P.L.U.S. Curriculum

At McGovern Medical School, Professionalism Learning Underscored by Service (PLUS) is intentionally integrated into the pre-clerkship curriculum, complementing classroom learning with meaningful, community-engaged experiences. Through the Integrated Medical Sciences curriculum, students participate in longitudinal partnerships with Houston-area community organizations that reinforce key curricular concepts while fostering professionalism, service, and community engagement.

Throughout the pre-clerkship years, PLUS aligns with four longitudinal themes:

1. Population Health

Students engage with organizations focused on improving community health outcomes and disease prevention. Experiences may include initiatives addressing intimate partner violence, reducing cardiovascular disease risk, increasing preventive screenings, and promoting chronic disease education in underserved populations.

2. Ethics and Professionalism

Community partnerships provide opportunities for students to explore physician advocacy, ethical leadership, and professional responsibility. Students learn how healthcare professionals can advocate for patients and communities both within and beyond clinical settings.

3. Nutrition

Students partner with organizations that promote healthy eating, food access, and chronic disease prevention. Experiences may include heart-healthy diet education, nutrition counseling initiatives, and community wellness programming.

4. Health Disparities and Advocacy

Students apply evidence-based approaches to community health education and outreach. Through service experiences, they learn to evaluate health information, communicate scientific evidence effectively, and support interventions grounded in current research.

 

Students remain with the same community partner across four service-learning experiences over two years, allowing them to build lasting relationships and gain a deeper understanding of the communities they serve. These sustained partnerships help students connect foundational medical knowledge to real-world health challenges while developing the skills and perspectives needed to become compassionate, community-informed physicians.