Integrating Public and Population Health Into Medical Education Curricula: Opportunities and Challenges for Reform

Abstract

In a review of U.S. medical education curricular guidance, from premedical studies through to continuing medical education, Maeshiro and colleagues found limited examples of public and population health topics. In this Commentary, the authors emphasize the importance of including public and population health in the curriculum, pointing to curricular reform efforts to integrate these topics into teaching of basic sciences and clinical studies. In addition, they consider the expectations placed on physicians to meet the needs of the population and argue that policies that support public health funding, infrastructure, and workers are also critical to improving the health of communities.