A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Photovoice Methodology to Explore Perceptions of Servant-Leadership During International Service-Learning

Abstract

Healthcare education programs are tasked to develop the leadership capacity of students in the preparation for them to become future healthcare providers who can holistically address the needs of complex communities and our society at large. Educational institutions often look to experiential learning opportunities where students can be active participants in the exploration of new leadership behaviors. In particular, service-learning experiences may help support the development of servant leadership qualities. These experiences and qualities both aid in the development of empathetic, inclusive practitioners and professions. A gap in literature exists on health profession students’ perceptions of these experiences and if they are influential to the development of servant leadership behaviors, thus warranting further examination. This paper is a qualitative investigation of servant-leadership using Photovoice methodology. Graduate healthcare students studied the concepts of servant-leadership then engaged in an international service-learning opportunity. Broad and deep contextualization of photographs taken during the time abroad explored the five themes of servant leadership: stewardship, partnership, obligation, emotional healing, and elevated purpose. A novel finding was the emergence of intentionally actioned cultural awareness within healthcare service delivery with the authors newly defining the term, cultural humilitence. Conclusions were drawn that support strong researcher and student-generated contextualization alignment with literature-based constructs of leadership and service, and the need for investment by institutions to cultivate experiences (domestic and international) which build interprofessional, transprofessional, and culturally aware teams.