Jimmy Beck1, Katherine Chretien2, Terry Kind3. 1. Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA jimmy.beck@seattlechildrens.org. 2. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. 3. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of medical students volunteering at a camp for children with a variety of medical conditions. METHODS: Rising second-year medical students who had served as counselors for 1 week at a medical specialty camp were invited to participate. We conducted a 2-part qualitative study using on-site focus groups and follow-up individual interviews. RESULTS: Nine medical students participated. Students described their experience as motivating and career reinforcing. It helped them "move beyond the textbook" and deepened their commitment to serving future patients with compassion. One theme that emerged was the idea that their camp experience fostered the development of their professional identities. CONCLUSIONS: A 1-week, immersive community service experience at a medical specialty camp played a role in influencing the early formative professional identities of rising second-year medical students. Medical schools could use camps as a promising community service-learning experiences to foster professional identity.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the experience of medical students volunteering at a camp for children with a variety of medical conditions. METHODS: Rising second-year medical students who had served as counselors for 1 week at a medical specialty camp were invited to participate. We conducted a 2-part qualitative study using on-site focus groups and follow-up individual interviews. RESULTS: Nine medical students participated. Students described their experience as motivating and career reinforcing. It helped them "move beyond the textbook" and deepened their commitment to serving future patients with compassion. One theme that emerged was the idea that their camp experience fostered the development of their professional identities. CONCLUSIONS: A 1-week, immersive community service experience at a medical specialty camp played a role in influencing the early formative professional identities of rising second-year medical students. Medical schools could use camps as a promising community service-learning experiences to foster professional identity.
Authors: Haytham I AlSaif; Mohammed M Alessa; Ahmed H Alajlan; Abdulelah I Alrshid; Abdulaziz F Aljarbou; Awadh A Alqahtani; Mohammad I Aljumah; Mansour I Alrshid; Aljoharah I Aleisa; Abdulrahman M Aloufi; Saad M Alsaad Journal: Risk Manag Healthc Policy Date: 2022-05-11