Service Learning and Community Service

At the Carver College of Medicine, service is at the heart of medical education. Our students do more than learn—they engage, advocate, and make a difference. Through free clinics, outreach programs, and hands-on volunteering, they gain real-world experience while improving lives. Whether organizing fundraisers, designing and executing projects to address local gaps, or discovering the health needs of people across the state, CCOM students participate in hands-on activities that develop the skills and empathy that define great doctors. For CCOM students, service is both giving back and growing into their roles as healers. 

Service and Global Health Distinction Tracks and elective courses

Through both tracks, the student identifies a specific community/population need and engages in a mentored project to address this need. Graduation with distinction requires the completion and presentation of this project and its outcomes. Participation in distinction tracks also requires attendance of specific elective courses/clinical rotations related to the track where formal service-learning instruction and guided discussions/reflections occur. Students not pursuing a distinction track can still participate in these elective courses/rotations.

CCOM Rural Iowa Scholars Program (CRISP)

CRISP is a program that focuses on rural medicine to expand participants' experience with the sociocultural aspects of medicine as they apply to rural settings. Students enrolled in CRISP have the same graduation requirements and course/clerkship structure and assignments as their classmates, in addition to rural elements offered through mentorship, seminars, elective clinical experiences and research. Students participating in CRISP will also participate in MECO and complete a capstone project related to community health/health delivery.

Medical Education Community Orientation (MECO)

Part of CRISP, MECO is an optional summer activity sponsored by the Department of Family Medicine and offered to about 30 students during the summer following their M1 year. The program introduces students to the scope of health care in the hospital component of the health care delivery system in different towns and communities across the state. Students learn about the community’s cultural, political, economic and environmental determinants of health and the way in which the health care delivery system contributes to its structure and function.

Community Health Outreach (CHO)

CHO is a two-year service-learning elective, focused on increasing awareness and knowledge of social aspects of healthcare, including healthcare systems, health equity, and community-based programs. First-year students will learn about these topics as well as about local organizations that provide care and resources to medically underserved populations. Students hear from various speakers (physicians, faculty, community members), engage in discussion with peers and participate in individual and group outreach activities, and participate in community service activities. Second-year students will apply this knowledge to a self-directed service project targeting a community health need. The course is organized and led by second-year medical students.

Mobile Clinic and student organizations

The Mobile Clinic is a student-run free clinic that provides free health screening, prevention, education, and basic health services to underserved populations in and around Iowa City.

Many CCOM student organizations engage in community service projects.

Learning communities

All medical students are placed into one of four learning communities (LC) upon matriculation. Each LC hosts at least one large philanthropy event that supports local organizations. Students are encouraged to participate in these activities. Current LC-sponsored community service activities include:

Bean Learning Community:

Bean supports the Shelter House with the Beanball Bonanza Dodgeball/Volleyball Tournament (annual) and the Bench Press Competition (in collaboration with McCowen learning community) (annual) 

Boulware Learning Community

Boulware supports United Action for Youth with the Ride 4 Youth Charity Bike Ride (annual).  The Blood Drive (semi-annual) is hosted in collaboration with UI DeGowin Blood Center 

Flocks Learning Community 

Flocks' Doc Dash 5K supports the UI Mobile Clinic and Free Medical and Dental Clinic of Iowa City (annual).  Groundstrokes for Strokes supports the Stoppelmoor-Adams Stroke Education and Research Fund (annual) 

McCowen Learning Community  

McCowen supports the Domestic Violence Prevention Program (DVIP) with the Bench Press Competition (annual) and Carver’s Got Talent (annual) 

Other events that the learning communities organize or participate in:

 

Student Support