Cultivating Cultural Humility and Advocacy: An Online Module on Health Equity for Medical Students at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine

Title: Cultivating Cultural Humility and Advocacy: An Online Module on Health Equity for Medical Students at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
Authors: Jacob Knight, Karishma Shah MD, PhD, Jenna Weber MD, PhD, Jenna Murray MD, PhD, Silvia Soule, Eve Larkin, Adam Gaudin, Bita Tristani-Firouzi, Rawad Farhat MD, MSPH, May Shaban
Date: 1/27/2025
Abstract: The objective of this project is to develop an accessible tool for medical students to enrich their knowledge and better meet the needs of tribal, rural, and medically underserved communities. The University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM) serves all people and communities of Utah and the Intermountain West by intentionally supporting and improving individual and community health. This mission is achieved through equitable patient care, education, and research. To support this mission, a student-led clinic initiative was launched, requiring all medical students to serve in five community clinics as part of their education. Additionally, the Tribal, Rural, and Underserved Education (TRUE) program and the Rural, Urban Underserved, and Tribal Education (RUUTE) initiatives are designed to equip future healthcare providers with the skills necessary to serve in underserved areas. However, these opportunities are not available to all 500 medical students enrolled at SFESOM. It is evident that the training provided in student-led clinics could be complemented by an elective online module focusing on research and cultural humility skills to further align with the school’s mission. To better understand the educational needs of the medical students, a group of 10 fellows—3 MD/PhD candidates and 7 medical students ranging from second- to fourth-year— affiliated with the Office of Academic Culture and Community met weekly or biweekly. Their goal was to assess gaps in the current curriculum and develop a detailed outline for new modules. These modules address topics such as cultural humility and the health challenges faced by rural and tribal communities. To ensure the professional development of the online modules, partnerships were established with domain experts in online curriculum design. The creation of these online modules requires a stepwise process with input from a multidisciplinary team. A prototype of the online module will be presented at the symposium.

Copyright: Academy of Health Sciences Educators ©2025

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Cultivating Cultural Humility and Advocacy: An Online Module on Health Equity for Medical Students at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine by Jacob Knight, Karishma Shah, MD, PhD, Jenna M. Weber, MD, PhD, Jenna Murray, MD, PhD, Silvia Soule, Eve Larkin, Adam Gaudin, Bita Firouzi & Rawad Farhat, MD, MSPH