Sat, Sep 5, 2026
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1- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health and Metabolic Diseases Research Institute, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , saedomid@gmail.com
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (7 Views)
Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) significantly influence health outcomes and inequities. In Iran, the undergraduate medical curriculum remains largely biomedical, while the country’s health needs demand physicians who can recognize and respond to social risks. This commentary argues that integrating SDoH is not an optional addition but a strategic imperative for advancing health equity and responsive practice. SDoH education must move beyond awareness toward clinical competence through horizontal and vertical integration across the curriculum, faculty development, and alignment with assessment systems. Systemic reforms—including national exam modifications, institutional steering committees, and action-research pilots—are essential to translate policy into practice and foster socially accountable medical education in Iran.
Keywords: social determinants of health, medical education, curriculum, health equity, social accountability
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