Medicine and public health partnering to lead community health initiatives: A community-based course for future health professionals

Community-based practice experiences addressing social justice and equity are essential for future public health professionals, as are collaborations with future physicians who will be key partners in the success of community health initiatives. We developed a master's level public health course in partnership with three local community health organizations to provide students this unique community-based collaborative leadership experience. Twenty-seven students from the Schools of Medicine and Public Health at Boston University were trained to use the Challenge Model, developed by Management Sciences for Health. Using this methodology, the students worked in teams of 4-8 students as learners and consultants paired with community mentors and course faculty members to gather information about root causes and barriers, conduct a stakeholder analysis, create a “product” or “process” to address the challenge, and plan for project sustainability. Student teams prepared products and recommendations, vetted them with the client, and presented a final report to both the client and the class orally and in writing. Students also practiced valuable leadership and teamwork skills through various exercises. Challenge projects addressed issues of equity and social justice related to community health including: homeless children lacking immunization data; obesity; low enrollment in the Healthy Start Initiative; and inadequate knowledge and treatment adherence in HIV patients. This presentation will describe the course methods and outcomes--for students' professional development and community health center challenges— as well as examples of student projects, and conclude with recommendations for others who seek to extend their classroom to community organizations.