Community Engagement

The Primary Care Track of the University of Colorado is committed to engaging with a diverse group of community partners to improve the health of the broader community. To do this, primary care residents must leave the clinical campus and exam rooms to connect directly with people in the community. Our aim is to learn about our regional communities and how best to improve the health of the people living in those communities through social, cultural, and social determinants.

Community Engagement is built into our Primary Care Track curriculum with protected educational time for learning and activities. It is a requirement for our track with opportunities to grow or develop other community engagement projects throughout residency

Social Determinants of Health Workshop

In their R1 year, PC interns participate in a half day session  to learn about local resources for social determinants of health factors that commonly affect our patients, get to know their clinic neighborhood, and then serve a meal at a local shelter as a group.

Denver Housing Authority Partnership

In their R2 year, PC residents work as a clinic team to develop health education presentations on a common primary care core topic for a patient audience. They present topics at a partnered Denver Housing Authority site based on proximity to clinic, with aims to develop longitudinal community-based collaborations for health education.

DAWN Health (Dedicated to Aurora's Wellness & Needs)

In their R3 year during a required PC selective rotation, residents work weekly at DAWN Health. In this role they supervise medical students as they meet the needs of the diverse, underserved population of Aurora, Colorado. Residents have the option to volunteer here throughout their residency as well.

Other Community Organizations

• Harm Reduction Action Center  - HRAC promotes public health by ensuring that people who inject drugs are educated and equipped with the tools to reduce the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C and to eliminate the proliferation of fatal overdoses. R1 residents meet staff and tour the site during PC Intern Didactics. Popular Primary Care electives such as HIV & Urban Underserved and Addictions, also have our residents rotate at this site.
• Colorado Coalition for Homelessness - The Coalition works collaboratively towards the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for those at-risk of homelessness throughout Colorado. R2 residents meet staff and tour the site during PC R2 Didactics. Popular Primary Care electives such as Urban Underserved Preceptorship and Transitions of Care also offer opportunities to rotate at this site for educational learning and care involvement.