HEALTH, CARE AND SOCIETY

The Albany Medical College has been a national leader among medical schools during the past 10 years in comprehensive and innovative curriculum development. Currently, there are four ongoing courses that run concurrently with basic science and clinical training throughout the four years of medical school.

The overarching goal is to train a new generation of physicians in a broad range of patient-centered skills and clinical competencies. Health, Care and Society, one of the four courses, provides a comprehensive orientation to the medical students on the broader aspects of the physician-patient relationship.

By the time of graduation, students are expected to be able to analyze thoroughly and systematically any clinical case that presents ethical issues and to be able to recognize and recommend reasonable alternative solutions. In addition, students have a strong orientation in knowing how to recognize and attend to patient concerns relating to death and dying, cultural diversity, alternative medicine and spirituality.

In short, this course prepares students to be at the forefront nationally in being competent in the most basic component of quality medical care: establishing an effective physician-patient relationship in order to care for the total patient.