Outreach

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URSMD trains medical professionals who are not only dedicated to clinical and scientific excellence, but also possess the compassion, understanding, and reflection from exposure to cultures and surroundings different than their own. The URSMD is committed to promoting the understanding of the social, political and economic determinants of health. In light of this, we have a coordinated Office of Medical Student Enrichment Programs (OMSEP). This center supports and administers a number of programs such as those listed below.

Global Health

At the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, we encourage students to expand their impact and transcend boundaries. We enthusiastically support our students in traveling to other countries to enhance their learning—and improve the lives of people around the world. We have affiliation agreements in China, Ireland, Peru, Poland, and Spain and offer international medicine programs in more than 40 countries.

Community Service

The Students of Rochester Outreach (SRO) volunteer program allows URSMD students the opportunity to serve those in need. Participants gain insight into the often unique experiences of individuals who face disparities in health care and wellness. It is our goal for MD students to form alliances with people facing challenges undermining their achievement or living in limited resource settings. There are numerous opportunities available, one of the most popular being UR Well, a student-run program providing health services for the uninsured. Other programs include an art program for hospitalized children, Refugee Student Alliance, academic tutoring of at-risk inner city children. For students interested in learning more about community health and the systems impacting health care delivery, we offer the Community Health Improvement Course, a four week elective that links students with community partners for service learning. 

MD with Distinction in Community Health

Through consistent service learning, students can earn a Distinction in Community Health at graduation.  Learning about community-engaged scholarship through the design, implementation, and evaluation of a faculty guided project with a community partner organization, students directly improve population health.

Community Clinics

Our student run community clinics that operate under faculty supervision serving uninsured and homeless adults. In addition to providing supervised care to people in need, participants gain a deeper understanding of the social determinants of health.

UR Well

The mission of UR Well is to provide free high-quality preventative and health maintenance services to uninsured and under-served adults in an effort to foster the health of the community of Rochester while promoting the spirit of education, social justice, and collaboration. UR Well has a primary site at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center and locations at Asbury Church and Maplewood YMCA.

Street Outreach

UR Street Outreach (SO) is a student outreach group at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry and the University of Rochester School of Nursing that focuses on supporting individuals who are unhoused in the city of Rochester.

Student Organizations

The U of R has a myriad of student run organizations in which to participate. These include student government, national organizations (AMA, AAMC, AMWA, AMSA), and numerous interest groups. A Student Activities fair in the fall provides additional in person information.

Working with Pathway Programs

The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry is strongly committed to increasing the number of physicians from diverse backgrounds. In addition to recruitment, we are working to expand the pool of potential students through programs providing high school and college students, from historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with opportunities to pursue careers in medicine and the biomedical sciences. These programs also provide medical students with opportunities to develop their teaching and mentorship skills and help prepare the future for careers in academic medicine. Students who participate in these programs tell us that this is one of their “favorite contributions” made during their time in medical school. The medical school pathway programs are coordinated by the Office of Equity and Inclusion.