BACKGROUND
The course directors of Doctor, Patient and Society, and the Faculty of Medicine are strongly committed to meaningful partnership and dialogue with the communities they serve. Community partnership enables the Doctor, Patient and Society course to be more responsive to communities’ views and priorities and therefore more accountable to the communities it serves.
ROLE
The role of the Community Advisory Board is to:
- Assist DPAS Course directors and the Faculty of Medicine in the design and provision of educational modules in the undergraduate medical curriculum targeted to foster awareness of the unique health and other needs of vulnerable and/or marginalized groups in society;
- Advise DPAS Course directors and the Faculty of Medicine on important new and emerging consumer and community health issues, which should be considered for incorporation into the undergraduate medical curriculum;
- In order to best advise DPAS Course directors and the Faculty of Medicine on how best to train physicians to most appropriately meet community needs, liaise with other community-based stakeholders to provide broad community input.
- Facilitate recruitment of community members to participate in educational activities;
- Provide a pathway for communities to have input to the Faculty of Medicine in addition to the Doctor, Patient and Society course. (e.g. student selection)
- Communicate information about contemporary issues in medical training at UBC and how to get involved.
EXPECTED BENEFITS
Expected benefits of community partnership include:
- Greater understanding of community needs and the impact of health and other services on the lives of vulnerable and/or marginalized members of society;
- Improved health outcomes through better physician training targeting the needs of diverse populations;
- Fostering a culture of openness, partnership and collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine and the communities it serves;
- Fostering of Community/University partnership to develop innovative approaches to medical education, and research in medical education.
- Facilitation of interaction between community agencies to share information, resources and understanding.
- New doctors will be aware of, refer to, and consult with the not-for-profit health care sector in relation to health and lifestyle issues
- Course Directors will reflect feedback from the Board to the Undergraduate Medical Programme Curriculum Committee.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The Community Advisory Board seeks to be representative of, and mutually accountable to the communities it serves and the Curriculum Committee of the Undergraduate Medical Programme of the UBC Faculty of Medicine through the DPAS Course Directors.
COMPOSITION OF COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
- At least two (2) Course Directors from Doctor Patient and Society; Faculty of Medicine.
- Volunteer community members will be appointed for their ability to reflect broad community issues.
- One student in the Undergraduate Medical Programme each from first year and second year.
- Associate Dean Curriculum (or designate), Undergraduate Medical Programme, Faculty of Medicine.
- DPAS Administrative Assistants are invited to attend as members of the committee.