A Brief Discussion of the Impact of Service- Learning Experience on Physicians´ Manner of Practice

Abstract

Background: Service-learning combines student education with volunteer activities which benefit the community. The authors examined how service-learning through a Canadian medical student-run clinic for refugee newcomers shapes the subsequent practice style of physicians. The clinic (known as “The Gateway Program”) aims to improve access to medical care for refugees in the urban center in which the medical school
is located, while teaching students about cross-cultural medicine. The connection between current practice styles and prior service-learning has not been well documented in the literature, despite value existing in examining the impact this educational tool has on physicians. The research question was: How does participation in service-learning shape the manner in which physicians subsequently deliver healthcare? Methods: The study qualitatively examines the experiences of former student coordinators of The Gateway Program who are now practicing Canadian physicians. Eight participants were interviewed. Data was subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Three key themes were identified: Advocacy, Social Determinants of Health, and Transferable Skills for Underserved Populations. Conclusion: Time served in the clinic is reported to have had a profound impact on participants’ current style of practice. The clinic exposed students early in their medical education to a functional model of care for the underserved which valued physician advocacy. As practicing professionals, they were able to draw upon this learning to inform their professional morals and style of practice.