Academic Boot Camp (ABC): Step one to developing community members as faculty

The Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art medical education to prepare future physicians to serve the urban underserved. At the same time, community health organizations provide a wide range of health education services during events such as health fairs. Although there are many efforts in medical schools to educate faculty members about underserved communities, the CDU program is different in that it educates community health organization members to be scholarly university teachers through an intensive course design program called Academic Boot Camp. Participants create course portfolios that include a syllabus with well-defined learning objectives and clear assessment methods. Key Message:Education in and about the under resource community goes both ways: traditional faculty members can learn about the lives and needs of the community and community members can prepare to utilize the pedagogical tools of university educators to teach faculty members and health care professionals and influence curricular content.Conclusion: Preparing culturally competent physicians and other providers may be a more attainable outcome when community partners are provided with the educational knowledge and skills to positively impact the curricula and those who deliver it.