Student-Run Clinics: Opportunities for Interprofessional Education and Increasing Social Accountability

Authors

  • Maxine Holmqvist PhD, Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
  • Carole Courtney BSW, RSW, Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH) clinic
  • Ryan Meili MD, CCFP, Division Head, Division of Social Accountability, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
  • Alixe Dick BSc, College of Arts & Science, University of Saskatchewan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22230/jripe.2012v2n3a80

Keywords:

Interprofessional education, Community service learning, Student-run clinics

Abstract

Background: Collaborative practice is a necessary component of providing effective, socially responsive, patient-centred care; however, effective teamwork requires training. Canadian student-run clinics are interprofessional community service-learning initiatives where students plan and deliver clinical and health promotion services, with the assistance of licensed healthcare professionals.

Methods and Findings: In this article, we use a reflective approach to examine the phenomenon of student-run clinics in Canada. First, we briefly review the history of student-run clinics and then describe one particular clinic in detail. Then, drawing on the experiences of student-run clinics across the country, we identify common themes and challenges that we believe characterize these programs.

Conclusion: Student-run clinics in Canada emphasize health equity, interprofessionalism, and student leadership. As more student-run clinics are developed, both nationally and internationally, co-ordinated research efforts are needed to determine their effects on students, institutions, communities, and healthcare systems. If educators can learn to collaborate effectively with student leaders, student-run clinics may be ideal sites for advancing learning around interprofessionalism and social accountability.

Author Biographies

Maxine Holmqvist, PhD, Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba

Dr. Holmqvist is an assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Health Psychology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba in Canada. As a graduate student at the University of Saskatchewan, she was a founding member of the Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH) clinic. This experience inspired and transformed her. She currently volunteers as a faculty mentor for the Winnipeg Interprofessional Student Health Clinic (WISH), sits on a number of interprofessional committees at the University of Manitoba and coordinates all IPE activities within her department.

Carole Courtney, BSW, RSW, Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH) clinic

Following her completion of a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Regina in 2006, Carole Courtney became the Coordinator for Saskatoon’s Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health and held that position until moving to British Columbia in 2010.  Her work with SWITCH included collaborating on several presentations, workshops and conferences on the intersection of interprofessional education and primary health care provision.  With almost 30 years’ experience in community based organization administration and management, she currently works with BrainTrust Canada providing services to clients with acquired brain injury. 

Ryan Meili, MD, CCFP, Division Head, Division of Social Accountability, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

Ryan Meili is a family doctor at WestSide Community Clinic in Saskatoon's inner city.

Ryan is head of the Division of Social Accountability at the College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, helping to ensure that Saskatchewan’s future doctors are equipped to meet the health needs of the diverse communities they will serve. 

From its inception, Ryan has been involved in SWITCH, a student-run, interdisciplinary, inner-city clinic, bringing students from multiple disciplines together to serve the residents of Saskatoon’s core communities. 

Ryan also runs Making The Links, which gives medical students the opportunity to work in Northern Saskatchewan, at SWITCH, and in rural communities Mozambique.

Alixe Dick, BSc, College of Arts & Science, University of Saskatchewan

Alixe Dick grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and began volunteering at SWITCH in 2007, acting as an executive board member for four years. SWITCH promotes a holistic view of healthcare in an interdisciplinary setting.  During her time at SWITCH, Alixe has attended and presented at several conferences all over the world to promote the idea of a student-run clinic. Alixe recently convocated with a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Saskatchewan and looks forward to continuing her education.


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Published

2012-08-29

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2012)

Section

Articles: Reflection

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