Community Engaged Learning
CEL
Community Engaged Learning (CEL) at the University of Calgary (UCalgary) Cumming School of Medicine, strives to help future physicians better understand and appreciate the lived experience of people in the communities they serve. CEL also enhances understanding about the social determinants of health and health equity challenges, and provides future physicians the opportunity to learn in the contexts they will one day go on to support/practice in. Studies have shown that when medical students are provided community engaged learning experiences, they are better able to provide appropriate care for their future patients and advocate alongside them.
Community Engaged Learning is part of Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) at the Cumming School of Medicine. Currently, all first year medical students complete an in-community placement with a local community organization as part of the UME Community Engaged Learning Program. This in-community placement is mandatory for all UME students; students are required to complete their shifts in order to obtain their MD (medical doctor) degree. The Indigenous, Local and Global Health Office (ILGH) works to build partnerships with local community organizations to provide community engaged learning opportunities for medical students. The ILGH Office matches undergraduate medical students with a community partner, and each student completes their scheduled shifts at the community partner location(s).
As partners in Community Engaged Learning, community organizations are co-educators helping to shape the knowledge and skills of our future health workforce. Community partners have an important perspective to offer to future physicians: the challenges, strengths and realities that exist in the community; individuals’ experiences with the health care system; and the lived experiences of communities. Further, it is crucial that future physicians are aware of all the organizations outside of medicine that play a crucial role in the health of our communities.
We encourage partners to engage medical students in activities that will help them develop understanding and skills that will ensure they can better meet the needs of communities in their future medical practice. Generally, students are offered the privilege to learn alongside organization staff and community members while also being expected to be a valuable resource to the community organization, helping with programming or partner-determined activities/projects, and generally being of service to the community. Reciprocity is key in these relationships, and CEL is meant to be easily integrated into the day-to-day activities of an organization to ensure feasibility and sustainability.
Current CEL partners:
Accessible Housing
Action Coalition on Human Trafficking (ACT) Alberta
The Alex Community Health Centre
Assoc. for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured
Between Friends
Brenda Strafford Foundation
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Calgary Counselling Centre
Calgary Dream Centre
Calgary Drop-In Centre
Calgary Food Bank
Calgary John Howard Society
Calgary Neuropathy Association
Calgary Progressive Lifestyles Foundation
Carya Calgary
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
Centre for Sexuality
Children's Cottage Society
CUPS Calgary
Elements Mental Health
Families Matter
Hospice Calgary
Hull Services
Inn from the Cold
Mamas for Mamas
McMan Calgary
Mustard Seed
Potential Place
Recovery Alberta
Rehabilitation Society of Calgary
Renfrew Educational Services
Rozsa Foundation
SafeLink Alberta
Salvation Army
Silvera for Seniors
The Immigrant Education Society
VECOVA
Veterans Association Food Bank
Women's Centre of Calgary
Woods Homes
YW Calgary