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 Domain, Topic, or both. Social Mission Domains reflect core operations and functions of health professions education institutions and programs that can be targeted for action to advance equity. These are also the domains used for the Social Mission Metrics Self Assessment. 

Use this search filter if you are interested in resources describing actions, interventions, and inputs. The Social Mission Resource Library Domains are:  

Pathways, Admission, & Graduation: This Domain includes alternative metrics/holistic admissions, pathway programs, recruitment strategies, and financial support.

Curriculum & Programming: This Domain includes incorporation of health equity principles, interprofessional education, community-based learning, curriculum review, and competencies. 

Community Engagement: This Domain includes community health needs assessments, community partnerships, and community representation in health professions education.

Students and Faculty: This Domain includes advocacy training for students and faculty, faculty promotion, faculty research, and faculty & leadership demographics.

Governance & Accountability: This Domain includes efforts to measure, assess, or evaluate institutional performance related to social mission, leadership demographics, and strategic planning.

You can search for Social Mission resources based on Domain, 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 Spotlight

An Introduction to Traditional Healing in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

This resource includes a facilitator guide and presentation slides to presents strategies and important background information to educate health trainees about coordination of care between traditional healers and physicians, ensuring that the physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of American Indian and Alaskan Native patients are fully met.

  • Resource Type

  • Social Mission Domain

  • Social Mission Topic

  • Health Profession

Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence
  Open Access  
2012

An Environmental Scan of Faculty Diversity Programs at U.S. Medical Schools

Adanga E, Avakame E, Carthon MB, Guevara JP
  • Social Mission Domains: Governance & Accountability, Students & Faculty
  • Health Profession: Medicine
To update the information available on the number and type of faculty diversity programs at U.S. MD-degree-granting medical schools.
Real World Examples
  Open Access  

Morehouse School of Medicine (Case Study)

  • Social Mission Domains: Community Engagement, Curriculum & Programming, Pathways & Graduation
  • Health Profession: Medicine
Morehouse College is a historically Black university that describes itself as committed to diversity. Community health is embedded into the MD curriculum. About 70% of graduates of the School of Medicine go into primary care, and students receive rural health training at the Columbus location.
Real World Examples
  Open Access  

University of Portland School of Nursing and Health Innovation (Case Study)

  • Social Mission Domains: Community Engagement, Curriculum & Programming, Governance & Accountability, Pathways & Graduation
  • Health Profession: Nursing
UP’s School of Nursing aims to empower students to “cultivate an equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and just health care system.” Its 2022-2025 strategic plan includes plans for interprofessional education, emphasizing diversity statements in hiring and reflections in performance reviews, and working with community partners.
Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence, Real World Examples
  Paywall  
2018

Increasing Diversity in the Physical Therapy Profession by Addressing Deficiencies in the Performance of African Americans on the National Physical Therapy Examination

Greene R, Karavatas S.
  • Social Mission Domains: Curriculum & Programming, Students & Faculty
  • Health Profession: Other
This article highlights the approach taken by a PT program with primarily African-American students to increase the licensure exam success rate.
Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence, Implementation Guidance & Tools
  Open Access  
2016

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

Kirby J, O’Hearn S, Latham L, Harris B, Davis-Murdoch S, Paul K
  • Social Mission Domains: Governance & Accountability
  • Health Profession: Medicine
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.
Peer Reviewed Articles and Evidence
  Open Access  
2011

Evaluation and Assessment of Social Accountability in Medical Schools

Leinster S
  • Social Mission Domains: Governance & Accountability
  • Health Profession: Medicine
Social accountability has been accessed in different ways by different medical schools and researchers. This article explains the need for a formal framework to be created to evaluate medical programs and their progress.

Suggestions

Let us know of your suggested social mission resources that you think should be included in our resource library.

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.