Examining Health Professions Student Learning in Community Health Care

Abstract

For 9 days a total of 7,942 individuals were served through 23,135 free medical and dental procedures and 1,551 prescription eyeglasses. Eighty students participated in either a graduate or undergraduate course for this program. The research question addressed in our presentation is: “What did students learn in regards to the community, patients in poverty, and their own professional growth?” Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory was used in the development of guided reflection essays to facilitate students’ “making meaning” of their experiences. Several themes were identified from the students’ reflective essays. Both the student learning themes and student actions will be shared.