The Keck School of Medicine of USC cultivates MD students to become Physician-Citizen-Scholars who are empowered to be future leaders in health justice and health care with the skills necessary to serve and advocate for diverse communities, improve human health and health systems, and advance and apply scientific discovery.
The Physician-Citizen-Scholar MD Curriculum ensures that Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) students: gain the medical knowledge and clinical skills to be outstanding Physicians; learn through collaboration with other health professionals, patients and our surrounding communities to be respectful and respected Citizens who serve and lead; and are trained in methods of scientific inquiry and equipped as lifelong Scholars, able to contribute to new discoveries and to solving problems of patient care and health systems.
The Physician-Citizen-Scholar MD Curriculum emphasizes active learning strategies, early clinical immersion, and a learning environment that fosters the wellbeing and professional development of students. It is anchored by longitudinal coursework and experiential learning in Health Justice. All KSOM students are trained in how social determinants of health affect the health outcomes of individuals and populations while ensuring that students acquire skills in community assessment, health policy, and advocacy that can be used to advance health equity. All KSOM students receive a Certificate in Health Justice to reflect the core nature of this comprehensive and immersive curriculum.