Become a Community Teacher for UMN Healthcare Students!

Interested in enriching the learning experience of health professions students by sharing your first-hand experiences of managing your chronic condition(s) within the healthcare system? Volunteer as a Community Teacher to share your personal healthcare journey managing chronic conditions with the next generation of health professionals!

The University of Minnesota's1Health Interprofessional Education Curriculum teaches students of all health professions the skills necessary to build successful careers in patient-centered, team-based care. Volunteers like YOU are needed to share your real-life experience in healthcare to help students understand how each profession is a valuable member of a health care team!

The Community Teachers program offers a unique opportunity for community volunteers to interact with a small team of health professional students. Community Teacher volunteers and a team of students (3-4 students per team) meet three times throughout the academic year (either in person or virtually via video). Students practice basic interviewing skills during each visit to understand the Community Teacher’s health care history and current needs, using a prepared visit guidelines document to steer the conversation. The students do not provide health care advice, but rather focus on learning how to work in a health care team, including understanding which questions to ask so they can work collaboratively in understanding the needs of the patient.

All Community Teacher volunteers must meet these minimum requirements:

1. Be 18 years of age or older;
2. Have at least one chronic medical condition requiring medication;
3. Be willing to share with the students their perspective and experience navigating the health care system with regards to their chronic condition;
4. Be available to meet virtually (via video call) or in person with a team of 3-4 students, three times per program year (September - April)