Through individualized experiences in the third year - the hallmark of a curriculum created from scratch to turn future physicians into leaders, a nine-month Innovation, Leadership, and Discovery block affords students the opportunity to pursue a distinction where they will concentrate full-time on advancing clinical practice through research, engage in the process of medical innovation, or focus on making an impact on the healthcare landscape in the community. During their engagement in their chosen distinction, students will also continue clinical practice in primary care, family, and community medicine with the option for other electives, as well as longitudinal courses in Developing Outstanding Clinical Skills, Interprofessional Education, and Leadership. 

Research

During the Research Distinction, students work with faculty to design and implement a project from multiple options spanning the spectrum of research at The University of Texas at Austin or our clinical partners. Working in a rigorous scholarly environment with a faculty mentor, they develop skills for investigation and learn how to communicate findings.

Clinical Innovation and Design

During the Clinical Innovation and Design Distinction, student will focus on designing meaningful solutions to the current pressing needs in health care which requires the development of a variety of complex skills, including the ability to identify meaningful problems, design thinking to find creative solutions and entrepreneurship to implement them. Students actively learn the process of medical technology and process innovation by working with biomedical engineering graduate students in a structured and mentored experience. As part of the program, students identify concrete clinical needs and address them through technology.

Social Entrepreneurship

During the Social Entrepreneurship Distinction, students will take a deep dive into social innovation, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building. Students completing the Distinction will learn how to leverage their knowledge of the healthcare system and medical expertise to make an impact in the healthscape (i.e., settings beyond the clinic). In this Distinction, students will learn how to move an idea for social impact from concept to reality, diversifying their skillset to include new skills in areas like program design, management, fundraising, impact evaluation, and more.