Champions Program
TITLE: Champions Program
The idea behind this is that every child deserves to have a “champion” who supports them and will provide them with equitable education and knowledge. As future healthcare providers, we believe we are in the unique position (as are nurses, teachers, principles, etc.) that can be a “champion” for any child. “Every child deserves a champion. An adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be” (Ted Talk given by Rita Pierson).
COURSE NO.: SOMN 622
DEPARTMENT: Pediatrics
REQUIRED ACTIVITIES
- Three didactic sessions with pediatric faculty covering child development, communicating
with pediatric patients, and the importance of education in healthcare
- 3 hours total
- If applicable, 15 minute introductory meeting with After-School All-Stars Program Coordinator, Megan Reece during the first tutoring session
- 2 tutoring/volunteer sessions per month at a designated school or clinic
- Approximately 10 hours
- Ending meeting where reflections will be shared
- 1 hour
DIRECTOR: (faculty responsible for grading): Dr. Bruce Barnett and Dr. Deepa Mukundan
COORDINATOR: Pediatrics coordinator and a student “chair” position responsible for tracking requirements
FACULTY PARTICIPANTS: Including but not limited to: Dr. Eileen Quinn, Dr. Morgan Dynes, Lori LeGendre (director of Reach Out and Read Program), Dr. Rajat Kaul
SEMESTERS AVAILABLE: Semester-long with longitudinal volunteer opportunities
NUMBER OF STUDENTS: Max. of 100 students
LOCATION:
- Variety of Toledo Public Schools who work with After-School All-Stars:
- Reynolds Elementary School
- Walbridge Elementary School
- Hawkins Elementary School
- Birmingham Elementary School
- Location will be assigned through After-School All-Stars (by Megan Reece). She is very accommodating to students’ preferences.
- Variety of Toledo Public Schools who work with Mentors in Toledo
- Variety of Toledo Public Libraries who work with Tutor Smart
- Variety of Toledo clinics who work with Reach Out and Read
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The motivation for this elective is to teach the necessary principles that contribute
to effective primary care. These principles include effective patient education, which
is crucial in maintaining a trusting relationship with pediatric patients.
The “Champions Program” will consist of two main aspects: community outreach and clinical applications. The community outreach aspect will involve afterschool tutoring or volunteering with children through After-School All-Stars, Mentors in Toledo, Tutor Smart, or Reach Out and Read.
For the tutoring programs such as After-School All-Stars, medical students will have the opportunity to work with the same elementary school student throughout the semester or year. This will allow for a longitudinal and growing relationship to develop over time. The goal is for each medical student to constantly learn about their student’s stage of development and learning style in order to best cater to their education. After-School All-Stars is already a robust program with pre-made lesson plans. This will allow medical students to focus their time on helping students with homework or premade worksheets in a way that best fits the student’s learning style. Reach Out and Read is a different opportunity where medical students can read to children in the waiting rooms of various clinics. This program promotes early reading literacy while helping caregivers understand the importance of reading in child development. Understanding the student’s abilities, learning styles, and how they communicate will be a critical skill for medical students to develop during the elective. This skill is one that will serve them well in future pediatric patient care.
Additionally, the clinical applications of the “Champions Program” will be made possible by working with pediatric physicians. This part of the elective will consist of three whole group meetings in which students will learn about the following: stages of child development, the importance of education in healthcare, and communicating with pediatric patients. This aspect of the elective will allow students to envision how their current work in elementary schools and clinics will be relevant throughout their entire careers.
While other programs allow for University of Toledo Medical students to be involved in the community, we envision this elective to be a unique learning opportunity due to the longitudinal projection of the tutoring program.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
- State various stages of child development (EPOs: MK-1)
- Demonstrate application of various educational styles based on a child’s developmental stage or learning. (EPOs: MK-1, PB-1, IPC-1, IPC-3)
- Cite the ways in which various social, educational, and economic backgrounds can impact clinical interactions. (EPOs: MK-3, IPC-3)
- Explain the importance of a longitudinal relationship in a child’s life and how as healthcare providers, we could provide this support for them. (EPOs: MK-1, MK-3)
- Explain sources of successes and challenges in teaching children of various ages, and reflect on why this skill is important in medicine. (EPOs: MK-1, IPC-1, IPC-3)
METHODS OF TEACHING: Small lecture setting with physician (3 times throughout the year) to gain knowledge on child development and how different teaching and communication methods can be used within pediatrics.
METHODS OF STUDENT EVALUATION: Students will keep track of their experience throughout the year. This will be documented on a template where they will record what they taught their student, how they felt their teaching style worked, and what they want to improve for next time.
Additionally, medical students will have a reflection conversation at the end of their experience addressing the education objectives and discussing what they learned throughout their experience.
ELECTIVE EVALUATION: An evaluation form will be completed by: Megan Reece, each schools program director, and the students participating.
PREREQUISITES (if any): First or second year medical student in good academic standing and preferred interest in pediatrics and/or patient education.
ECC Approved
July 2023