Why We Want Our Students to Learn about Poverty and Health Care: Sharing Our Own Experiences from Poverty Simulations

ABSTRACT

Poverty is a leading cause of numerous health and social inequities in the United States. Educators are increasingly searching for ways to create meaningful learning opportunities about poverty and its profound effect on individuals and communities. In this narrative, we explore our own perspectives as faculty who guide students through a simulated poverty experience. This essay unfolds primarily as a dialogue among us as we make sense of and clarify why we participate in the coordination and facilitation of poverty simulations on our campus and their anticipated benefits for future health care professionals and social service providers.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the The University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Teaching and Learning.