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Community organization feedback about an undergraduate medical education service learning program

Authors

  • Roger Berrington CanU Canada
  • Nina Condo Elmwood Community Resource Centre
  • Felicien Rubayita Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (Welcome Place)
  • Karen Cook University of Manitoba
  • Chelsea Jalloh University of Manitoba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.71420

Abstract

Background: In 2016, Service Learning (SL) became a curricular requirement for undergraduate medical education (UGME) students at the University of Manitoba. Students partner with a community-based organization for two years to engage in non-clinical activities in community settings. Significant feedback has been collected from students re: their SL experiences. This project specifically collected feedback from community organizations involved with SL.

Methods: In June 2019, an electronic survey was distributed to the 36 community organizations involved with SL.

Results: Twenty-seven organizations completed the survey. Feedback was grouped into two main themes: 1) Logistics and 2) The SL Experience. About half (52%) of respondents indicated it was “easy” to schedule students for SL; however, students’ busy schedules and differences between hours of organization programming and students’ availability were highlighted. Most respondents described students as “engaged” (70%); respondents indicated SL raised students’ understanding of power and privilege (56%) and systemic oppression (63%).

Conclusions: Community organizations shared valuable insights to inform the SL program. Results identified specific aspects of the SL program to address moving forward, such as sharing learning objectives with community partners. Ensuring processes are in place to obtain feedback from community partners is an essential step to improve SL programs, and to strengthen reciprocal community-university partnerships.  

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Author Biographies

Roger Berrington, CanU Canada

Founder and Executive Director - Canu Canada

Service Learning Community Partner 

Nina Condo, Elmwood Community Resource Centre

Executive Director, Elmwood Community Resource Centre

Service Learning Community Partner 

Felicien Rubayita, Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (Welcome Place)

Manager, Client Settlement Services

Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (Welcome Place)

Service Learning Community Partner 

Karen Cook, University of Manitoba

Co-Lead, Office of Community Engagement

Department of Community Health Sciences

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Manitoba 

Chelsea Jalloh, University of Manitoba

Coordinator of Undergraduate Medical Education (Instructor II)

Department of Community Health Sciences

Max Rady College of Medicine

Rady Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Manitoba 

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Published

2021-06-14

Versions

How to Cite

1.
Berrington R, Condo N, Rubayita F, Cook K, Jalloh C. Community organization feedback about an undergraduate medical education service learning program. Can. Med. Ed. J [Internet]. 2021 Jun. 14 [cited 2024 Nov. 14];12(4). Available from: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/71420

Issue

Section

Brief Reports