Social determinants of health are defined as conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affects a wide range of health outcomes including quality of life and life expectancy. Social determinants of health are modifiable and include many less obvious factors, such as societal systems and structural forces which are often more difficult to recognize and teach.  It is important for community-based professionals, such as physicians, nurses, social workers, and educators to understand how social determinants of health can impact their patients, clients, and students. This information can be passively taught through lectures or readings, but providing more interactive ways to engage with the material will make it more meaningful and memorable and have more impact long-term.

During this session you will learn about the various activities that we used to engage medical students in learning about social determinants of health during a multi-semester course using a virtual family.

Additionally, consideration will be given for how to modify the virtual family and activities for community-based professionals who are not direct healthcare providers as well as how to use this format as a complement to a single semester course.