Building Community With Community: Collaborative Reflections on the Rural and Urban Community Orienting Experience...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Community Health
• Osteopathic Medicine

Background:

• Medical school orientation programs often lack published data on their impact on students.
• The Rural/Urban Community Orienting Experience (RUCOE) is a pre-academic year orientation at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• RUCOE aims to build community, foster scholar curiosity, and develop reflective practice among students interested in underserved areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the meaning and significance of the RUCOE program.
• To explore the impact of RUCOE on medical students' personal and professional growth.
• To share the story of RUCOE's influence through collaborative reflection.

Main Methods:

• An unconventional, collaborative approach involving student reflections on their experiences.
• Structured discussion groups with community members in rural and urban underserved areas.
• Program components included didactic sessions, site tours, group activities, service projects, and reflective writing.

Main Results:

• Key themes emerged: shared values foster community, vulnerability builds community, communities teach, and envisioning a professional future.
• A developing sense of community and belonging was identified as a common thread.
• The program created significant connections between students, faculty, and underserved communities.

Conclusions:

• The RUCOE program has an enduring impact on students' personal and professional development.
• It prepares students for medical school with humanizing perspectives, emphasizing listening and centering patient stories.
• RUCOE reinforces students' core motivations ('Why') for pursuing medicine in underserved settings.