CHSU Discovery

Introduction: The Central Valley is one of the most medically underserved regions of California. It is largely populated by vulnerable groups afflicted by high poverty and uninsured rates. Hurdles to healthcare include lack of access to care, shortage of physician and healthcare workers, and cultural barriers. These difficulties lead to high rates of chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Other notable health needs of the Valley include mental health disorders and Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis), a fungal infection prevalent in the Central Valley. At California Health Sciences University, College of Osteopathic Medical School (CHSU-COM), first- and second-year osteopathic medical students address population health concepts by engaging in a two-year course, Physician's Role in the Health System (PRHS). In this course, students learn about health systems and quality improvement, and implement the learned concepts into projects coordinated with local clinics and healthcare facilities. Through these projects, the students identify barriers to improve patient health outcomes while addressing health disparities and social determinants of health specific to the Central Valley. This review aims to classify, quantify, and assess the diversity of 3 years of population health projects from the PRHS program.