This course introduces planetary health, an emerging field that involves interdisciplinary exploration of the relationships between human health and the environment. Planetary health examines how environmental changes – including climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution – impact public health across the globe. Students will explore the various components of planetary health with a focus on clinical medicine and health systems. This course also highlights how vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly, are disproportionately affected by these challenges.

In this seminar-style course, students investigate how cultural perspectives shape health and healing both in the U.S. and globally. Using a reverse classroom format, students engage in readings, case studies, interviews with physicians, and reflective writing. The course also builds essential academic skills such as literature searches, critical reading, referencing, and scientific writing.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of medical illustration and its enduring significance. From ancient depictions of anatomy and disease to modern representations of surgical procedures, medical illustration has long served as both a visual tool and a historical record of medical knowledge and belief. While photography and videography have transformed medical documentation, illustration remains vital for clarifying complex concepts, highlighting key details, and conveying information precisely. Students will examine how medical illustration continues to shape public understanding of health and disease and its role in education, research, and clinical communication.

Effective communication is central to clinical care: it builds trust, enhances patient outcomes, and supports therapeutic relationships. This course examines the theory and research underlying clinician-patient interactions, emphasizing the role of both verbal and non-verbal communication in diagnosis and treatment. Through readings, online modules, video analysis, and practical exercises such as patient interviews, students will develop essential communication skills critical to all areas of healthcare delivery.

A mandatory capstone experience for senior PLME students, this course supports the transition to medical school. Through lectures, seminars, and hands-on practice with standardized patients, students explore clinical reasoning, biomedical ethics, professional identity, and population health. The course emphasizes communication skills, literature analysis, and preparation for early success in medical training.