Service learning: A vehicle for building health equity and eliminating health disparities

Service learning (SL) is a form of community-centered experiential education that placesemerginghealthprofessionals in communitygenerated service projects and provides structured opportunities for reflection on thebroadersocial,economic, and political contexts of health. We describe the elements and impact of five distinct week-long intensive SL courses focused on the context of urban, rural, border,and indigenous health contexts. Students involved in these SL courses demonstrated a commitment to community-engaged scholarship and practice in both their student and professional lives. SL is directly in line with the core public health value of social justice and serves as a venue to strengthen community-campus partnerships in addressing health disparities through sustained collaboration and actioninvulnerable communities.