The Area of Concentration (AoC) program provides institutional support for interdisciplinary projects in seven thematic areas, comparable to a "minor" concentration in college. The Social Sciences in Medicine AoC includes fields of inquiry in anthropology, sociology, and integrative medicine.

Students who enroll in the Social Sciences in Medicine will participate in a two-week core course titled The Clinician as Ethnographer, which trains participants in principles of ethnographic research and introduces them to a variety of social science topics and methods in order to prepare them to conduct a field research project. The broad range of research possibilities includes issues in cross-cultural healing, health disparities, and complementary and alternative medicine.

The first step in getting involved in this AoC is to log onto iRocket, go to the "Areas of Concentration" course, select the “Social Sciences in Medicine,” and fill out the Interest Form. You should also speak to Dave Backman in the Office of Curricular Affairs (S-221).

For more information about the Social Sciences track of this AoC, please contact either of the co-directors:

Shelley R. Adler, PhD
UCSF Department of Family and Community Medicine
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine

Ellen F. Hughes, MD, PhD
UCSF Department of Medicine
Osher Center for Integrative Medicine