Building a Student-Led Service-Learning Sideline Sports Coverage Program for Community Health in Underserved Public Schools: A Memorandum of Understanding

Underserved high schools often lack sideline medical care, putting student-athletes at risk during sporting events.In Detroit, this issue was tragically underscored by the death of a student-athlete during a game.To address this gap, the Wayne State University School of Medicine collaborated with the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) to develop the Detroit Public Schools Health Corps (DPSHC), a student-led community outreach and service-learning initiative providing supervised sideline medical support at local high school athletic events.A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed to formalize the collaboration, define roles and responsibilities, reduce liability, and enable structured student involvement.A university legal team drafted the MOU, which underwent multidisciplinary review by representatives from both institutions, including legal review by DPSCD counsel and the superintendent, before final approval.The MOU provides a formalized institutional framework that enables medical students to participate in sports physicals and sideline triage under physician supervision.Key provisions addressed operational logistics, insurance coverage, data confidentiality, and intellectual property.The partnership currently supports 16 high schools and offers weekly coverage for multiple sports.This framework illustrates how institutions can integrate service-learning and student-led community outreach into undergraduate medical education to advance community health.The MOU model offers a replicable structure for other schools seeking to formalize student-led health initiatives.While formalized institutional frameworks are essential, ongoing collaboration and adaptability remain critical to long-term program success.