Student Experiences On The Haven Free Clinic Leadership Board

This thesis examined the experiences of students serving on the leadership board of HAVEN, the student run free clinic of the Yale University health professions schools. Open-ended responses were collected from 18 of the 28 members of the 2011-2012 leadership board through an online survey. Students reported an overall positive experience participating on the leadership board, and valued the opportunity to be part of a committed community creating change. The majority of students reported that their time as a board member had improved their attitude towards interdisciplinary collaboration (77.78%), and their leadership skills (66.67%). Two thirds (66.67%) reported that their experience had impacted their future career plans, either reinforcing their desire to work with underserved populations or pursue leadership roles. These findings demonstrate that serving on the board of a student run clinic can have a positive impact on students