Evaluation of a Community-Based Student-Led Health Equity Curriculum

Background The Community Perspectives in Medicine (CPIM) elective at Weill Cornell Medical College was developed to address curricular gaps in teaching social determinants of health (SDOH). The course connects first-year students with community-based organizations and health justice topics through interactive sessions. In 2023, CPIM was redesigned to emphasize nationally debated health justice issues and to include a community engagement project. This study evaluated the redesigned course's impact on students' knowledge, confidence, and advocacy skills. Methodology Students attended seven weekly one-hour lectures led by community health advocates, each followed by a 30-minute student-led discussion. Students completed a community engagement project with a local organization and presented their experiences in the final session. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed confidence in course topics and intent to incorporate advocacy into future practice using a five-point Likert scale. Differences were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Qualitative feedback captured perceived impact and key learning themes. Results In 2023, confidence ratings increased significantly from 2.71 to 4.69 on a five-point scale (p < 0.001), with the greatest gains in understanding single-payer healthcare. In 2024, ratings increased from 2.62 to 3.72 (p < 0.001), with the largest improvement in understanding political advocacy in medicine. Qualitative responses highlighted enhanced motivation to pursue advocacy and stronger connections to marginalized communities. Conclusions CPIM effectively increases students' confidence in engaging with SDOH and advocacy. Its success highlights its potential as a model for integrating community-centered, justice-focused education into medical training.