Community-based education and problem solving: the Community Health Scholars Program at the University of Florida

Although many medical schools understand and support the need for community service as part of educational training, this goal has been difficult to operationalize.

The Community Health Scholars program, a joint effort between the Area Health Education Center and the University of Florida, places 1st-year medical students in clinical settings with underserved populations, both rural and urban. The stated goal of the experience is to solve a problem identified by the communities as well as provide exposure to community practice and environment.

The program provided notable services to many communities. More than 80% of participating students believed it was a good or excellent learning experience; more than 90% believed that the program affected their career choice; and 100% believed that the program should be continued. Although this is a 1st-year program, students were not surveyed until their last year, suggesting that the program may have a lasting effect.

This collaborative program successfully provided a service-learning experience for students while promoting solutions to problems in underserved communities.