Physiology and Outreach: Dual Benefits for Teachers and Learners

Background: Medical school challenges students to master complex physiological concepts while developing communication, empathy, and teaching skills. This study investigates how outreach programs focused on teaching health sciences enhance medical students' ability to present complicated ideas in accessible ways. At Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM), programs like Kids' Tech University (KTU) and Medical Discovery of Careers (MedDOCs) provide students with opportunities to teach middle and high school learners using interactive methods–e.g., manipulatives and dramatizations. These approaches solidify students' understanding of physiology and make the material more attainable and entertaining to both students and learners. objective: This study assesses how teaching in outreach programs improves students' ability to convey complex physiological concepts effectively and evaluates the impact of interactive teaching methods on engagement and comprehension. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that community outreach programs strengthen students' interest in and, consequently, understanding of physiology, preparing them to communicate these concepts effectively to non-expert audiences. By engaging learners through interaction, students develop empathy and communication skills critical for clinical practice. Methodology: Dramatizations and manipulatives were designed with the help of medical students to teach physiological and health concepts through hands-on, learner-centered methods. In the nutrition activity, learners arranged food cutouts on a plate to visualize balanced meals after learning about healthy diets, which encouraged healthy decision-making and incorporated cultural nutrition considerations. For cardiovascular physiology, dramatization allowed learners to role-play as blood cells, navigating the lungs, heart, and organs to visualize oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal. In the special senses activity, anatomical models and cost-effective manipulatives provided tangible representations of neural pathways and physiological mechanisms, making abstract concepts more accessible. Data on the impact of these activities were collected through surveys administered to participant medical students before and after to evaluate changes in their comprehension, engagement, and interest. Results: Community outreach programs provide dual benefits for students and learners. Students reported an enhanced understanding of physiology and communication skills, as teaching simplified complex ideas into accessible formats. Direct engagement with the community also fostered empathy and awareness of varying health literacy levels, increasing confidence in their ability to educate and inspire learners. Furthermore, through hands-on activities, many learners demonstrated retention of key concepts and enthusiasm for health sciences. Dramatizations and manipulatives effectively made abstract ideas relatable, sparking curiosity and encouraging further exploration. Conclusion: Outreach programs cultivate empathy, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of physiology in students while making science accessible to the community. These initiatives enhance personal and professional growth, preparing students to navigate diverse challenges in clinical practice. As medical schools aim to develop well-rounded physicians, incorporating community teaching remains key to fostering skilled healthcare professionals. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2025 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.