One Patient Global Health Initiative’s Training and Education division strongly believes in a Teaching and Learning Model.  Many medical students and recent graduates report having little to no training, feeling ill prepared to deal with factors contributing to health disparities. This significant lack of understanding of the social determinants of health among healthcare providers can lead to perceived lack of empathy and understanding of the impact of patient socio-economic conditions. Whether actual or perceived, patients report feeling dismissed or judged because of their socioeconomic status. For those in the medical field it is critical to possess the knowledge of and practice towards improving social determinants of health.  If this aspect of a student’s education is deficient, patients suffer.  

OPGHI has developed a multifaceted approach that includes efforts to improve access to healthcare and cultural competency training for future healthcare providers. By training these students to identify and address the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that contribute to health disparities, OPGHI emphasizes a model of empathy, skill, and building bidirectional trust.