Foundations of a longitudinal experience in community medicine: Precursors to an efficacious educational strategy

Background: Development of a community medicine curriculum designed to address the healthcare needs of rural and underserved populations requires an approach that blends clinical care and population health perspectives into a seamless pedagogical experience. For this approach to be successful, it must be grounded in an academic environment that supports curricular efficacy. Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present 10 prerequisite considerations upon which longitudinal, community medicine experiences should be based. These concepts are grouped into three areas; educational philosophy, the developmental process, and articulated expectations. Conclusions: Speaking to underlying pedagogical elements such as these allowed our program to develop a well-informed curriculum which delivers skills necessary to address the needs of a diverse population.