About Us

History

Drexel University College of Medicine has a rich history of involvement with the community which includes formal service-learning programs as well as committed volunteerism on the part of faculty and students. The Office of Community Experience (OCE) was officially established in the early 1990s through the visionary collaboration of Dr. Vincent Zarro, Dr. Suzanne Zarro, Dr. Bert Landau, and Ms. Mary-Ellen Bradley. Their efforts created a required, community service-learning curriculum and established a rich network of meaningful, community-campus partnerships. Dr. Zarro served as Director of the Office of Community Experience until 2008.

Today

OCE is fully dedicated to providing required, service-learning curricula for all students, and also to supporting the hundreds of students who further engage with community and social needs beyond academic requirements. It is staffed with three positions: a physician Academic Director, a social worker Program Director and a Program Coordinator. Our work also involves the participation of many faculty members throughout the institution, as well as preceptors from community sites. We are proud of the variety, scope and quality of OCE programming that includes:

First-year required courses on social determinants of health and community responsive medicine (Community Education Experience and the Community Health Component)
Community health electives for fourth-year medical students
Bridging the Gaps summer Community Health Internship Program
Health Outreach Project Clinics
Volunteer opportunities for students throughout their years of study

Please read our annual report

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