The student will develop the knowledge and skills to function effectively within the existing US healthcare environment and to advocate for positive change in the future. The course will explore both macro and micro approaches to health care and its delivery by incorporating the principles of public health, cultural competency, communication competency, social determinants of health, patient advocacy, biomedical ethics, informed consent, patient safety, the impaired provider, and healthcare financing. Central to each of these discussions will be the role of the PA and the PA profession. This course will introduce the knowledge and skills to achieve competency in EPA 11 (obtain informed consent for tests and/or procedures) and EPA 13 (identify system failures and contribute to a culture of safety and improvement).