A win-win for future doctors and the community
New program lets us help others and learn, Nima Toussi and Keevin Lee say.
On April 18, 2023, University of Saskatchewan president Peter Stoichef announced its Be What the World Needs fundraising campaign, a $500-million effort to fund critical research, support Indigenous achievement, support student success and fund the development of new university spaces.
This is a commendable goal and, certainly, the university's rise in enrolment and international recognition bodes well for this effort. However, as medical students at the U of S, we can't help but reflect on “what the world needs” truly entails.
While groundbreaking research and financial support are undoubtedly important, what the residents of Saskatoon appreciate from their university, and their medical school, is quite simple yet profoundly impactful: community support and engagement.
There are countless individuals and groups working tirelessly to address the everyday challenges faced by our community members. From food insecurity to the overdose crisis to educational disparities, the issues are real and pressing.
All physicians come across these issues in some way, shape or form. Learning about the presence and impact of the issues in the classroom is one thing, having the experience necessary to empathize with patients is another.
The university acknowledges this need and has established partnerships with local organizations to facilitate student exposure to these critical areas. Indeed, minimum community outreach hours and corresponding reflective pieces are not just encouraged in our curriculum, they're obligatory.
Yet, too often, the impact we have is transient, limited to a temporary or an observatory capacity. Meaningful learning often requires initiative, the chance to take accountability and learn from a process, including its mistakes.
However, the current paradigm around community learning presently does not enforce this requirement.
Of course, there are a significant number of medical students taking impactful leadership roles in community and advocacy work. Student work within the SWITCH Community Clinic is just one of many terrific examples of that.
Nevertheless, there remains significant room for improvement in aligning the college's obligations with the needs of our community.
To bridge this gap while ensuring that our education as medical students align with the needs of our community, we must prioritize sustained and meaningful engagement. This means not only meeting minimum requirements, but taking initiative to immerse ourselves in the communities we serve to listen, learn and collaborate in ways that promote lasting change.
Reflecting on this impetus, we cofounded Crossing the Bridge, a pro-bono weekend program aiming to provide academic support and mentorship for under-represented secondary school students in the Saskatoon area.
Beyond tutoring, our program aims to connect students to the university, instilling confidence and broadening their perspectives on educational and career opportunities.
Importantly, this initiative also benefits student-tutors, providing them with firsthand experience in adapting to the needs of those they serve and emphasizing the importance of collaboration in effecting positive change.
While financial support and research endeavours are vital, a necessary measure of a medical school's impact lies in its commitment to community outreach and engagement.
Through sustained efforts and meaningful initiatives, we can ensure that our education as medical students align with the pressing needs of our community, fostering empathy, understanding and positive change.
By embracing our role as advocates for our patients and our communities, we not only fulfil our obligations as future health-care providers, but also contribute to a healthier, more resilient society. Nima Toussi and Keevin Lee are medical students at the University of Saskatchewan and co-founders of Crossing the Bridge. Parents and/or high school students interested in learning more about Crossing the Bridge can reach out to crossingthebridgeyxe@gmail.com.