Co-Curricular Certificate in Social Determinants of Health

The Co-Curricular Social Determinants of Health Certificate will teach students core content knowledge about how the conditions in which people live, work, and play impact health outcomes. Students will put this knowledge into action through community-based service-learning opportunities.

In order to complete the co-curricular Community Engaged Care certificate, students must complete the four-session Serving the Underserved course and attend six Conversations on Health Disparities and one SDoH Intensive workshop. Students must also self-report two service-learning activities through the UTHSC Engage platform. Students may enroll in the certificate at any time and may complete the required components at their own pace. The certificate is open to students, faculty, and staff at all UTHSC campuses. For questions about the certificate, please email Jess Guthrie.

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Certificate Structure

Each of our sessions will focus on a topic related to the social determinants of health (SDoH), led by featured speakers who are leaders within the Memphis community and beyond. Students will have opportunities to interact with the relevant topics among themselves and with the presenters. While this program is interprofessional in nature, discipline-specific breakout sessions will be offered when appropriate.

Serving the Underserved

Serving the Underserved sessions provide a general foundation for understanding SDoH and developing the skills needed to address SDoH in clinical practice and in the community. This cohort-based program is offered once each Fall and Spring semester and meets on four consecutive Wednesday evenings to teach students core content knowledge about how the conditions in which people live, work, and play impact health outcomes. These sessions are led by community partners who specialize in that session’s content area. Students will complete a reflection following the final session to receive certificate credit for the course.

Conversations on Health Disparities

To view past Conversations on Health Disparities, visit our Mediasite Channel.

These conversations with local experts explore specific constituent elements of SDoH. Conversation sessions will be offered via Zoom several times each semester and are open to the campus community. Sessions will be offered on a rotating basis to accommodate student schedules. Students will complete a reflection after the conversation in order to receive credit for that session.

SDoH Intensives

SDoH Intensives will be used to apply SDoH knowledge to practice. Offered regularly each semester, these workshops will provide students with more intensive training or external certification they will be able to use in their practice or through community engagement. Topics will vary according to the facilitator and may include Engaging Community Partners and Assessing Partnerships; Transitions to Success; Narrative Medicine and Motivational Interviewing; Cultural Competency in Clinic and Community; Trauma-Informed Care. Students will complete a reflection on the workshop in order to receive credit for the intensive session.

Service-Learning Activities

Students will complete two service-learning activities in the community. Service-learning opportunities will vary depending on community partner needs and availability. To search for these community engagement opportunities, you can visit Service Opportunities on UTHSC Engage. Students may self-report their service-learning activities in Engage.

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