Over 20 Years of Training in Community-based Participatory Research and Service Learning through the Community Health...

A growing number of institutions have integrated Community-Based Participatory Research into their curricula, using diverse models that range from elective to required, short-term to longitudinal, and single profession to interprofessional programs to align with the American Association of Medical Colleges learning objectives. This paper reviews the past two decades of the Community Health Fellowship Program (CHFP) at UT Southwestern Medical Center. It highlights key program accomplishments and presents a mixed-methods analysis of student feedback, including post-program evaluations, program organization, didactic lectures, and community partnerships. Post-program quantitative and qualitative data from student feedback surveys were analyzed to identify patterns and trends across multiple years. From 2002 to 2025, 106 fellows were trained through the CHFP, working with over 50 academic practice and community partnerships. Overall, the program received high ratings, with the strongest scores reflecting knowledgeable staff and instructors, while comparatively lower, though still positive, scores highlighted opportunities to improve program organization and alignment with student expectations at enrollment. Data show that the CHFP successfully built student competence in CBPR aligned with community-identified priorities, with consistent accomplishments, demonstrating the program's sustained impact on community needs and the scientific literature. As a long-standing and evolving initiative, the CHFP offers a model for both emerging and established CBPR-based programs at other academic institutions.