One of two students who developed five separate health policy sessions for the MS2 Principles of Clinical Medicine course. Invited speakers and moderated panel discussions. Topics chosen included a review of the evolution of healthcare administration in the US and our current healthcare model, the complexity of redesigning healthcare and the impact of policy change, patient lifestyle choices versus economic forces in the setting of disparate income and opportunities, and the conflict of interest between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry.

1. Overview of the US Health Care System,  John Saultz, MD

2. The Archimedes Movement – Medical Ethics, Rationing Health Care, and the Oregon Experiment,  John Kitzhaber, MD

3. Health Care Responsibility – Factoring in Patient Choice/Lifestyle into Health Policy and Cost

   • John McConnell, MD (evidence)

   • Evan Saulino, MD (patient responsibility in the setting of low income)

   • Geoff Brown (consumer directed benefits)

4. Redesigning Health Care Systems – Reducing Costs Without Sacrificing Quality

   • David Douglas, MD (VA medical system redesign and implementation of electronic medical records)

   • Chuck Kilo, MD (primary care office practice redesign)

5. Controversies in Medicine – Pharmaceutical Companies

   • Richard Lowensohn, MD (member of No Free Lunch)

   • Wayne Centrone, ND MPH (advocate for samples for homeless uninsured)

   • Patricia Norris, MD (purchases samples for her uninsured/low income patients)

   • John Swen (drug representative)

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