Robert Zarr, MD, MPH, FAAP, Upper Cardozo Health Center, Unity Health Care, Inc., 3020 14th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-518-6444, rzarr@unityhealthcare.org and Adrienne Elder, MPH, AHEC Coordinator, Unity Health Care, 3020 14th St, NW, Suite 403, Washington, DC 20009.

The AHEC-Unity Preceptor Project, funded by the District of Columbia Area Health Education Center (AHEC), is a collaborative project among Unity Health Care, Inc., D.C. AHEC, and local universities including Howard, Georgetown, Catholic, and George Washington Universities. The goals of this project are to offer public health-oriented clinical experiences at Unity’s community health centers (NHSC placement sites), enhance cultural competency among health professionals and students, and teach aspects of community health care. Complementing Unity’s mission to reduce health disparities, these activities encourage and prepare health professionals to work in medically underserved communities.

During their clinical rotations, students and residents team with community clinical instructors to see patients and provide quality health care to underserved communities. Providers emphasize the importance of the community and cultural components of quality health care. Students are exposed to a comprehensive vision of primary care, which recognizes that a variety of social services are necessary to supplement basic health care. Preceptors also facilitate a seminar for students addressing the issues of health disparities in the United States and, specifically, in Washington, D.C.

To encourage and support teaching activities, the challenges of working in community health centers had to be addressed. To increase efficiency and ease the administrative burden on providers, we developed a centralized student placement system and standardized orientation procedures. In addition, the project equips preceptors with tools and enhancements. By providing resources such as computers and digital cameras, coordinating faculty development workshops, and obtaining faculty appointments, the project encourages providers to start and continue teaching.

The AHEC-Unity Preceptor Project, active since November 2002, has been successful in increasing Unity’s teaching activities to almost 2,500 teaching sessions per year (over 1,200 full days). Learners included medical, nurse practitioner, midwife, physician assistant, and public health students, as well as medical residents. Based on rotation evaluations, students overwhelmingly reported positive impacts on their interest in primary care, interest in caring for the underserved, community awareness, and views on the importance of primary care.

This collaborative project is a significant source of clinical and cultural competency education for local health professional students and residents. It also serves an important role in recruiting and retaining competent health care providers for Unity Health Care and other community health centers. The relationships established with local universities, DC AHEC, and other community health clinics are valuable for improving the ability and willingness of future health care professionals to work in underserved communities.

Learning Objectives: