Enhancing early medical education through mobile health care: An observational survey of medical student volunteers

Background In traditional U.S. medical education, preclinical training offers limited exposure to community-based experiences during a critical formative period of career discernment. The absence of early experiential learning may result in missed opportunities to cultivate motivation and sustained enthusiasm to practicing medicine. This observational study aimed to understand the perspectives of preclinical students on their volunteer experiences with the Mobile Health Initiative (MHI), focusing on its perceived impact and role in enhancing their medical education. Methods A survey was disseminated to all MHI volunteers to assess the program’s impact on student engagement and future practice intentions. This survey was emailed out to 179 medical student volunteers during 2025, in which 49 responded (27% response rate). Open-ended survey responses were coded primarily via thematic analysis. We conducted a paired-samples t-test to evaluate the difference in mean scores regarding perceived community connection before and after volunteering with MHI. Results Students defined meaningful experiences as providing healthcare to underserved populations, utilizing cultural understanding to bridge care gaps, and fostering community connections. There was a significant increase in the feeling of connectedness with their community, which helped students rediscover their purpose for pursuing a career in medicine. Some highlights from the survey responses centered on an increased sense of fulfillment and learning to communicate compassionately. In addition, many respondents detailed how MHI events improved their clinical skills through these hands-on experiences and enhanced their clinical judgment in resource-limited settings. Conclusion We identified four main themes that defined meaningful experiences for medical student volunteers: 1) Community Engagement and Connection, 2) Hands-On Clinical Skills Development, 3) Health Equity and Access, and 4) Emotional Fulfillment. There is a strong need for community-based, service-learning programs, such as MHI, to enhance traditional medical education.