The general purpose of an Area of Concentration (AOC) is to allow medical students to pursue a rigorous academic program of their specific interest in addition to the standard curriculum. The Area of Concentration in Women's Health (AOC-WH) is designed for a small number of students with a strong interest in developing an additional expertise in the problems both uniquely affecting women and presenting differently in women. A certificate from the School of Medicine will be awarded at the completion of four years of requirements.

By the end of the four year program, participating students will be able to:

• Discuss in detail, the impact of gender on a disease: progress and treatment in a "traditional disease model".
• Discuss the biological basis for major gender differences in disease presentation.
• Understand issues that affect females across the life span.
• Appreciate the diverse sociocultural aspects of gender as related to:
  • Role of the woman in family
  • Role of the woman in community
  • Influence of various ethnic groups
  • Issues of independence and dependence
  • Abuse issues
• Behavorial/psychiatric aspects of gender and:
  • PMS
  • Eating disorders
  • Stress
  • Postpartum depression
  • Psychiatric response to menopause
• Describe gender-specific approaches to preventative health behaviors and health promotion to common  medical illness (Example: antibiotics cause vaginitis in women).

• Faculty Mentor: Students will maintain regular contact with a knowledgeable faculty member who has interest or experience in the area of women's health. The faculty mentor will oversee the student's academic program and progress.
• Research Project: Students will participate in an on-going research project, demonstration model or innovative practice in women's health under faculty supervision (Examples: Magee-Women's Research Institute project, Women's Health Summer experience [HOPE program], etc).
• Community-Based Non-Medical Services: Students will visit at least two agencies, services, or programs associated with women’s health. This can include; Adult Day Care, Nursing Homes. Abuse Hotlines, Methadone Center, Persad, Day Care Setting, Eating Disorder Clinic, Exercise Program, etc.
• AOC-WH meetings: Students will attend bimonthly informal meetings to discuss local and national concerns in women's health, review of AOC-WH requirements, organizing for AOC-WH workshops, extended discussion of journal club topics, and brainstorming for new ideas and program improvement. Sessions in the spring will be coordinated by senior students as a means of sharing their "scholarship"
• Student-Specific Multi-Departmental Journal Clubs: Students will participate in a jointly sponsored monthly journal club (Department of Medicine and Department of Ob/Gyn). AOC-WH meetings will be held immediately after this journal club to maximize scheduling efficiency. Students will also participate in the monthly Women's Health Journal Club sponsored by the Women's Health Internal Medicine Residency.
• AOC-WH Workshops: Students will organize and assist in the presentation of two workshops about specific areas of women's health per semester. Second year students will be primarily responsible, with assistance from third and fourth year students. The workshops will be presented as PBLs, and open to the entire medical student body. The first four women's health workshop topics will be cardiovascular health, STDs, domestic and sexual abuse, and proper taking of a sexual history.
• Experiential Journal: Students will keep a reflective journal throughout the program.  Entries will include visits with mentor, community services, and perspectives about specific involvements with female patients.
• Elective Rotations: Students will take at least one one-month elective rotation in women's health during the fourth year.
• Portfolio: Students will assemble a portfolio that will include a personal statement of philosophy, papers, research reports, annotated bibliographies, selected journal entries, evaluations, and other evidence of the educational experience. A committee of three faculty members will evaluate the portfolio in the fourth year.

The requirements for the AOC will span across all four years of medical school and will include the following areas: Content, Service, Mentorship, Clinical Experience, and Scholarship. Opportunities for these requirements are delineated by year:

Year 1

• AOC-WH meetings (bimonthly).
• Student-Specific Multi-Departmental Journal Clubs (monthly)
• At end of year I declare AOC concentration.

Between Year 1 and Year 2

• Recommended time for research project.

Year 2

• Continued attendance at journal clubs and AOC-WH meetings.
• Ambulatory experience to consist of PALS or DV.
• Reproductive Health experience with Dr. Watt-Morse.
• Home visits to homebound elderly women (GEM visits).
• Primary coordination of AOC-WH workshops
• Identify faculty mentor and specific concentration of women's health (primary care, domestic violence, reproductive health, etc).

Year 3

• Continued attendance at journal clubs and AOC-WH meetings.
• Secondary coordination of AOC-WH workshops.
• Women's Health Selective through CAMC.
• Regular meetings with faculty mentor (at least 4 times a year).

Year 4

• Continued attendance at jounal clubs and AOC-WH meetings.
• Secondary coordination of AOC-WH workshops.
• At least one elective dedicated to Women's Health not including Al experience.
• Presentation of scholarship at AOC-WH meeting.
• Completion of journal for faculty evaluation.
• Regular meetings with faculty mentor (at least 4 times a year).