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Recognizing the value of community involvement by AHC faculty: a case study.
Beat D Steiner1, Diane C Calleson, Peter Curtis
1Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, CB 7595 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7595, USA. Beat_steiner@med.unc.edu
Summary
Academic health centers (AHCs) can strengthen community ties by integrating scholarly community engagement into their mission. Overcoming barriers requires institutionalizing service and defining excellence in engagement for faculty recognition.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Community Health
- Academic Medicine
Background:
- Physicians' community connections are vital for the U.S. medical profession's legitimacy.
- Academic health centers (AHCs) need community ties for local and state support.
- Barriers exist for AHC physicians engaging with communities, particularly regarding academic advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case study of an AHC department overcoming barriers to community engagement.
- To demonstrate how to incorporate the scholarship of community engagement into an academic mission and structure.
Main Methods:
- A case study approach was used.
- Theoretical underpinnings were incorporated to analyze lessons learned.
- Focus on a specific department within an AHC from the late 1990s onwards.
Main Results:
- Institutionalizing community engagement within organizational structures is essential.
- Community engagement can be recognized as scholarly work.
- Defining "excellence" and "scholarship" in community service is necessary for faculty recognition.
- The scholarship of community engagement extends beyond service activities.
Conclusions:
- Academic departments must institutionalize community engagement to make it central to their mission.
- Recognizing community engagement as scholarship requires clear metrics for excellence.
- Successful integration enhances AHCs' community connections and legitimacy.