How Medical Schools Can Promote Community Collaboration Through Health Systems Science Education

Traditional focus areas of medical education are insufficient for preparing future clinicians to function well in the rapidly evolving US health care system. In response, many medical schools and residency programs are integrating into their curricula health systems science (HSS), which includes health care policy, public and population health, interprofessional collaboration, value-based care, health system improvement, and systems thinking. To illustrate the value of HSS, the authors draw upon their experiences as a medical student immersed in HSS and as an educator facilitating students' cultivation of HSS skills.