Residents and Schools Navigating Together: SHIP The School Health Interdisciplinary Program

Michele N. Lossius, M.D., Susan Horky, LCSW, Jeffrey Roth, Ph.D., Nancy S. Hardt, MD Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Starting in fall 2009, residents, along with students from other disciplines (dentistry, public health, and allied health) conducted assessments of their school's science, math and health related learning needs. In concert with school district officials and after school personnel they developed and implemented activity-based projects that addressed these needs. After school programs provide a venue later in the day, which appeals to both students and residents.

ObjectiveThese projects are intended to become permanently established in the schools. Each year, additional residents (as well as other health pre-professionals) will rotate in to participate in the school program, adapt it as needed, and direct after school health awareness projects.

ResultsThese longitudinal school-based projects have allowed residents to integrate their knowledge in new ways, in order to teach children in a simple and clear manner, to relate more comfortably with youth outside the hospital setting and to recognize the impact of the social and economic environment on children's health and learning. Residents learn organizational and leadership skills, engage in team and community building, and participate in continuous quality improvement. The schools indicated that students looked forward to these sessions and often repeated what they had learned in subsequent classes. Lastly, Family Science Night and health fairs at the schools were also staffed by the SHIP teams.

Conclusions

Methods

Background

Sample projects include: teaching science in an interactive and engaging way; teaching health promotion and disease prevention; providing screening services (e.g., dental exams, blood pressure readings, nutritional assessments) for students and families.

BackgroundProjects of this type are essential to increase public school students' interest in and awareness of science/health topics and careers. Residents and health science students provide valuable role models for students and help students feel that they, too, can become successful healthcare professionals. We expect that the knowledge gained from this project, as well as the role modeling, will increase the number of students from diverse backgrounds entering science and health careers as well as, ultimately, to help reduce disparities in health outcomes. This collaboration enhances pediatric residents' training and allows the University to give back to the community. It also fosters the skill of communication with community partners. As we move forward and learn from the inaugural year, a few collaborative changes will occur. We will integrate more regularly into four elementary after school programs with one assigned grade level at each school, for continuity. A hands-on science and health based activities curriculum is being developed and implemented at each school by the SHIP teams. Lastly, we will continue to incorporate oral health activities.

AcknowledgmentsWe thank the students, parents, teachers, and principals at the following eight schools in Alachua County, Florida for their enthusiastic reception of and participation in the SHIP program: Glen Springs, Howard Bishop, Idylwild, Lake Forest, Lincoln, Littlewood, Rawlings, and Wiles.