Open AccessEnhancing Community Health by Improving Physician Participation
Author(s) -
Casey Crump,
Guedy Arniella,
Neil S. Calman
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of community medicine and health education
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2161-0711
DOI - 10.4172/2161-0711.1000470
Subject(s) - public health , community health , teamwork , public relations , health care , community engagement , medicine , health equity , politics , social justice , community organization , political science , medical education , nursing , psychology , criminology , law
Leading medical associations have called for renewed standards of medical professionalism, including stronger public advocacy, a commitment to social justice in health care, and greater community engagement. New strategies are needed to enhance community participation among physicians, which can improve public trust in the medical profession and contribute needed expertise and teamwork to matters of community health. One strategy is to incorporate community participation and leadership in medical training through community-based organization (CBO) placement of residents. We describe a model CBO placement program within a family medicine residency in Harlem, New York City. This program enables residents to partner with organizations that address social, political, economic, and environmental determinants of health in underserved populations, and to assume leadership roles in community health activities. Broader implementation of this model in other settings, both urban and rural, can enhance community participation by physicians within a sustainable framework, and promote medical professionalism and community health.