title: A Five-Year Evolution of a Student-led Elective on Health Disparities at The Alpert Medical School.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medical students are often unprepared for social challenges in caring for safety net patients. We aim to evaluate and chronicle the evolution of a pre-clinical elective alongside medical disparities curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical students designed the course to supplement clinical training on care of vulnerable patients. From 2011-2015, there have been 80 first-year medical student participants, five cohorts of second-year course leaders, and two supporting faculty advisors for this 10-12 session evening elective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students (n=67) rated the course extremely highly (ranging from 4.4-4.6 on a five-point Likert scale). Medical students reported having significantly more knowledge of underserved populations after taking the course (difference=0.72, SE=0.16, P <0.001). Career interests and attitudes toward health disparities remained strong after taking the course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This student-created elective equipped participants with improved knowledge in caring for underserved patients and contributed to the incorporation of health disparities in medical curriculum. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-10.asp].
authors.affiliation: general internist, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar / Veteran's Affairs Scholar at University of California Los Angeles, alumnus of Alpert Medical School of Brown University and co-founder of Brown Student Community Clinic and the Healthcare for the Underserved elective.
authors.forename: Lucinda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: pulmonary and critical care fellow at Brown University, alumnus of the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and co-founder of Brown Student Community Clinic and the Healthcare for the Underserved elective.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and student leader for the Healthcare for the Underserved elective from 2013 to 2014.
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and student leader for the Healthcare for the Underserved elective from 2013 to 2014.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anselin
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and student leader for the Healthcare for the Underserved elective from 2013 to 2014.
authors.forename: Rian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yalamanchili
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Medicine (Clinical) at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and faculty sponsor for the Healthcare for the Underserved elective.
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rabatin
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012237:Rhode Island; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: health disparities; medical education; underserved patients