Reflections of Medical Student Service Leaders: Implications for Admissions and Curriculum

Abstract

Seventy-five students from five medical schools participated in structured interviews to elicit their community service history and opinions regarding the relationship of community service to the medical school admissions process and the medical school curriculum. An analysis of responses indicates that service leaders were: (a) influenced by family, church, or peers to participate in community service activities at an early age; (b) demonstrated interest in service activities through depth of commitment and assumption of a leadership role; (c) recognized that time conflicts hampered service participation during medical school; and (d) did not think that service experiences in medical school should be required. Results of this study are of value to admissions officers trying to select medical school applicants with a service commitment and to educators seeking to promote community service activity in their student body. The study underscores the impact of institutional commitment to service on the “professionalization” of physicians.

APPLIED RESEARCH: How Does Pre-Admission Community Service Compare With Community Service During Medical School?

“…Medical schools that place particular emphasis upon community service for admissions consideration may find differing results. However, because applicants may engage in community service only as a means to enhance their application, 8 and not from a genuine humanitarian spirit of serving, a false appearance of community service commitment may be more likely to occur at institutions where community service activity is stressed for admissions consideration. The study institution may also be unique in that it provides students with support for community service activities through the presence of a campus community service office.…”

“…Motivations for community service activity during medical school may include the desire to enhance residency applications. 8,12 Research is needed to further explore students' motivations for engaging in community service during medical school.…”

“…7 Though medical school applicants may participate in community service simply in an effort to enhance their medical school application and not from genuine altruism, demonstration of community service participation is nonetheless viewed positively in the admissions process. 8 The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application designates space for applicants to record their community service involvement. This information provides admissions committees with additional information about the candidate that may or may not be easily or systematically obtained from an interview.…”

A First-Year Community-Based Service Learning Elective: Design, Implementation, and Reflection

“…22 Although UKCOM provided students with a small stipend toward creating a health education project, in this case, it was the availability of the service elective within the curriculum as well as the faculty support that made this community intervention work. Regarding institutionalization, it should be noted that because of the success of the PRIME elective, a service component has since become part of the required first-year behavioral science course.…”