Increasing Medical Trainees' Empathy Through Volunteerism and Mentorship.

Background: Within medical education, there have been recent calls for increased understanding and exposure to poverty to increase trainees' empathy toward the underserved. Students participating in Michigan Cardiovascular Outcomes Research and Reporting Program research program volunteered at World Medical Relief (WMR) in Detroit, Michigan, a nonprofit organization which recycles medical equipment for developing countries and within greater Detroit. Participants' perceptions of the underserved were measured before and after the experience.

Effects of a refugee elective on medical student perceptions.

Background: There are growing numbers of refugees throughout the world. Refugee health is a relatively unstudied and rarely taught component of medical education. In response to this need, a Refugee Health Elective was begun.