Service Learning in Health Professons Education
Introduction
We cannot have success in building community spirit in our young people by merely giving speeches, coining slogans or exhorting them to stand tall. A lasting concern for the community comes for the chance to work for others, see their needs, and contribute to something larger than oneself. Derek Bok. |
This web site is for community-based education (CBE) coordinators of the East Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC). It provides an overview of service learning in the health professions. CBE coordinators facilitate community educational experiences for health professions students. They work with health professionals in their region and support their efforts to provide clinical experiences in their community for health professions students. They are the link between academic institutions and the community.
Service-learning is a method under which students learn and develop through thoughtfully organized service that meets the needs of a community, helps foster civic responsibility, and is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students enrolled. While benefiting health professions students in their training, service-learning also benefits the communities served by the East Texas AHEC. Many of these communities are in medically underserved areas with minority and/or under-represented populations.
By acquiring knowledge and understanding of service-learning CBE coordinators will be able to identify service-learning activities for health professions students on community clinical rotations. Whether a part of the health professions student’s formal curriculum or informal activities during their rotation, service-learning can be a win win situation for both the health professions student and the community.
To begin, go to the "Task" page to find out how CBE coordinators will learn about service-learning in health professions education.
Please direct any comments or questions about this site to Ingrid Bowden at ingrid.bowden@utmb.edu or (409) 772-7884.
