Riding into Reality: How Ride-alongs with Mobile Integrated Healthcare Shape Medical Student Understanding of Social Determinants of Health

The authors aimed to evaluate whether participation in a mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) ride-along program would enhance medical students' understanding of social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on patient access to healthcare resources. The study found that students who engaged in ride-alongs significantly improved their knowledge and awareness of SDOH, with nearly all participants recommending the integration of such experiences into the medical school curriculum. This suggests that direct exposure to community healthcare challenges can enrich medical education and better prepare students for addressing SDOH in their future practice.