California's Central Valley: Teaching social determinants of health and cultural humility through an interprofessional, overnight road trip

This study explored the value of an overnight interprofessional road trip of students, faculty, staff, and community members through the Central Valley of California. The goal of the mobile classroom was to teach complex topics such as cultural humility, health disparities, population health, implicit bias, interprofessionalism, community engagement, and social determinants of health. Participants identified educational outcomes valuable to them and assessed how closely the experience aligned with their university's strategic goals. Pre/post-surveys consisted of Likert scale and open-ended questions over five trips (N=186). Qualitative and quantitative analyses reflected an informational and transformational experience, especially through the sharing of personal stories and connections among participants and community hosts. Participants rated the experience as strongly aligned with the university's strategic goals. This field-trip pedagogy positioned a professionally diverse group to learn together about the contributions, socio-historical complexities, and health challenges of a region where their students and patients live.