In a diverse and complex world where various groups in society are disconnected and young people struggle to find purpose, integrating community engagement into healthcare curricula offers a range of benefits.

For students, this holistic approach fosters a virtuous cycle of learning, growth and impact by addressing pressing societal needs while helping students understand diverse cultures and prepare for meaningful, impactful careers in healthcare.

For the community, engagement through health-oriented programmes helps to strengthen and empower individuals by improving health literacy and fostering trust and collaboration, with the latter being particularly important for underserved or marginalised groups who find accessibility to healthcare challenging.

Learn more about this from Prof Khoo Suan Phaik, Professor of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine at IMU University and its Dean of Community Engagement Programmes at Transforming Communities Together (The Star, 12 January 2025).