Social determinants of health (SDH) significantly impact the health of urban populations. Addressing key determinants, including income, physical environment, social support networks, and access to health services have been demonstrated to improve health outcomes. In addition, mobile health approaches have been shown to provide a highly effective and flexible means to provide care to underserved populations. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach involving colleges of Medicine, Social Work, Law, Nursing, and Education, Florida International University (FIU) created a novel home visit educational program in Miami-Dade County called Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP™. In order to more effectively overcome barriers to health care identified in the target communities through this program, FIU launched a Mobile Health Center program to directly provide care to the underserved and positively impact SDH. This colloquy session will provide insight into the FIU approach by describing the background of the FIU Mobile Health Center, challenges encountered, and future directions to reduce health disparities. Specific topics will include how an academic Mobile Health Center was created to address SDH through a learner-model, challenges to providing services for underserved communities, coordinating care without a fixed site, and expanding services to new areas to address specific cancer disparities.
