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Regional Campuses

Service Learning Project Handbook

WELCOME TO REGIONAL CAMPUSES M1 SUMMER PROGRAMS

Regional Campuses M1 Summer Programs help bridge the gap between the classroom and practical experience for students who have completed the first year of medical school. These programs offer more relaxed environments away from formal coursework where students can focus on different aspects of their medical education and as well as their future career paths as physicians. This handbook provides important details about Service Learning Project (SLP) Experiences.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Student Responsibilities

  • Important Dates to Remember:
    • January 29, 2024 – March 1, 2024: Applications accepted via online application. Friday, March 15, 2024:  Students receive confirmation of acceptance.
    • June 3, 2024 through July 26, 2024: Student participation timeframe
  • Be on time.
  • Be prepared.
  • Be professional in appearance and attitude.
  • Take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
  • Cancellation:
    • If student is placed in a M1 Summer Program and is unable to participate, student must immediately contact: Family Medicine Preceptor, Service Learning Project Director or MASH Camp Director.
    • Student must also immediately contact Heidi Damron, the M1 summer programs coordinator as there might be a waiting list with students who are wanting a summer program placement

APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE

  • M1 Students must be in good academic standing with the College of Medicine.
  • Applications will be accepted online January 29, 2024 through March 1, 2024.
  • Applicants will list their preferred preceptors/project topics/camp locations in order of preference on the application, as well as preferred dates of participation.
  • Housing requests must be noted on the application. (Additional housing information below.)
  • Applications received after March 1, 2024 deadline will be considered only if slots are available.
  • Students will be notified of acceptance via email on Friday, March 15, 2024.
  • There are a limited number of stipend-supported slots for each of the three summer programs. Students are encouraged to submit their application early to help ensure desired placement.
  • The Regional Campus Central Office reserves the right to make final decisions regarding selection of applicants, selection of appropriate physicians and sites for the Family Medicine Preceptorship, coordination of Service Learning Projects, and MASH Camp Assistantship placement

Brief Overview of Service Learning Project (SLP)

  • Description: Research and implement a project to improve the health and welfare of Arkansans.
  • Primary Goal: Increase student’s knowledge on a specific health/welfare related issue through experiential learning.
  • Length of Program: Four weeks
  • Stipend: $1,000

STIPEND INFORMATION

Stipend Uses

  • To offset the cost of transportation, housing, and/or meals in the community for which you have selected.
  • The stipend is considered income and student should report as income to the IRS. This income can be offset by school expenses or educational costs, such as tuition, books, supplies, travel, meals and lodging while off campus. If income exceeds educational costs, then the exceeded amount will be taxable.

Stipend Delivery

  • Service Learning Project: Students will receive the stipend check after the required four week project and presentation are completed, and upon satisfactory submission of evaluations (both student and SLP Supervisor).
  • Stipend checks may be picked up in-person in the Family Medicine Clinic administrative office.  Upon request, stipend checks may be mailed.  Students are responsible for providing a complete, accurate, and current mailing address.

Housing Information
It is the student’s responsibility to make housing arrangements. Some family medicine preceptors, communities, and the Regional Campuses may be willing to provide housing while a student is working with their physicians.

All housing requests must be noted on the application form prior to submission.

Meals
It is the student’s responsibility to provide their meals.

College of Medicine Senior Course Credit Policy 
If requested, up to four (4) credits may be approved as an elective for the senior year, for participation in the SLP. However, to qualify for this credit, there must be an unusually stringent academic component to the activity.  Written approval must be received from the College of Medicine Executive Associate Dean’s office prior to starting the project/service. For more information, see the specific policy approved by the College of Medicine Curriculum Committee located in the Appendix.

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT: WHAT IS SLP?

Service Learning Project SLP provides UAMS M1 COM students opportunities to gain knowledge, identify needs and create projects to help improve the delivery of Family Medicine to benefit the health and welfare of citizens in select rural communities.  Students will work with UAMS Regional Campus/DFPM staff to select a SLP topic and complete their project.  

SLP Details:

Teamwork and team-based care are important elements of high-quality health care. Therefore, students can work individually or may have a maximum two (2) students on one project. Each project will be assigned a UAMS staff Project Supervisor.

If there are two students on SLP: 

  • Each student will submit a separate proposal for their responsibility in the project.                  
  • Each student will submit an end-of-project written report for their part of the project.
  • Both students must give an end-of-project presentation at the same time, with both students present.

Upon completion of four-week SLP, student will be able to (as relates specifically to their SLP): 

  1. Discuss critical issues facing rural Family Medicine physicians and/or select patient populations
  2. Discuss delivery of healthcare to rural patients 
  3. Demonstrate understanding of basic research 
  4. List common medical problems seen by Family Medicine physician in selected community/clinic; discuss the strategies commonly applied for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these common medical problems.
  5. Compare/contrast the value of human and environmental influences as determinants of a patient’s health.

BEFORE SLP BEGINS

  • Submit SLP Application by March 1, 2024 deadline.
  • Following application and notification of Service Learning Project SLP selection SLP students must submit a formal project proposal on the Summer Programs webpage. Students will be notified by email that the project proposal has been approved.  List of Service Learning Project Options below.  UAMS staff available for consultation and guidance upon request.          

SLP students are not confirmed until SLP proposal is approved by the Regional Campuses Education Office. 

  • Once SLP project is confirmed, student(s) and SLP project supervisor are notified via email. 

Service Learning Project Options

  • Screening for Eating Disorders/Using SBIRT for Eating Disorders 
  • Using BH staff to support Health Behavior Change/ working with Interdisciplinary teams 
  • Medication Assisted Treatment 
  • Advanced Care Plans - why this is so important with patient care 
  • Collaborative Care Model – using the Psychiatric Consultation model in Primary Care 
  • Quick Anxiety reduction skills for physician use 
  • Strategies to support wellness/well-being for physicians 
  • Screening for Autism, development delays 
  • Using Motivational Interviewing skills to support Smoking Cessation 
  • Screening for substance use in Primary Care 

FOUR-WEEK SLP BEGINS

  • SLP Project supervisor/student(s) meet/talk and determine project parameters: project/meeting schedule, project details, travel requirements (if needed), hours needed to complete project*, research needs, etc.

*Hours needed within the 4-week timeframe to complete SLP are determined by: the topic selected, potential travel, discussions between the SLP supervisor and student(s), research needed, concerns/expectations from community/clinic (if applicable), other issues as they arise.

  • SLP may involve a clinical or community hospital*. The student(s) and SLP supervisor will work with appropriate staff to determine project idea and subsequent elements needed to complete project. These project ideas may include: improve clinical processes, disease registries, care management plans, or other clinical initiatives.

* If SLP involves clinic/community hospital please note the following: HIPPA Info: Students are third parties to the customary privileged doctor/patient relationship during this preceptorship. Confidentiality must be respected.  Student conduct is expected to be professional and consistent with the dignity and reputation of the profession. Remember your HIPAA training! 

*If making on-site visits, wear student lab coat and UAMS name tag unless told otherwise by SLP Supervisor.

* If SLP involves clinic/community hospital please note the following: Hospital/Clinic Screenings/Certifications/Approvals: Some hospitals or clinics require anyone who spends time in their facility to be screened and approved for clinical or educational activities, i.e., Family Medicine Preceptorship FMP. These screenings may include CPR certification, annual TB skin tests, immunization records, criminal background checks and/or drug screens. It is the responsibility of the student to provide these documents directly to the hospital or clinic and at the student’s expense.  If required, contact UAMS Student Health Services at 501-686-6381 or http://familymedicine.uams.edu/university-healthcare-services/student-and-employee-health for your health records.

  • End of Project Presentation: After preparation and review with SLP Supervisor, student(s) prepare written report of SLP; to include goals, outcomes, barriers, recommendations, and suggestions for further actions. This presentation takes place following completion of the four weeks of SLP and in agreement with project supervisor, student, and other staff. If SLP report is related to clinic/community hospital, student(s) may present a brief summary presentation to appropriate clinic/hospital staff to conclude the service project. 

SLP ENDS

EVALUTIONS: The Regional Campus Education office will contact the SLP Supervisor and student if evaluations are not received in a timely manner after the four-week project is complete.

  • STUDENT: The Service Learning Project is not considered complete until student submits evaluations on their project on Blackboard. Evaluations are anonymous. Specific feedback is important to improve next year’s program. 
  • SLP SUPERVISOR:  The Service Learning Project is not considered complete until the SLP Supervisor submits a student evaluation. The SLP Supervisor will complete an assessment of the student’s participation, SLP project and presentation as well as verify their successful completion of program objectives. There is no academic grade associated with this assessment, but it is used to document student accomplishments as well as to help improve the quality of the program. Upon request, students may receive a copy of the SLP Supervisor’s evaluation. 

STIPEND PAYMENT

  • Students will receive SLP stipend check for total amount of $1,000, after the completion of the project and end-of-project presentation, AND upon satisfactory completion of/submission of all assignments and evaluations (both student and SLP Supervisor).

APPENDIX

College of Medicine Senior Course Credit Policy

The two-week Family Medicine Preceptorship along with the additional the four-week Service Learning Project might qualify for this credit.

College of Medicine students who participate in organized preceptorships or research activities, which have been determined appropriate for credit, during the summer between the first and second or second and third years of medical school, can receive up to a total of four credit hours for the activities.  (A credit hour on such an activity will be equal to 36 hours of actual work, not prep time – or a credit hour per week for full time activities).  The activities must be organized by the College of Medicine or the UAMS Regional Programs; they must be part of an organized program with written goals and objectives, and the student must receive an evaluation.   

The determination of whether or not the activity is worthy of credit hours will be made in advance between the College of Medicine (office of the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or designee), and the director of the program sponsoring the activity.  To qualify for credit, there must be an unusually stringent academic component to the activity and the activity will have been planned specifically to qualify for this credit by the director of the program and the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Ad hoc preceptorships and/or research activities arranged by the student or groups of students will not qualify for this credit.  In general, a simple preceptorship where the student is assigned to a clinician or researcher and observes them on rounds, in the clinic, or in the laboratory, will not be considered appropriate for credit.  For example, the routine preceptorships available through the UAMS in the summer will not be eligible, nor will summer research positions arranged through the office of the Executive Associate Dean for Research.  Time preparing for the USMLE Step examinations, even if done at a Board Preparation Course, will not qualify for this Pre-Clinical Elective Credit.

If there is any question as to whether a specific activity is eligible for this credit, the student should contact the office of the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  No guarantees of credit are made unless approved in advance by this office.

If a student takes part in such an approved activity, the director of the program will be responsible to report the students’ involvement to the College of Medicine Dean’s office in an official evaluation with a pass/fail grade.  These grades will not become part of the student’s transcript, but will be recorded in their permanent record.  Failing grades will obviously receive no credit.  A record will be made of the student’s involvement along with the number of credit hours earned.  The credit hours will be applied during the student’s senior year.

Policy as approved by the UAMS College of Medicine Curriculum Committee March 2013.