Health disparities and underserved populations: a potential solution, medical school partnerships with free clinics to improve curriculum

Abstract

Health-care educators share the social responsibility to teach medical students about social determinants of health and health-care disparities and subsequently to encourage medical students to pursue residencies in primary care and medical practice in underserved communities. Free clinics provide care to underserved communities, yet collaborative partnerships with such organizations remain largely untapped by medical schools. Free clinics and medical schools in 10 US states demonstrate that such partnerships are geographically feasible and have the potential to mutually benefit both organizational types. As supported by prior research, students exposed to underserved populations may be more likely to pursue primary care fields and practice in underserved communities, improving health-care infrastructure.

Rural Medical and Surgical Outreach Mission: Experience of International College of Surgeons (The Nigerian National Section)

“…Free medical mission is a recognized strategy for extending quality healthcare to underserved communities and developing countries. [7][8][9] In the case under review, an interprofessional team was formed for the effective administration of the program. This was the experience of other workers in Honduras.…”

“…6 Free medical missions have been used over the years to extend quality healthcare services to underserved communities. 7,8 Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) undertaking free medical missions rely on volunteers for specialists. Collaboration with a professional organization as International College of Surgeons will assure availability of surgical specialists.…”

“…Vanderwielen et al working in the United States of America (USA) and Honduras have discussed the benefits of such collaboration. 8,9 This report aims to share experience in the role of International College of Surgeons (ICS; the Nigerian National Section) working in collaboration with a non-governmental organization (NGO) in a medical and rural surgical outreach mission.…”

Volunteer Experiences at a Free Clinic in the United States: A Qualitative Study

“…Free clinics can expose medical students to opportunities to serve underserved populations [9]. Medical students who have experiences working for underserved populations are more likely to become primary care physicians and to serve underserved communities [9]. Free clinics also provide training opportunities to other students such as nursing students [10] and pharmacy students [11].…”

Student Interest in a Primary Care of Underserved Populations Course

“…3 While the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) recognizes the need for curricula that address care of underserved populations, pedagogy in this area is still new, varying in design and implementation, and ineffectively studied. 4,5 Disparities curricula often neglect to address barriers to underserved careers that students have identified, such as lack of mentorship, concerns about career feasibility, and the ability to pay back loans. 4,[6][7][8] Moreover, these curricula are often longitudinal in nature, forcing students to identify and commit to a specific interest upon matriculation.…”