The Primary Care Leadership Track at the Duke University School of Medicine: creating change agents to improve population health.
OBJECTIVE
Physicians need training in community engagement, leadership, and population health to prepare them to work with partners within the community and to adapt medical care to address population health needs.


METHODS
With an overall goal of training primary care practitioners to be change agents for improving population health, the Duke University School of Medicine launched the Primary Care Leadership Track (PCLT) in 2011. The four-year PCLT curriculum requires students to contribute to existing community health initiatives, perform community-engaged research, and participate in leadership training. The clinical curriculum incorporates a longitudinal approach to allow students to follow patient outcomes. In addition, students regularly interact with faculty to explore population health issues, review patient cases, and adjust individual learning opportunities as needed.


RESULTS
The first cohort of PCLT students will graduate in 2015. Prospective comparisons with traditional track students are planned on performance on standardized tests and career choices.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors created the PCLT as a laboratory in which students can engage with the community and explore solutions to address the health of the public and the future delivery of health care. To meet the goal of training change agents, PCLT leaders need to expand opportunities for students to learn from providers and organizations that are successfully bridging the gap between medical care and public health.
Dr. Sheline is associate professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, and assistant dean for primary care, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Tran is assistant professor and vice chief of education, Duke Division of Community Health, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Jackson is assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, and assistant program director, Primary Care Leadership Track, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Peyser is associate professor, Department of Medicine, and assistant program director, Primary Care Leadership Track, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. Ms. Rogers is senior program coordinator, Primary Care Leadership Track, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Engle is director of evaluation and assessment, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
Barbara
B
Sheline
Anh N
AN
Tran
Joseph
J
Jackson
Bruce
B
Peyser
Susan
S
Rogers
Deborah
D
Engle
D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009657:North Carolina; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D012577:Schools, Medical