Our leaders are always available to contact if you are interested in learning more about Value Based Medicine. Current leadership contacts are available on our Students and Alumni page.

Students at UCSD may earn a "Letter of Distinction" in High Value Healthcare for future application files, MSPE, etc.

The letter will be formally endorsed and signed by the national Choosing Wisely STARS foundation and Dr. Seymann.

In order to qualify for this letter,  students must do the following:

1. Complete Med 285

2. Complete all 10 Dell Modules

3. Become an active member of the HVC Student Interest Group

   1. This includes attendance at events (at least 3 events to apply for the distinction) as well as participation (in things like a case competition, the Health Value Lab project, planning or running a VBM meeting, or staffing the VBM table at events like second look).

4. Complete a written testimonial (1-2 paragraphs is sufficient) committing to integrate value-based care principles in your future practice

When you have met the requirements, please fill out this form and email the Faculty Director Dr. Greg Seymann at gseymann@health.ucsd.edu once your application is submitted to begin the review process.

Typically offered in winter, enrollment via medhub

Course Synopsis

This course is designed to introduce students to the concept of value in healthcare: maximizing outcomes that matter to patients per total costs of care. In recent years, the movement to advance high-value care has gained momentum, with legislation such as the Affordable Care Act creating reimbursement models linking payment to performance.

In order to ensure future generations have access to affordable healthcare, we embrace the view of multiple professional organizations (including the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, the American College of Physicians, and the American Board of Internal Medicine) that we must foster a culture which prioritizes evidence-based, high value healthcare at the earliest stages of medical training. At its core, value-based healthcare is centered on improving patient-centered outcomes—maximizing quality, safety, and affordability—while exercising good stewardship of limited health care resources.

Students will be exposed to topics including health care financing, administration, waste and inefficiencies—as well as methods to combat overutilization—and delivery models that prioritize and incentivize a team-based approach to care delivery and coordination, in contrast to the traditional fee-for-service model. The course will feature a variety of faculty facilitators to allow a broad perspective by highlighting real-world applications of high-value care in practice.

This course is offered in a “flipped classroom” model.  During the first 90 minutes, the students independently review the online modules and materials assigned for the day’s discussion.  We come together in person for the second 90 minutes for an engaging and interactive session based on the materials led by a faculty facilitator.  The course is listed as 1pm – 4 pm, but the in-person instruction begins at 2:30 pm in MET 315 on Monday afternoons during the Winter Quarter.