Quentin Burdick Program: Working in Rural Communities in Hawai`i

Background: Because rural health disparities are complex and require solutions that involve a diversity of partners, the Hawai`i Quentin Burdick Rural Health Interdisciplinary Program (QB) has provided opportunities for students in health-related fields to live and work in rural communities on the islands of Moloka`i, Lāna`i, Kaua`i, and Hawai`i. The QB program is a hands-on, experiential learning program that allows students to gain insights on engaging community members to meet the health needs of the community.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to describe the Hawai`i QB Program and share the details of the community health projects of three public health graduate students, related to community-based participatory methods.

Methods: Participating in training seminars, site visits, and a summer rural practicum helped students to develop their knowledge and skills for working in rural communities in the future.

Conclusions: Specific principles of community-based participatory approaches, such as assessing community needs, utilizing community assets, and ensuring sustainability, were crucial to the process of community collaboration.