, films, patient clerking and presentations, and bedside teaching. These approaches are utilized to create an innovative, interactive learning environment in which students participate as both learners and teachers to advance the entire class' understanding of the interactions between the biology of disease and the social, cultural, economic, political, and historical factors that influence illness presentation and social experience.

"I honestly think that it will forever change how I view and practice medicine," writes a participant who took the course last year.

"I've learned that although battling the factors that contribute to poverty and health care inequities is difficult, it is doable," writes another.

Learn more about this course and how to apply.

In addition, the course is also seeking an intern to help with logistics and administration.