Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5496-8274

Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

EdD

College

College of Applied Human Sciences

Department

Education

Committee Chair

Erin McHenry-Sorber

Committee Member

Nathan Sorber

Committee Member

Diana Davis

Committee Member

Brad Phillips

Abstract

Burnout remains a widely studied phenomenon in the healthcare literature, with much of the focus placed on reactive mitigation strategies that lack meaningful engagement with moral development. Healthcare education programs rarely incorporate formal learning experiences that promote moral development as a means of addressing burnout symptoms. This qualitative single case study examined how health professions students describe the impact of experiential learning on their moral development. Participants engaged in adapted photovoice methods, focus groups, and interviews to reflect on how serving as a Project MUSHROOM student leader influenced their morality. Four themes emerged: 1) recognizing bias and the need to address barriers to care, 2) allowing the patient to guide the provision of care, 3) emphasizing the importance of human connection, and 4) evolving of personal and professional identity. Each theme aligns with Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation and Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles of Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory. All participants reported that their involvement in street medicine increased their empathy toward the unhoused population and contributed to personal growth. Findings suggest that experiential learning effectively promotes moral development through both formal and informal reflection. The volume of moral dilemmas encountered and sustained exposure to these experiences emerged as the strongest contributors to moral development. Incorporating experiential learning that emphasizes navigating moral dilemmas into formal health professions education may help students proactively mitigate burnout, ultimately supporting longer workforce retention and improving the quality of patient care.

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