Our Purpose
The purpose of the PURCH pathway is to use an innovative, community-centered, equity-focused, experiential curriculum to help students develop into physicians who have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to advocate for—and deliver equitable health care to—populations that are underserved and under-resourced.
We do this by:
Integrating the PURCH Principles into all facets of medical school training.
Immersing students in the communities we serve through the deep involvement of the Baystate Community Faculty and other community partners in all aspects of their medical education.
Inviting students into a community of practice of healthcare providers and community partners who model how to put PURCH principles into action in clinical care, community engagement/advocacy, and professional activities/career growth.
Delivering a solutions-focused health equity curriculum that provides opportunities to partner with community members to address real issues impacting people and health outcomes in the urban and rural communities in Western Massachusetts.
Our Vision
PURCH graduates embody the PURCH principles wherever they practice——they are excellent diagnosticians who are empathetic, team-oriented, self-reflective, and leaders that can be led.
They use the scholarly approach in patient care and community advocacy to create a more equitable healthcare system and transform the health of the patients and communities they serve.