Learning through community participation: immunization program at an elementary school

Many universities are establishing programs to bring health professions students, faculty, and communities together to address the communities' needs using public health models and tools. Such partnerships provide students with the opportunity to put into practice what they learn in the classroom, work together in interdisciplinary teams, and provide communities with access to preventive care and health education. The authors describe the experience of the partnership developed between a Washington, D.C., elementary school and a group of students from the schools of medicine, nursing, and public health and health services of the George Washington University and George Mason University. Working with both an academic preceptor and a community preceptor, the students assessed the schoolchildren's immunization status; prepared informational packets for parents; and organized and conducted an immunization fair at the elementary school. The authors describe how the program was implemented, the results of the program, and lessons learned.