Together these programs serve to broaden the scope of medical education to include health, social, and academic experiences beyond the classroom. Since 1987, the Students of Rochester Outreach Program has placed first through fourth year medical students and graduate students at agencies serving the urban poor. Placement occurs prior to any core clerkship experience, allowing students to focus on social and cultural determinants of health and disease without the pressure of solving a medical problem. Student participation is voluntary. The goal of these placements is to give students the opportunity to serve the community while working on interdisciplinary teams to acquire skills that will allow them to provide culturally competent care to underserved populations.
Students volunteer at agencies serving individuals most at risk in the community.
These include the homeless, teenage parents, low-income families, and school children. Student activities also include public health education talks on HIV prevention, parenting, nutrition, and sexually transmitted disease prevention. Summer work-study research opportunities in the community are also available. To promote the exchange of ideas and practices in health care and medical research through exposure to health care professionals around the world. To incorporate students into multidisciplinary teams to enhance their appreciation of the expertise of other health and social service disciplines.