Bienvenidos Pre-Orientation Program
Name: Alexander Harris
School: Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Class of 2023
Mentor: Ana Esteban, MD, MEd, CI
Name: Jessica Ho
School: Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Class of 2023
Mentor: Ana Esteban, MD, MEd, CI
Name: Catherine Rivas
School: Mailman School of Public Health, Class of 2021
Mentor: Ana Esteban, MD, MEd, CI
Abstract
Bienvenidos is a four-day pre-orientation program designed for incoming VP&S and CDM students at Columbia to gain exposure to the history, culture, and politics of the Washington Heights community. The program objectives are to bond with peers, cultivate a deeper understanding of self and community, and critically engage with the structures and institutions that form an integral part of the fabric of Washington Heights. In order to accomplish those goals, we facilitated a series of didactic lectures and small-group discussions across a period of four days. Despite conducting the program remotely via Zoom, we hosted the program’s biggest cohort to date with 69 participants. We organized 10 sessions in total, led by activists and health workers from within the community, as well as Columbia faculty representing diverse perspectives. Those sessions were interspersed with 10 small group discussions facilitated by the students to encourage relationship building and critical thinking. Outcomes we measured include knowledge of Washington Heights history, CUIMC’s role in the community, strengths and challenges of the neighborhood, local health determinants, and systems of oppression, as well as capacity to connect sociopolitical issues to one’s experience, peer relationship strength, comfort with ideas being challenged, and personal limitations/areas for growth. Analysis of post-program impact is pending the completion of data collection. Although the remote programming presented challenges, student feedback indicates that programs such as Bienvenidos are vital to amplify the voice of the community within CUIMC curriculum and practice and to provide a framework with which to begin conversations around health equity and social justice.