Medical Schools Given Opportunity to Measure Social Mission
The Social Mission Alliance launches updated Social Mission Metrics Self-Assessment for all U.S. based MD and DO granting institutions.
For the first time in 5 years, all U.S. based medical schools have the opportunity to participate in the Social Mission Metrics Self-Assessment, a free tool for schools to evaluate their performance on activities related to social mission.
In 2019, the Social Mission Alliance (then the Beyond Flexner Alliance) invited all U.S. based medical, dental, and a random sample of 400 nursing schools to participate in the Social Mission Metrics Self-Assessment. Beginning development in 2016, this self-evaluation evaluates the current state of social mission within a health professions institution and provides key benchmarking information that schools can use to guide improvement.
During the last open call in 2019, a total of 242 schools across the three professions completed the survey. Since then, additional rounds of testing and refinement has brought the number of participating schools over 300 in total. The primary domains that schools are assessed on include the school’s governance, commitment to the community, pathway opportunities, service-learning, and community-based training.
To promote individualized growth, the Social Mission Alliance does not publicly share any information from individual schools. Instead, we use aggregate data in publications and in school feedback reports so that schools can compare their performance to other institutions. Participation is a mark of commitment to evaluating and prioritizing social mission across their institutions.
Other institutions are encouraged to participate in future opportunities to engage with the self-assessment. On August 8, 2024, all US medical school Deans received an email offering participation in this initiative. Deans are encouraged to work with other members of their institutions to complete and return the survey by October 31, 2024. Given past success and feedback from participants, we know it will be worthwhile for institutions to take the time for this important internal evaluation to fuel on-going cycles of progress toward achieving social mission for their greater communities.
If you would like to encourage a medical school to participate, please explore the toolkits available here. If you have additional questions, please email us directly at metrics@socialmission.org.
Social Mission is the contribution of a school in its mission, programs, and the performance of its graduates, faculty, and leadership in advancing health equity and addressing the health disparities of the society in which it exists.
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.