ALA 109 is one of the two courses that everyone in the Health Sciences Scholars Program (HSSP) takes. The focus of the course is health care “people” – the range of professionals who make up the healthcare team. Class topics include: “A-day-in-the-life of” healthcare providers;
medical school admission and financing; careers as advanced practice clinicians, like midwifery and physician assistant paths; interprofessional education; non-clinical healthcare roles, like biomedical engineering and healthcare administration; professional ethics; patient-caregiver
communication; sexual harassment in medicine, unconscious bias and microaggressions and their impact on patient and healthcare provider experiences; and burnout. The class culminates in a series of case studies that illustrate the range of ways people have careers in healthcare. Past cases studies have included: gender affirming care provision; care of LGBTQ patients; care of people with AIDS; public health careers; healthcare providers as human rights advocates. Guest lecturers are an important part of the course, offering diversity of experience
and identity, as well as exposure to the depth and breadth of expertise within University of Michigan. In addition to a weekly lecture, students also meet weekly in “labs” to continue exploration of course content through small group team-based activities. Approximately half of the weeks of the semester we have invited guests as part of our evening “Autobiography” series. Speakers reflect on their own paths in healthcare and offer guidance, and usually inspiration.