Social awareness and accountability are important aspects of medical education. Through community involvement, students gain an understanding of community issues, community assets, and community processes for making change happen. Students engage in real-world issues and social problems, working with community organizations to become part of the solution. A student serving in a community develops a relationship with community members and, at the same time, develops a deeper understanding of the root causes and broader social issues that contribute to community problems. In all of these ways, service learning is intended to help students learn, understand and engage with others, and develop the skills and attitudes to become multicultural community builders in our rapidly changing, diverse world.
In all of these ways, service learning is intended to help students learn, understand and engage with others, and develop the skills and attitudes to become multicultural community builders in our rapidly changing, diverse world.