Name
The Impact of Community Health-focused Service Learning on Medical
Student Empathy and Burnout
Date & Time
Sunday, June 7, 2026, 4:38 PM - 4:53 PM
Location Name
Estes B
Speakers
Authors
Isabella Nashbar, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Louise Averitt, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Shannon Harold, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Sweta Chalise, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia
Jennifer Springhart, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Jennifer Grier, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Presentation Topic(s)
Student Support
Description
PURPOSE
Empathy is an essential trait for doctors, however the stress of medical
training may lead to empathy loss and increased burnout. Volunteerism can
potentially combat this decline in medical student mental health through
interpersonal connections. This study explores how participation in Root
Cause, a student-led monthly health fair addressing food and health
disparities, influences empathy and burnout among medical students at the
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (USCSOMG).
METHODS
First-year medical students at USCSOMG completed the Toronto Empathy
Questionnaire (TEQ) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) at first year
orientation. Students were required to complete a minimum of 48hours of
service-learning during the academic year, selecting from multiple
opportunities, including Root Cause. Surveys were again completed at each
Root Cause event attended, and at second year orientation. First-year
orientation data served as baseline empathy and burnout scores. Root Cause
attendance and differences in TEQ and MBI scores between first- and second-year
were analyzed using Pearson Correlation.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant relationship between the number of
surveys completed, a marker of attendance at Root Cause events, and the
change in MBI scores (r=-0.12, p=0.37). However, a statistically significant
positive relationship between increased survey completion and change in TEQ
scores (r=0.38, p=0.012) was observed.
CONCLUSION
Increased volunteerism at Root Cause community health-focused events led to
increased empathy among medical students at USCSOMG engaged in
service-learning. Although Root Cause participation was not significantly
associated with burnout changes, the absence of worsening burnout may
indicate a protective effect of service-learning. Volunteerism through Root
Cause or similar community health-focused service-learning may offer
meaningful benefits for medical students by supporting mental well-being,
strengthening resilience, and fostering empathy. Therefore, community
engagement in medical training may serve as an effective strategy to promote
mental health among future physicians.
Empathy is an essential trait for doctors, however the stress of medical
training may lead to empathy loss and increased burnout. Volunteerism can
potentially combat this decline in medical student mental health through
interpersonal connections. This study explores how participation in Root
Cause, a student-led monthly health fair addressing food and health
disparities, influences empathy and burnout among medical students at the
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (USCSOMG).
METHODS
First-year medical students at USCSOMG completed the Toronto Empathy
Questionnaire (TEQ) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) at first year
orientation. Students were required to complete a minimum of 48hours of
service-learning during the academic year, selecting from multiple
opportunities, including Root Cause. Surveys were again completed at each
Root Cause event attended, and at second year orientation. First-year
orientation data served as baseline empathy and burnout scores. Root Cause
attendance and differences in TEQ and MBI scores between first- and second-year
were analyzed using Pearson Correlation.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant relationship between the number of
surveys completed, a marker of attendance at Root Cause events, and the
change in MBI scores (r=-0.12, p=0.37). However, a statistically significant
positive relationship between increased survey completion and change in TEQ
scores (r=0.38, p=0.012) was observed.
CONCLUSION
Increased volunteerism at Root Cause community health-focused events led to
increased empathy among medical students at USCSOMG engaged in
service-learning. Although Root Cause participation was not significantly
associated with burnout changes, the absence of worsening burnout may
indicate a protective effect of service-learning. Volunteerism through Root
Cause or similar community health-focused service-learning may offer
meaningful benefits for medical students by supporting mental well-being,
strengthening resilience, and fostering empathy. Therefore, community
engagement in medical training may serve as an effective strategy to promote
mental health among future physicians.
Presentation Tag(s)
Student Presentation