Beyond Genograms: The Art of Engaging Medical Learners in Systems Thinking

Date of Review: December, 2019

This resource includes a PowerPoint presentation (with speaker notes) on a systems approach to thinking about medicine and healthcare, as well as 3 worksheets to support a facilitated discussion/exercise with trainees. In the exercise, participants are asked to assemble their own life and eco maps, in order to better understand how their patients’ context affect health. This resource may be helpful as an introductory session to engage learners to appreciating the relevance of social and structural determinants of health, by allowing them to recognize how their lives are also affected by such factors. Limitations: It may be challenging for an educator unfamiliar with these topics to use the materials. –Amy Caruso Brown, MD, NCEAS