The Cardinal Direction Clinic:
Enhancing Medical Education through a Collaborative, Community-Based Initiative
by Abigail Bohn, M2, Camden Horelick, M2, Warren Van Nort, M2 & Jamaal Richie, MD
This November, a new kind of health care initiative will open its doors: a student-run clinic, led by aspiring health care professionals and volunteers with intentions of providing accessible, equitable and community-driven care. The Cardinal Direction Clinic represents much more than a clinic; rather, it is a bridge between education and service. This clinic has been founded by a group of second-year medical students at the University of Louisville School of Medicine with hopes of addressing our city’ s significant health disparities while providing a chance for medical students to learn within their community.
Elevating Medical Education through Experiential Learning
Research has shown that the opportunity to participate in a student-run clinic improves medical student readiness and enhances clinical skills. Students participating in the student-run free clinic at the University of California Davis School of Medicine highlight significant improvements in their ability to take a patient history, complete a physical exam and work in interprofessional teams. Additionally, students described a better understanding of the needs of their community, aligning with the two-fold mission of the Cardinal Direction Clinic. 1 This clinic presents a unique opportunity for University of Louisville School of Medicine students to learn important clinical skills in a setting where empathetic, equitable care is imperative.
Working alongside the other student-run clinics offered at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, GLOH and HOPE, the Cardinal Direction Clinic provides an opportunity for students to engage in clinical interaction before clerkships and further refine their clinical skills before graduating to residency. Temiloluwa Haastrup, a second-year medical student at ULSOM, explains that student-run clinics“ provide a richer medical education experience for students at every stage of their training,” further emphasizing that working within the community will allow students to“ develop compassion in a meaningful and practical way.” The Cardinal Direction Clinic provides
( continued on page 30) November 2025 29