Dean A. Sasaki, MD; Rashmi Mullur, MD; Seetal Cheema, MD; Kirsten Tillisch, MD; Adriana Izquierdo, MD

Background: Early Authentic Clinical Experience (EACE) is a course designed to provide immersive, real-life clinical experiences for first-year UCLA medical students.  VA Whole Health, an initiative led by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks to transform healthcare by centering care around Veterans’ mission, aspiration, and purpose, and focusing on their values as intrinsic motivation for behavior change and life-long health.  Adopting this approach represents a novel opportunity for medical student education.  

Methods: The West Los Angeles VA Whole Health EACE site welcomed a cohort of 3 first-year UCLA medical students in 2022-23.  Across 12 afternoon sessions, students engaged in the VA’s model of Whole Health.  They explored patients’ core values, partnered with allied health professionals, and delved into self-care topics including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and psychological wellbeing.  Sessions integrated medical knowledge and clinical skills taught throughout the DGSOM curriculum.  Evaluations from students and faculty were reviewed for the 12 sessions and used to assess how Whole Health activities aligned with EACE core learning objectives. 

Results: Students contributed value through direct patient care in inpatient, outpatient, telehealth, and nursing home visits.  They benefited from education and collaboration with interdisciplinary staff.  They recognized the impact of housing, food access, functional status, and health literacy on Whole Health, and reflected on their own identities as future physicians during team discussions. 

Conclusion: Survey results indicate that VA Whole Health meets EACE core learning objectives through values-driven, patient-centered, team-based care applied longitudinally across a variety of healthcare settings.  Further study is warranted on incorporating Whole Health into medical student education and assessing implications for patient care, student experience, and educational outcomes.