A first-year community-based service learning elective: design, implementation, and reflection.

Background: Medical schools have increasingly begun to incorporate service learning practices into their curricula.

Description: As part of a community-based service learning elective, 7 first-year medical students designed and implemented a health behavior education program for residents of a women's substance abuse recovery facility. The resulting program, Start Small, Feel Better, emphasized setting and accomplishing small goals to promote healthy lifestyle modifications.