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Social and Health Systems – SHS 1-2-3 Courses Co-Director

The Offices of Medical Student Education (OMSE) seeks a co-director for the Social and Health Systems (SHS) 1, 2, and 3 courses in the Foundation Phase of the MD curriculum. These courses meet one afternoon weekly during each semester of the Foundation Phase. The afternoon sessions consist of a faculty development meeting followed by small group facilitation/teaching with a group of students. SHS 1 focuses on social and cultural factors that influence health and healthcare; SHS 2 focuses on ethics in clinical encounters, research, and public health; and SHS 3 focuses on policy dimensions of healthcare including organization and financing. The course directors are responsible for course content and faculty development and will teach small groups in SHS 1-2-3. This position reports to the Assistant Dean of Preclinical Curriculum on behalf of the Associate Dean for Curriculum and Senior Associate Dean for Medical Student Education.

The new co-director will partner with the existing SHS 1-2-3 co-director, Foundation Phase Co-directors, the Assistant Dean of Preclinical Curriculum, and the Assistant Director of Curricular Affairs for Foundation Phase with respect to the overall design, management, integration, evaluation, and enhancement of the courses. Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversight: Plan logical sequencing and horizontal and vertical coordination of the Social and Health Systems curriculum across Foundation/Application/Individualization phases; assure that curricular content, and methods of pedagogy and assessment are appropriate for achievement of the SOM’s educational objectives; and assure that SOM educational policies are being followed within the phase.  Additionally, course directors are expected to collaborate with SHS 4 and 5 course directors to facilitate alignment among the three phases of MD curriculum.
• Health Equity content: Ongoing collaboration with the Health Equity through Education and Leadership (HEEL) team to continue to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to help narrow health inequities as they progress through their careers.
• Competency-Based Assessment (CBA): Work with the Foundation Phase Co-directors, Senior Director of Curricular Affairs and the Assistant Dean of Preclinical Curriculum to develop and implement competency-based education and assessments.
• Review: Conduct regular review and revision of the SHS curriculum using multiple measures, including disciplinary standards of excellence and student feedback; assess whether collected metrics provide the necessary information to show that the SHS courses are achieving SOM competencies; and participate actively to ensure the SOM remains well prepared for the 2027-28 LCME accreditation visit.
• Administration: Attend bimonthly Foundation Phase planning meetings and monthly Foundation Phase Committee meetings. The course directors serve as voting members on the Foundation Phase Committee.

Candidates may come from any department. Preference will be given to those who have served as small group instructors in SHS 1, 2 or 3, and who have experience with content related to the SHS curriculum. The co-director will receive 30% salary support up to a salary cap on an annual basis.

Self-nominations as well as nominations by chairs are welcome. Ideal candidates will be interviewed with a final selection being made by April 2025. Nominations and applications (including a CV and personal statement) will be accepted by Kathleen (Kathy) Barnhouse, Assistant Dean of Preclinical Curriculum

(kathleen_barnhouse@med.unc.edu) until 5 pm on February 21, 2025. By applying for this position, candidates agree to a review of all relevant teaching evaluations. Statements of support from the appropriate division chief/chair will be solicited from select candidates after an initial review. This is an at will position and performance will be reviewed yearly by the OMSE.