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Integrating meaningful community service with structured learning to strengthen the knowledge and skills of EVMS students.

Community-Engaged Learning

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  2. Education
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  4. Community-Engaged Learning
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Explore Community-Engaged Learning

Real-world experience

Our initiatives give students learning opportunities that cannot be experienced in a classroom alone. Learn more about how these opportunities will strengthen your foundational science knowledge as well as your clinical and problem-solving skills.

Make a tangible difference

Students remain with their initiative for four years.

During that time, students address priority needs of the Hampton Roads community.

Learn more

Using EVMS Engage, you can find Community-Engaged Learning initiatives and record your hours.

Explore opportunities

Explore opportunities

Community-Engaged Learning Initiatives

First Response

Aimed primarily at cardiac and stroke challenges in Eastern Virginia, these initiatives focus on first response.

First Response

Aimed primarily at emergency health events, these initiatives focus on first response. 

  • Bystander CPR: Students research our region's difficulties surrounding cardiac arrest and teach Bystander CPR classes in the community.
  • Community Stroke Awareness: Students research the regional challenges and teach Stroke Awareness and Response in the community, primarily in geriatric settings.
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Medical and Health Professions students will develop an understanding and skillset to care for patients in the prehospital setting. 
Nutrition and Exercise

Diabetes and obesity are two prevalent issues in our region. Initiatives in this service pathway focus on nutrition and exercise.

Nutrition and Exercise

  • Adaptive Gymnastics: Provides adolescents with special physical, developmental and neurological needs with an opportunity to take part in a weekly gymnastics class.
  • Choosing Healthy Options for Wellness (CHOW): Students teach nutritious eating and exercise.
  • LIFT: Students work with homeless clients over 30-, 60- and 90-day periods teaching nutrition, exercise and life skills.
Health Equity

Initiatives in this pathway focus on those who do not readily have access to healthcare.

Health Equity

  • Environmental Health: Students research potential environmental sources of illness, such as harmful agents in air, water, food and soil, and propose solutions. 
  • HOPES Student Run Free Clinic: Students work in various capacities at this free clinic run by EVMS students.
  • Medical Educators of Sexual Health (MESH): Trained Medical and Health Professions students deliver comprehensive and developmentally appropriate sexual health education to 13-17 year olds in Hampton Roads.
  • Mothers and Baby Mermaids: Students become navigators with young mothers to help them journey through the pregnancy experience.
  • Street Health: Students work with Norfolk's Office to End Homelessness to find and conduct initial health screening for the community's unsheltered homeless population.
First Response

Aimed primarily at cardiac and stroke challenges in Eastern Virginia, these initiatives focus on first response.

Nutrition and Exercise

Diabetes and obesity are two prevalent issues in our region. Initiatives in this service pathway focus on nutrition and exercise.

First Response

Aimed primarily at emergency health events, these initiatives focus on first response. 

  • Bystander CPR: Students research our region's difficulties surrounding cardiac arrest and teach Bystander CPR classes in the community.
  • Community Stroke Awareness: Students research the regional challenges and teach Stroke Awareness and Response in the community, primarily in geriatric settings.
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Medical and Health Professions students will develop an understanding and skillset to care for patients in the prehospital setting. 
Health Equity

Initiatives in this pathway focus on those who do not readily have access to healthcare.

First Response

Aimed primarily at cardiac and stroke challenges in Eastern Virginia, these initiatives focus on first response.

Nutrition and Exercise

Diabetes and obesity are two prevalent issues in our region. Initiatives in this service pathway focus on nutrition and exercise.

Health Equity

Initiatives in this pathway focus on those who do not readily have access to healthcare.

First Response

Aimed primarily at emergency health events, these initiatives focus on first response. 

  • Bystander CPR: Students research our region's difficulties surrounding cardiac arrest and teach Bystander CPR classes in the community.
  • Community Stroke Awareness: Students research the regional challenges and teach Stroke Awareness and Response in the community, primarily in geriatric settings.
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Medical and Health Professions students will develop an understanding and skillset to care for patients in the prehospital setting. 

Nutrition and Exercise

  • Adaptive Gymnastics: Provides adolescents with special physical, developmental and neurological needs with an opportunity to take part in a weekly gymnastics class.
  • Choosing Healthy Options for Wellness (CHOW): Students teach nutritious eating and exercise.
  • LIFT: Students work with homeless clients over 30-, 60- and 90-day periods teaching nutrition, exercise and life skills.

Health Equity

  • Environmental Health: Students research potential environmental sources of illness, such as harmful agents in air, water, food and soil, and propose solutions. 
  • HOPES Student Run Free Clinic: Students work in various capacities at this free clinic run by EVMS students.
  • Medical Educators of Sexual Health (MESH): Trained Medical and Health Professions students deliver comprehensive and developmentally appropriate sexual health education to 13-17 year olds in Hampton Roads.
  • Mothers and Baby Mermaids: Students become navigators with young mothers to help them journey through the pregnancy experience.
  • Street Health: Students work with Norfolk's Office to End Homelessness to find and conduct initial health screening for the community's unsheltered homeless population.
The Elderly and Chronically Ill

The elderly represent a rapidly growing demographic in Eastern Virginia. Initiatives in this pathway focus on the elderly, chronically ill or disabled.

The Elderly and Chronically Ill

  • Beyond Clinic Walls: Students work with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia and visit elderly residents, identifying and responding to their needs.
  • Hospice: Students explore the role of interdisciplinary teams in the treatment of hospice patients and Advance Care Planning procedures.
Mental Health

Close to 20% of adults in Virginia having been diagnosed with some type of mental health condition and approximately 5% are living with serious mental health condition.

Mental Health

Virginia has a population of approximately 8.3 million people with close to 20% of adults in Virginia having been diagnosed with some type of mental health condition and approximately 5% living with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, biopolar disorder and/or major depression.

  • Beat of My Heart: Students lead music and dance enrichment sessions for patients at the CHKD Cancer and Blood Disorders Center to facilitate human and social connection.
  • Health and Justice: Students will learn about the various pathways from criminal justice involvement and the different healthcare services available through pre- and post-release.
  • REVIVE!: Students will lead REVIVE! trainings to increase community awareness and readiness as well as lead research projects to better define Hampton Roads opioid’s crisis and barriers to care.
Global Health Equity

Earn a Spanish Bilingual Clinical Certification with Medical Spanish or a French Clinician Certification with Medical French, or work with local refugees in Refugee Health.

Global Health Equity

Global health inequities are community issues around the world, and these challenges have an impact on Hampton Roads. These initiatives focus on addressing these inequities.

  • Medical Spanish: Students work with Spanish-speaking patients and earn a Spanish Bilingual Clinician Certification.
  • Refugee Health: Students partner with local resettlement agencies to improve the health of refugees and health-related systems they experience.
The Elderly and Chronically Ill

The elderly represent a rapidly growing demographic in Eastern Virginia. Initiatives in this pathway focus on the elderly, chronically ill or disabled.

Mental Health

Close to 20% of adults in Virginia having been diagnosed with some type of mental health condition and approximately 5% are living with serious mental health condition.

The Elderly and Chronically Ill

  • Beyond Clinic Walls: Students work with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia and visit elderly residents, identifying and responding to their needs.
  • Hospice: Students explore the role of interdisciplinary teams in the treatment of hospice patients and Advance Care Planning procedures.
Global Health Equity

Earn a Spanish Bilingual Clinical Certification with Medical Spanish or a French Clinician Certification with Medical French, or work with local refugees in Refugee Health.

The Elderly and Chronically Ill

The elderly represent a rapidly growing demographic in Eastern Virginia. Initiatives in this pathway focus on the elderly, chronically ill or disabled.

Mental Health

Close to 20% of adults in Virginia having been diagnosed with some type of mental health condition and approximately 5% are living with serious mental health condition.

Global Health Equity

Earn a Spanish Bilingual Clinical Certification with Medical Spanish or a French Clinician Certification with Medical French, or work with local refugees in Refugee Health.

The Elderly and Chronically Ill

  • Beyond Clinic Walls: Students work with Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia and visit elderly residents, identifying and responding to their needs.
  • Hospice: Students explore the role of interdisciplinary teams in the treatment of hospice patients and Advance Care Planning procedures.

Mental Health

Virginia has a population of approximately 8.3 million people with close to 20% of adults in Virginia having been diagnosed with some type of mental health condition and approximately 5% living with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, biopolar disorder and/or major depression.

  • Beat of My Heart: Students lead music and dance enrichment sessions for patients at the CHKD Cancer and Blood Disorders Center to facilitate human and social connection.
  • Health and Justice: Students will learn about the various pathways from criminal justice involvement and the different healthcare services available through pre- and post-release.
  • REVIVE!: Students will lead REVIVE! trainings to increase community awareness and readiness as well as lead research projects to better define Hampton Roads opioid’s crisis and barriers to care.

Global Health Equity

Global health inequities are community issues around the world, and these challenges have an impact on Hampton Roads. These initiatives focus on addressing these inequities.

  • Medical Spanish: Students work with Spanish-speaking patients and earn a Spanish Bilingual Clinician Certification.
  • Refugee Health: Students partner with local resettlement agencies to improve the health of refugees and health-related systems they experience.

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Contact Us
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Medical Education
Student Affairs Suite Lobby
700 West Olney Road
Norfolk, VA 23507

757.446.7966

Email: communityengagedlearning@evms.edu

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