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Capturing Medical Students’ Idealism

Departments of Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine & Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Tex

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Janice K. Smith, MD, MPH, Department of Family Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-1123, jksmith{at}utmb.edu

PURPOSE Students’ idealism and desire to work with underserved populations decline as they progress from preclinical training through clerkships and residency. With an increasingly diverse population and increasing health disparities, academic health centers need to incorporate changes in their curricula to train socially responsible and idealistic physicians. International electives can provide valuable learning experiences to help achieve these goals.

METHODS Sixty-six preclinical medical students at the University of Texas Medical Branch participated in an international elective from 1997 to 2005. After 1 week of didactics, they spent 3 weeks as part of a multidisciplinary medical team in rural Nicaragua. Postelective questionnaires were administered. From students’ responses, we identified common learning themes and grouped them under the categories of attitudes, awareness, and skills. Limitations included a self-selection bias, lack of a control group, and limited follow-up.

RESULTS After the elective, students had an increased interest in volunteerism, humanitarian efforts, and working with underserved populations both in the United States and abroad, as well as more compassion toward the underserved. Students also reported a heightened awareness of social determinants of health and public health, and a broadened global perspective, as well as increased self-awareness.

CONCLUSIONS Our findings illustrate that a well-structured, mentored experience in international health can have a positive impact on preclinical students’ attitudes, including their compassion, volunteerism, and interest in serving under-served populations, all measures of idealism.

Key Words: Medical education • medical students • curriculum • idealism • social responsibility • international electives • developing countries • career choice • international perspectives • primary care • altruism

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