Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Making the Links (MTL) is a unique certificate program for undergraduate medical students at the University of Saskatchewan, which combines academic courses with in-community learning experiences (practicums) and exposes the students to health issues in the context of an urban underserved community in Saskatoon or Regina, rural/remote and Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan and international communities globally. MTL has been operating in the College of Medicine since 2005 and has undergone significant evolution from a student organized and funded collection of Global Health experiences, to a formally offered Academic Certificate in Global Health in 2011. In 2019, the MTL leadership began a comprehensive program review to assess how several factors have impacted the program and to work with stakeholders to direct the program into the future. This paper discusses the review, which allowed us to see where MTL is currently positioned to educate undergraduate medical students and highlight opportunities for where the program should focus in the future. As the need for socially conscious health professionals continues, so to will experiential learning permeate health sciences education. MTL is one program that is evolving with the environment in order to be responsive to the needs of underserved communities by offering future physicians experiences that will help shape their future practice.