Health Disparities
The Georgetown University Medical Center and the School of Medicine lead the University’s efforts to conduct-community based research and provide community healthcare services in the District of Columbia. The School of Medicine also offers service learning opportunities for medical students in the local community.
COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH RESEARCH
The Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Research
This research center, part of Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center located, is located in Ward 7 to provide direct access to individuals most negatively impacted by health disparities. The office facilitates research to reduce cancer and related health disparities among underserved and ethnic minority populations in the District.
Center for Child and Human Development
The Center for Child and Human Development (CCHD) was founded to improve systems, practices, and outcomes for young children; children and youth with special health care and mental health needs and their families; and individuals with developmental disabilities. The Center takes an interdisciplinary approach to service, training, research, community outreach, technical assistance, and public policy to address critical social issues of poverty, health and mental health inequities, homelessness, violence, and literacy. Projects at CCHD include:
- National Center for Cultural Competence, to increase the capacity of health care and mental health care programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally and linguistically competent service delivery systems
- National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, to provide information, technical assistance, and training on system and service strategies for achieving positive outcomes for children and youth with mental health needs and their families
- University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, to promote self-determination, productivity, independence and inclusion of individuals with developmental and other disabilities
COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES
KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic
The KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic is a mobile healthcare clinic that has provided direct pediatric primary care for almost 20 years. The mobile clinic visits public housing communities, schools, health fairs, and other community events to provide primary healthcare services to children and adolescents.
HOYA Clinic
The HOYA Clinic is a student-driven free clinic located in the D.C. General Family Homeless Shelter in Southeast Washington. The clinic is run by Georgetown University medical students and provides direct primary care services to homeless and uninsured families living in the shelter.
School Based Health Centers at Anacostia and Roosevelt Senior High Schools
School based health clinics provide health and wellness services to students and their children at Anacostia and Roosevelt Senior High School.
SERVICE LEARNING AND ADVOCACY
Service and Experiential Learning in Medicine
Geogetown students in the School of Medicine must complete at least 20 hours of community service before graduation. The experiential learning component fulfills the University’s commitment to train students as women and men for others. Medical students work with a number of community organizations on issues of homlessness, hunger, senior care, children and family medicine, education and employment, and work in local health clinics.
Health Rights and Social Justice Scholar Track
The School of Medicine offers a elective course offering for medical students to learn about health care as a right and health justice as an advocacy objective. Students learn about concepts of health justice and health rights and techniques to advocate for patients and their communities.