Presented By: Christohper Simenz, Medical College of Wisconsin

Purpose 
Connecting medical training and physicians to underserved communities often involves unilateral education, while reciprocal education with trusted community partners helps to build capacity for improved patient access and develop equity-focused providers. This outreach program was implemented to improve connection between medical trainees and underserved communities, increase partnership and awareness of local community partners, and promote development of equity-focused healthcare practitioners. 

Methods 
Perceptions of 39 residents (Anesthesiology, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radiation Oncology, Surgery), 7 residency directors, and 2 community partners were analyzed after participation in two community outreach experiences with local partners combating food and housing insecurity during a one-year pilot study. Residents, residency directors, and community partners completed session evaluations including Likert (scale A:1=SD/7=SA, scale B:1=low/10=high) and free response questions for program satisfaction, feasibility, and impact. 

Results 
Scale A: Resident responses indicated outreach experiences enhanced their connections to community (Mdn=7, IQR=0), fellow residents (Mdn=7, IQR=1), and residency program (Mdn=7, IQR=2). Responses indicated value in the curriculum from residents (Mdn=7, IQR=1), residency directors (Mdn=7, IQR=0), and community partners (Mdn=7, IQR=0). Scale B: Satisfaction with the learning experience and overall programming from residents (Mdn=9, IQR=3; Mdn=10, IQR=2), residency directors (Mdn=10, IQR=1; Mdn=8, IQR=2), and community partners (Mdn=10, IQR=0; Mdn=10, IQR=0) were apparent. Inductive thematic analysis of free response questions produced 7 themes: value of resident socialization, partnership with community, experience enjoyment, understanding the work of community partners, growth of new perspectives, considerations for the healthcare system, and learning about Milwaukee. Analysis of residency director and community partner surveys showed uniformly positive feedback on experiences and proactive resident engagement. 

Conclusion 
Participation in community-engaged outreach programs provided multiple positive impacts and fostered growth of resident perspectives on community health and its relation to the healthcare system, perspectives on equitable healthcare practice, and was valued by residency directors and community partners.