This Initiative is Currently Inactive
Students will certify as French Speaking Physicians, then work in clinics and with French-speaking community groups to begin clinical outreach.
Hampton Roads boasts an underserved French-speaking community of several thousand people. This underserved French-speaking community is primarily made up of Congolese refugees (centered in Newport News) and Haitian immigrants (many of whom live on the Eastern Shore), representing the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere (Haiti) and in the world (The Democratic Republic of Congo). This initiative aims at improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare for these vulnerable communities by increasing the number of physicians who can communicate with them.
Partnering with the Norfolk Chapter of Alliance Française, EVMS students will complete certification as French Speaking Clinicians. The multi-faceted program, based on the components of our successful Medical Spanish initiative, will consist of weekly language classes with Alliance Française French instructors, monthly French conversation groups with community members, monthly lectures with faculty and community members who work in francophone settings, clinical outreach in collaboration with the Refugee Health service-learning initiative and the Eastern Shore Rural Health System and cultural training and experiences. Alliance Française will facilitate Medical French training using a curriculum developed for our specific context and students.
Click here to report your service hours for Medical French.
For additional details on Medical French, click here to download the handout.
You may also contact Community-Engaged Learning or faculty lead Dr. Alexandra Leader for any additional questions
