A model for training medical student innovators: the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care Abundance Agents of Change program

Figures & data

Table 1 AoC project descriptions and main outcomes cohorts 1 and 2

Project title/cohort	Student disciplines	Main outcomes	CHC
Innovative Weight Loss Support via Mobile Technology and Social Networks (Y1/Y2)	Business, Medicine, Engineering	• Incorporated into an LLC (HealtheTrek) • Developed a beta application for testing on 120 users • Received $40,000 continuation funding from AoC to refine and develop product • Received Letter of Interest from Blue Cross/Blue Shield Innovation Fund	Union Square Family Health, Somerville, MA
Integrating Oral Health into Diabetes Group Visit Models (Y1)	Dentistry, Medicine	• Created a standard operating procedure for integration of oral health and primary care for diabetic patients • Introduced 80 diabetic patients to first-time dental care	Windsor Street Health Center, Cambridge, MA
Reducing Barriers to Care: Reproductive Health Group Visits at Malden High School (Y1/Y2)	Education, Medicine, Public Health	• Started high school-based health services for the first time since 1986 with 50 students screened and counseled on STDs in Y1 • Received $40,000 in continuation funding from AoC in order to scale up services • Received funding from City of Malden to establish permanent school-based clinic • Obtained part-time staffing of clinic by Tufts Family Medicine residents and attending	Malden Family Health Center, Malden, MA
Novel Educational Game for Improving Adherence in Pediatric Asthma Patients (Y1)	Business, Medicine, Public Health	• Developed beta type of a game to improve adherence in pediatric asthma patients • Due to the amount of time to code and create a virtual game, this product was not tested by the end of the grant year	Dimock Community Health Center, Roxbury, MA
Tai Chi for Improved Balance and Wellness among the elderly (Y2)	Business, Public Health, Medicine	• Developed a protocol and tool kit for starting Tai Chi classes at CHCs with instructional videos • 43 Tai Chi classes held, with an average of 10 participants per class	Bowdin Street Health Center, Dorchester, MA
Trial of new clinical position: Adolescent Health Coach (Y2)	Medicine, Public Health, Pediatrics Resident, Physician Assistant, Policy	• 54 youths screened and added to the health coach caseload • Standard operating procedures developed for integration of adolescent health coach into CHC • Position of adolescent health coach became a permanent position funded by clinic budget	Chelsea Health Center, Chelsea, MA
Closing the Loop between pharmacy and clinicians (Y2)	Medicine, Public Health, Business	• Project had not impacted clinic by the end of the project year	Joseph M Smith Health Center, Boston, MA
Refer Smarter to decrease wait time for specialist visits (Y2)	Medicine, Business	• Five physicians at CHC adapted application for referral • 24 cases were referred though the application	Codman Square Health Center, Dorchester, MA

Table 2 Systems-based innovation curriculum

Grant month	Topic	Description
1	Introduction to CHCs	Introduction to CHCs, their history of formation, their role in the community, populations typically served, how CHCs fit into the Boston area healthcare system
2	Introduction to Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Collaboration	Introduction into principles of CBPR, forming collaborations with CHCs and community members; IRB considerations and process
3	Project Management I: Budgets, Work-Plans.	How to create, manage, and track budgets and work-plans, including online tools and resources
3	The Iterative Process: ‘Build–Measure–Learn’	Introduction to ‘Lean Start-up’ methodology, including how to quickly deploy beta versions, field test, and iterate
4	Project Management II: Communication Skills, Intellectual Property & Legal Issues	Developing effective communication plans and strategies with team members, CHCs and clients; introduction to intellectual property, content sharing, agreements between developers; how to incorporate and risks and benefits (non-profit vs. for-profit), resources for legal advice
5	Monitoring and Evaluation	Developing and tracking project indicators, markers of success, and reporting on indicators
5	Re-Iterating: Challenges and Opportunities	Using data collected from end users and other analytics to re-iterate products
6	No Seminar – Summer Month
7	No Seminar – Summer Month
8	Formal Mid-Year Presentations of Progress
9	Data Management and Analysis	How to safely and securely store data; data analysis software; resources at Harvard for data analysis
10	Marketing and Scaling-up	Developing a brand for the product; developing pitches to donors/investors; developing scale-up plan
11	Developing Sustainability Plans	How to create long-term/sustainability plan; finding opportunities for future funding (private vs. public)
12	Final Showcase