Center for Community Engagement Learning

Back Row (Left to Right): Carla Schwartz (MSII), Natallia Fiadorchanka (MSII), Jeff Robin (MSII), Ambrish Patel (MSII), Todd Michaelis (MSII), Brian Buckley (MSI), Britton Chan (MSIV)
Front Row (from Left to Right): Melsi Shkullaku (MSII), Mikki Kollisch (MSII), Brittney Williams (MSII), Jenn Makin (MSI)
Missing: Julia Cowden (MSII), Amanda Brahm (MSII)

Our Norton College of Medicine trains medical providers who are not only dedicated to clinical and scientific excellence, but also possess compassion, understanding, and reflection that comes from exposure to diverse cultures and communities. We are committed to deepening students’ understanding of the social, structural, political, and environmental determinants of health to be disruptors of inequities as future medical practitioners.

Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community partnerships with instruction and critical reflection to enrich the student learning experience and social responsibility. CEL differs from volunteering or community service because it requires ongoing community engagement and critical reflection as an integral practice of the learning process. CEL is a field-based, “experiential learning” opportunity and a required part of the medical school curriculum that is tied to specific graduation competencies.

All Norton College of Medicine students, including dual degree programs, are required to complete a minimum of 40-hours Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) experiences (30 hours for the 3-year pathway) prior to graduating. This requirement may be met through activities and experiences approved by the Center for Community Engagement Learning,</> which are designed and structured to meet the graduation competencies through several pathways.