Community Health Workers

It is part of the core mission of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah (SFESOM) to reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations and increase access to high-quality care for all. One approach to achieving this goal has been to restructure the Mission Driven MD Program to integrate experiential learning opportunities in five Student-Led Clinics (SLCs) for all first-year medical students. This initiative is designed to enhance students' comprehension and application of health disparity principles at the community level.

In August 2023, the community-engaged learning (CEL) curriculum expanded to include community health workers (CHWs) within the SLCs, providing students with practical experience in addressing social determinants of health, population health, cultural humility, advocacy, and community engagement. Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as a bridge between community members and healthcare systems, social services, and public health. CHWs typically share socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicity, language and/or life experiences with the communities they serve. They increase education, health knowledge, and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. In addition to the work they do in their communities, the CHWs at the SFESOM are trained to mentor, support, and educate students, helping them make connections between classroom-based learning and real-world application.