Pathways Curriculum

The Heritage College and the Pathways to Health and Wellness curriculum commit to the following goals:

• Provide a clinically integrated, learning-centered, osteopathic medical education continuum for students, interns, residents and primary care associates.
• Embrace diversity and public service.
• Improve the health and well-being of underserved populations.

All Heritage College medical students begin their medical education with Osteopathic Approach to Patient Care 1, which focuses on wellness. Each week, students are provided with learning objectives, outcomes and preparatory materials to direct study, activate prior experience and knowledge, and identify areas for growth.

Educational topics to be emphasized are identified and presented via a patient case and guide the integrated learning activities throughout the week. Activities include integrated learning labs, osteopathic patient care skills, simulated experiences and early clinical experiences. A reporting phase will allow for reflection and assimilation in a small-group format.

Heritage College Graduate Outcomes & Curriculum Outline

1. Foundation of personal well-being
   1. Sets aside time for self-care and renewal, recognizing that physician burnout is an impediment to best patient care and outcomes
   2. Strives toward a self-directed, evolving process to achieve one’s full potential
   3. Nurtures emotional intelligence in self and others
   4. Builds and maintains integrity in all relationships
2. Adaptable
   1. Demonstrates improvisation and creativity
   2. Intentionally learns by problem-solving in practice
   3. Continually improves and adapts one’s practice in response to errors, to feedback from patients and colleagues, and to changes in the environment of care delivery
3. Team-based generalist
   1. Actively participates as a member of interprofessional health care teams
   2. Works well with other specialists in co-managing patients appropriately
   3. Demonstrates competence in a broad array of clinical areas, yet acknowledges own limitations
   4. Recognizes strengths in other members of team when choosing whether to lead or follow
4. Integrated osteopathic thinking and practice
   1. Respects the uniqueness of each patient
   2. Works towards optimal wellness by acknowledging the body's structure-function interrelationship and intrinsic healing potential, and applies treatment appropriately
   3. Integrates knowledge of the body’s form and function and the inter-connectedness of its systems to apply osteopathic principles throughout patient care
5. Evidence-based
   1. Applies sound scientific evidence
   2. Builds empirical evidence from one’s own experience
   3. Uses best practices to continually advance one’s knowledge and decision making skills throughout one’s professional career
   4. Critically evaluates and optimizes patient care and patient care practices
6. Compassionate
   1. Demonstrates empathy for patients
   2. Respects patient autonomy
   3. Embraces diversity
7. Community
   1. Engages in activities aimed at providing and maintaining healthier communities and lifestyles for one’s patients
   2. Follows developments in local, state, and national health policy
   3. Seeks opportunities to become a health policy leader to increase individual access to comprehensive, quality, cost-effective health care