Student Selected Components (SSCs) in General Practice and the Community

Find out more about SSC's and learning objectives.

SSC: Lifestyle Medicine 

This course introduces students to the rapidly growing field of Lifestyle Medicine and its role within primary care. Through a blend of theory, evidence-based learning, and practical sessions such as mindfulness and pilates, visit to the refugee kitchen and wellbeing walk, students will explore how lifestyle interventions can improve health outcomes for both patients and practitioners. Students will gain the knowledge and confidence to explain the principles of Lifestyle Medicine, apply current evidence, set personal health goals, and create patient resources. The SSC emphasises the importance of lifestyle in wellbeing and equips future clinicians with the skills to integrate these approaches into everyday practice.

Learning objectives:

  1. To understand and be able to demonstrate this understanding by explaining what is meant by the term “Lifestyle Medicine” to a patient or colleague.
  2. To examine knowledge from the evolving evidence-base in this specialty.
  3. To use experience from practical lifestyle sessions to inform personal goal setting, and production of a patient resource
  4. To gain experience and confidence in discussing lifestyle interventions and understanding the positive effects these can have on patients.

SSC:  Blood, bugs and pus: becoming a better doctor through films, paintings and words

We will look at films, paintings and stories as well as museum visits to help answer these questions. How can I improve my clinical skills? How can watching films, looking at paintings and reading stories help my observational and history taking skills? How are doctors represented on screen and in paintings? Where do doctors stand in society today and how has this changed? 

Learning Objectives

1. We will look at doctors in films and paintings and see how these observational skills can be transferred to improving clinical skills. 

2. To help identify the students’ own expectations of their career in medicine. 

3. Understand more about the language of film, film narrative and paintings & their relevance to the practice of medicine. 

4. To develop skills to enable reflective practice throughout their career. 

5. Understand more about the evolving roles that doctors play in society.

SSC: Patients in films, paintings and words: dissection through the lens from Rembrandt to Greys

We will use film, painting and stories as well as museum and gallery visits to help medical students to understand how: 

• they may develop during medical school 

• to develop their abilities to take a clinical history and observe patients.

Learning Objectives

1. To improve observational and history taking skills through looking at films, paintings and reading. 

2. To develop critical and interpretive skills in the arts. 

3. To learn the language of film and film narrative and understand their relevance to the practice of medicine. 

4. To help identify the students’ own expectations of their career in medicine. 5. To appreciate the ways in which illness can interfere with a patient’s life. 

6. To assist students to cope effectively with the demands of a medical education & career. 

7. To develop skills to enable reflective practice throughout their career.

SSC: The evolving role of the General Practitioner

We will explore the speciality of Primary Care and how it is changing.

We will visit a general practice including opportunities for discussion with patients. Classroom sessions will focus on primary care and exploring the changing primary care landscape, current digital health technologies and their impact on primary care.

Learning objectives

  1. To explore current and future NHS structure including the concepts of primary and secondary care
  2. To provide an example of how primary care can provide care for vulnerable groups
  3. To learn about digital health in research and practise
  4. To learn how patients in primary care are managed using triage and how the primary care workforce is changing
  5. To describe doctor-patient interactions and review key learning points such as the central importance of the narrative in making a diagnosis

SSC: Who Cares

“Who Cares?” aims to support students to gain a deeper understanding of health inequalities, living with multiple health and social challenges, and how communities can work together to support social inclusion and cohesion. This is an experiential module whereby students visit local community services who support people with complex health and social care needs.

Learning objectives: 

  1. To develop your understanding of the complex interplay between health inequalities, wellbeing, society, and social exclusion.
  2. To consider how, as a future doctor, you can work sensitively and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and multiple health and psychosocial needs.
  3. To consider how, as a future doctor, you can take account of health inequalities and work to provide equitable care to all patients to achieve social inclusion.
  4. To develop your confidence and communication skills to work with people who may be socially disadvantaged and/or marginalised in society.

To develop key skills in team working with your peers and presenting ideas and reflections based on your experiences on this SSC.

SSC contact

pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk