MD Student Community Engagement

Keck in the Community

Established in 2019, Keck in the Community provides Keck students, staff, and faculty with opportunities to engage with and serve the local communities that neighbor USC’s campuses. The program reflects the Keck School’s commitment to community service. By partnering with organizations in Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, and South LA, the program aims not only to serve but also to learn from community members as we work together to create a more just and healthy society.

Throughout the year, Keck medical students volunteer their time, talents, and energy to serve the community in different ways. During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, our students mobilized to help with various efforts to address some of the needs and challenges precipitated by the pandemic. They translated critical public health flyers into numerous languages, prepared food bags for distribution at mobile food pantries, helped sort and organize personal protective equipment donations, and connected with senior citizens to combat the consequences of isolation and social distancing. Our students’ commitment to the community continues today as they participate in volunteer opportunities in the areas of health and medicine, education, and other urgent social issues.

For inquiries about Keck in the Community or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please contact Benjamin Valdez, Senior Student Engagement Programs Advisor, at valdezb@usc.edu.

Keck Service-Learning Program

At KSOM, community service is integrated into our medical students’ curriculum. In alignment with the goals and objectives of the Health Justice & Systems of Care course, students engage in service-learning opportunities in response to community-identified concerns. Service-learning is defined as a structured learning experience that combines community service with preparation and reflection. Through the Service-Learning Program, our students learn about the context in which service is provided, the connection between their service and their academic coursework, and the structural, psychological, and social components that influence patients’ lives from a perspective that will complement their careers as future physicians.

Click here to learn more about the Health Justice & Systems of Care curriculum.

For more information about the Keck Service-Learning Program, please contact Benjamin Valdez, Senior Student Engagement Programs Advisor, at valdezb@usc.edu.