1. Cementing a Community - University Partnership. You scratch my back…
Population of Need
Community Agency
Family Medicine / AHEC
Cementing a Community - University
Partnership. You scratch my back…
Aaron Meyer (MS2); Fred Rottnek, MD, MAHCM; David Pole, MPH - Saint Louis University, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Background / Educational Challenge
University – Community Partnership
We need more Family Physicians skilled in community health and collaboration to address individual and population health needs
Current medical students (Millennials) are altruistic and service oriented, interested in mentoring and professional formation
Community organizations want longitudinal commitments from motivated students, but have limited resources to create programs
SOM faculty have limited time and varying skills to mentor students and cultivate community relationships
University Outcomes:
Students skilled in critical reflection and professional formation
Students promote and support community engagement
Positive community partnerships, improved outcomes, community access/trust
Research opportunities
Community Outcomes:
Enhanced program services
Sustainable pipeline of students engaged in service-learning
Students are mentored in community health issues, programs, and outcomes
Access to University resources for agency development / document outcomes
SLU Family Medicine Service Model
Create positive RELATIONSHIPS – with community partners and with students
Integrate student learning goals and community agency needs through service-learning and mentoring for professional formation
Group and individual meetings
Required written reflections
4-year progressive reflection of meaning as future physicians
Mentor in Program Planning
Identify program and personal learning outcomes
Match student interest with community agency
Participate in agency programs (job roles, data management, outreach education/services, fund development, etc.)
Student sees community perspective & org. culture
Early and multiple contacts
Seen as a contact of value
MS1-2 Core and Electives
MS1-2 Applied Clinical Skills
Service Distinction Program
Outreach Education Groups
Service and Advocacy Learning
Community
Reciprocal “scratching”
Identify agency with strong reputation and services
Link service-learning
Support agency needs
Partner with agency for ongoing program and fund development
Faculty-Agency Relationship: Panel of Community Partners
Faculty-Student Relationship: Across MS1 through MS a
Faculty-Student Mentor in Critical Reflection & Professional Formation
Student-Agency Integrate Service-Learning & Community Needs
Case Example: St. Louis Effort for AIDS (EFA)
Created standing medical orders for outreach van
Students participate on outreach van, areas of the city they would never get exp.
Hosted two sites for Dining Out for Life, recruited students & faculty to dine out
Deliver education with high-risk populations; observe social & safety-net services
Student confident to promote/recruit other students for positive experience
Challenges / Next Steps
SOM Culture
Service and community engagement does not develop clinical skills
Activities are not academic with objectives and measurable outcomes
SOM Structure
Lack of protected faculty time to mentor students
Lack of protected student time for experiences
Requires curricular reform to integrate experiential learning & traditional didactic
SOM Resources
Identify “right faculty”, support development of “right skills”
Address sustainability as part of mission as well as external grants
Saint Louis University AHEC Program Office
Society for Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)
37th Annual Conference
on Medical Student Education
Jan 21, 2011
Houston, TX