Social Mission Resource Library

Find peer reviewed articles, implementation tools, and real world examples of social mission in practice at institutions and programs across the United States. The Social Mission Resource Library continues to grow, so check back often! If you have suggestions for resources to add, please submit them here.

You can search for Social Mission resources based on Activity Area, Topic, or both. Social Mission Action Areas reflect core operations and functions of health professions education institutions and programs that can be targeted for action to advance equity. Use this search filter if you are interested in resources describing actions, interventions, and inputs. The Social Mission Resource Library Action Areas are:  

Admissions & Recruitment This Action Area includes but is not limited to Alternative Metrics/Holistic Admissions, Pipeline & Pathway Programs, Targeted Recruitment Strategies, and Financial Support

Educational Programming This Action Area includes but is not limited to Incorporation of Health Equity Principles, Interprofessional Education, Community-based Learning, and Anti-racist Curricula

Institutional Culture This Action Area includes but is not limited to Governance & Policy, DEI Training, Faculty & Leadership Diversity, and Mentorship

Community Engagement This Action Area includes but is not limited to Community Needs Assessment, Community Partnerships, and Community Representation in Health Professions Education

Advocacy & Activism This Action Area includes but is not limited to Advocacy Training for Students and Faculty and External Advocacy Efforts

Measurement & Assessment This Action Area includes efforts to measure, assess, or evaluate institutional performance related to social mission

You can search for Social Mission resources based on Activity Area, Topic, or both. Social Mission Topics can be thought of as goals or outcome areas. Use this filter to see resources displayed based on outcome(s) of interest. Social Mission Topics are: 

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Diversity and representation of underrepresented groups among learners, faculty, and leadership across; The perceptions, attitudes, and expectations that define an institution, particularly as seen from the perspectives of individuals who are underrepresented based on race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation, mental and physical ability, or other dimensions of diversity; Policies and governance structures that institutionalize social mission. 

Practice in underserved areas or settings Learners and providers servicing rural or underserved communities/facilities

Specialty choice Learners and providers practicing in high need specialty areas, especially primary care

Health equity champions Learners, practitioners, faculty, and administrators having the knowledge, competencies, attitudes, skills, and/or intent to address health inequities  

Community partnerships Programs and policies that address community inequities via external partnerships and practices

Patient & Community health Effects of health professions education on health outcomes at the patient, community, or population level

  • Resource Type

  • Social Mission Action Area

  • Social Mission Topic

  • Health Profession

Implementation Guidance & Tools, Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence
  Open Access  
2020

Social Mission Metrics: Developing a Survey to Guide Health Professions Schools

  • Academic Medicine
In this Perspective, the authors describe the development of a new tool to measure the social mission at dental, medical, and nursing schools across the United States, and they reflect on the implications of using this tool to deepen discussions around the social mission and strengthen progress toward health equity.
Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence
  Paywall  
2017

A Critical Scoping Review of the Connections Between Social Mission and Medical School Admissions

  • Medical Teacher
The connections between social mission and medical school admissions were identified in 71 articles in this scoping review. It was found that although social mission is addressed, there is little direct connection between admissions and social mission.

Ellaway R, Malhi R, Bajaj S, Walker I, Myhre D. A critical scoping review of the connections between social mission and medical school admissions: BEME Guide No. 47. Medical Teacher. 2017;40:1-8. doi:10.1080/0142159X.2017.1406662

Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence, Implementation Guidance & Tools
  Open Access  
2016

Introducing A Collaborative E2 (Evaluation & Enhancement) Social Accountability Framework for Medical Schools

  • International Journal of Higher Education
Describes the development of an innovative social accountability framework that incorporates both pragmatic-evaluation and collaborative-enhancement components. The framework consists of five distinct phases, uses a deliberative engagement methodology, and is meaningfully informed by a set of four SA Lenses: Diversity, Inclusion and Cultural Responsiveness; Equity; Community / Stakeholder Engagement and Partnering; and Justice-Fairness and Sustainability.

Kirby J, O’Hearn S, Latham L, Harris B, Davis-Murdoch S, Paul K. Introducing a Collaborative E2 (Evaluation & Enhancement) Social Accountability Framework for Medical Schools. International Journal of Higher Education. 2016;5(4):216-221.

Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence
  Open Access  
2014

Suggested New Standards to Measure Social Accountability of Medical Schools in the Accreditation Systems

  • Journal of Case Studies in Accreditation and Assessment
The objective of this work is to promote the principles of social accountability within the medical schools by developing standards and procedures that can be used by the existing accreditation systems. This research is qualitative based on the phenomenological type of research and grounded research theory. It concludes the importance of accreditation systems as a lever of improvement and power to change the practice towards the expectations of the society.

Abdalla ME. Suggested New Standards to Measure Social Accountability of Medical Schools in the Accreditation Systems. Journal of Case Studies in Accreditation and Assessment. 2014;3. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1060602

Champion Spotlight

The Social Mission Alliance features Social Mission Champions on our social media accounts and blog. The series highlights the important work done by those who are advancing health equity and addressing the health disparities of the society in which it exists. If you’d like to be considered for a Social Mission Champion feature, complete the form below.