Nearly 100 medical students from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine volunteered to help the local community via its annual Day of Service.
The students offered up their time to the benefit of organizations like Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, Care House of Oakland County, Lighthouse of Oakland County, and Hope Shelters – all in Pontiac — as well as the pediatrics unit at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak.
OUWB’s Day of Service is held every August as a traditional way to kick off the new school year by giving back to the metro Detroit community. Other similar days held by the school include Make a Difference Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Participating students generally said they felt it important to get involved.
“One reason I wanted to go to OUWB was because the school has such a big culture of service and giving back to the community,” said Olivia McNelly, M1. “This was our first opportunity to really give back as M1s, so I definitely was excited to get involved.”
OUWB’s mission statement is “to develop compassionate physicians who are dedicated to improving the health of their communities, collaboration, and lifelong learning.” The school’s vision also includes a “dedication to community engagement.”
Students admitted to OUWB generally have a strong commitment to serving community as evidenced by the number of hours of volunteering they have before even starting at OUWB. The OUWB Class of 2028, for example, spent more than 108,000 hours providing service to local communities, schools, and abroad.
Students made teddy bears with casts for pediatrics patients at a local hospital. |
McNelly and classmate Julia Barto worked together on blankets for Hope Shelters.
“I’m from Oakland County so it’s especially meaningful to get involved with the local community,” said Barto. “It’s really nice to have opportunities to do something for the local communities.”
On Friday, students packed special book bags and school supplies for Capuchin Soup Kitchen’s Rosa Parks Children and Youth Program in Detroit.
On Saturday, students not only made blankets, but painted rocks meant to inspire clients who receive services at Care House and put special casts on teddy bears for pediatrics patients.
Others packed and sorted food at Lighthouse of Oakland County and distributed flyers to local businesses to promote the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk set for Oct. 26.
Trixy Hall, coordinator, Graduate Programs and Community Outreach, said the OUWB community understands “the importance of giving back and supporting the university's vision relative to community engagement.” There are many other reasons for OUWB to be involved in service work, too, she said.
“These activities help establish positive behaviors like giving back, create opportunities to build relationships within our OUWB community and the community at large, and provide a sense of belonging for everyone,” she said.
Brian Felice, M.D., emergency medicine physician, Corewell Health, and medical director, Street Medicine Oakland, brought his 10-year-old son to volunteer with the group making teddy bear casts.
“Giving back is super important to the mission of the medical school and represents who I am and what I want to do for the community,” he said. “Being able to volunteer with medical students who share the same vision and same mind is great.”
Tracy Taylor, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Foundational Medical Studies, and assistant dean, Diversity & Inclusion, stepped up to oversee the big group of volunteers in O’Dowd Hall.
“I hope it instills and reinforces the sense of us being a community helping communities,” she said.
From right, Usman Waheed, Jenna Silverman, and Shreya Chakravarthy. |
Taylor also said she appreciated the opportunity to get to know first-year medical students like Shreya Chakravarthy, Jenna Silverman, and Usman Waheed. The trio spent part of the day working together on a blanket that will eventually land in the hands of someone in need.
“I always try to be as involved as possible with community initiatives,” said Waheed.
“It’s a great opportunity for us medical students to give back to the community,” said Silverman. “Making blankets for them is super meaningful and a special way to spend one of our first Saturdays as medical students.”
“It’s also a good way to build community with students and a nice study break,” said Chakravarthy.
“But most of all, I’m grateful for an opportunity to give back,” she added.
For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at [email protected].
To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketing webpage.
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