The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

3000.0: Monday, November 11, 2002 - 9:15 AM

Abstract #48565

Providing interdisciplinary health experiences in the community

anita m sandretto, Phd, MPH, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, 734-647-0207, asandret@umich.edu, Wendy E kershbaum, BS, MA, School of Dentistry, Dental Hygiene Program, University of Michigan, 1011 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, Gail A gerding, BSN, MS, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls, Ann Arbor, Michigan, MI 48109-0482, and Leslie A shimp, PharmD, MS, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1065.

During the last three years, faculty from the University of Michigan Schools of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Public Health have partnered in providing interdisciplinary community experiences for students. Students have been undergraduates from nursing, dental hygiene and pharmacy or first-year Public Health students just beginning their health care education. Community partners have included the nurse managed and operated Community Family Health Center (provides community responsive primary health care), the Ann Arbor Housing Commission; Peace neighborhood Center (community group responding to the needs of youth and adults), and Sequoia Place (HUD senior housing facility). Students have observed primary care in the Community Family Health Center clinic, met with community representatives, managed planning and implementation of health fairs, and discussed how professions differ in their approach to health care. Evaluations completed by the students indicate an increased knowledge of and appreciation for the the role of other health professionals in solving community health problems, the complexity of community health problems, and the value of community health partners. Future plans include attempts to extend the service learning capabilities among the disciplines into a community based practice team. Students, faculty, and community partners will problem solve in a community setting to provide integrated primary care. Several grant proposals have been prepared in attempts to provide funding for student activities such as the health fairs and provide conferences or workshops which guide participants in learning more about community health problem solutions.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Community Participation, Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Enhancing Student Skills and Training through Academic-Practice Partnerships

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA