From Classroom to Community: An Online Elective on Border Health and Community-Based Research

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Underserved border populations face significant health disparities.
• Medical education needs to incorporate community engagement and social determinants of health.
• Hispanic-serving institutions are crucial for addressing health inequities in border regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an online elective on community outreach for medical students.
• To enhance understanding of health disparities and social determinants of health in border populations.
• To introduce principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and community engagement.

Main Methods:

• A two-week online elective course for fourth-year medical students.
• Utilized asynchronous modules, peer discussions, and virtual presentations.
• Mixed-methods evaluation with pre/post quizzes and surveys, including CHW review of student projects.

Main Results:

• Students reported increased critical thinking, cultural competence, and understanding of community involvement.
• Developed culturally appropriate outreach proposals for Hispanic communities (e.g., diabetes education, vaccine confidence).
• Community Health Workers (CHWs) reviewed proposals for cultural relevance and community alignment.

Conclusions:

• Online electives can effectively introduce CBPR and community engagement in medical education.
• The course improved students' ability to design community-tailored health initiatives.
• Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of such electives.