A senior elective: promoting health in underserved communities.
OBJECTIVE
A fourth-year service-learning elective was developed to teach medical students about the social, economic, and culturalfactors that affect health and health-seeking behavior


METHODS
The elective provides students with didactic material and educational experiences in public housing sites in the community. Students work closely with community members to implement a community health care intervention.


RESULTS
Students respond to 10 reflection questions that assess their understanding of the important community factors that affect health.


CONCLUSIONS
Reflection responses demonstrate that the course has challenged assumptions, dispelled stereotypes, and enhanced awareness of the role of socialfactors in maintaining health.
Wolff
M
M
Center for Healthy Communities, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA. mwolff@mcw.edu
Young
S
S
Maurana
C
C
D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States