Personal and professional growth through community service

Dear Sir

Students pursue medical careers to help others and engage in community outreach. Community service experiences are associated with improved academic performance, critical thinking, leadership, and conflict resolution, enhanced knowledge and acceptance of different races and cultures, greater understanding of the nation's social problems and increased commitment to future community service (Astin & Sax 1998). The importance of gaining community awareness and understanding the social determinates of health were emphasized by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education's 2007 requirement for medical student service-learning opportunities that combine community service with reflection. Although many studies have described formal curricula meeting this requirement, less has been described regarding the benefits of service with nonprofit community organizations addressing local needs.

Direct community involvement through a broad array of community organizations can enhance the breadth of medical student education and provide incredibly rewarding experiences. These opportunities provide insights into hardships faced by many people similar to future patients, including unemployment, poverty, poor education, homelessness, food insecurity, and access to transportation and health care.

Organizations, like the Incentive Mentoring Program (IMP 2012) provide invaluable service opportunities for medical students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHUSOM). IMP pairs JHUSOM student mentors with underprivileged, under-performing high school students confronting significant challenges including poor academic performance, learning disabilities, suspension and/or absenteeism, and multiple psychosocial challenges such as extreme poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, depression, and/or having an incarcerated or deceased parent(s)/guardian(s). Service opportunities are not part of medical school formal curricula.

In IMP, mentors teach students about academics, social and professional skills, and guide them through successful college matriculation. In return, high school students teach mentors about their lives, community and hardships they face.

In addition to required service-learning opportunities, medical students can benefit greatly from volunteering with local community organizations. Through hands-on experiences, they become invested in the community and develop greater understanding of social determinates of health. As a result, medical students develop greater cultural competence, improved mutual trust, empathy for patients, and provision of better overall medical care.