University of Virginia Health System

 Community Service Opportunities at the University of Virginia School of Medicine

Offered by Student Groups

• Baby Holding in the NICU
  Students go up to the NICU to offer some interactive time for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. This opportunity is offered by the Peds Club, and no membership is required. Signups are at Peds Club meetings. Contact Mary Stoeckle or Rahul Kapur by email for more information.
• Children’s’ Medical State Insurance Program (CMSIP)
  Students go to the Free Clinic to help register children for free health insurance offered by the state. Many parents don’t realize that this service is offered to all children, separate from other state programs. There is a short training session required. Contact Mary Stoeckle by email for more information.
• Circus for Pediatric Patients
  Students help run the Circus for pediatric patients in the spring. It lasts for one day and all types of help are needed. This opportunity is offered by the Peds Club, and no membership is required. Signups are at Peds Club meetings. Contact Mary Stoeckle or Rahul Kapur by email for more information.
• Dissection Assistants
  Students go to a local school for about an hour one day to assist a middle school science teacher & her class with dissections. Last year they did a cow eye; this year TBA. This opportunity is offered by the Peds Club, and no membership is required. Signups are at Peds Club meetings. Contact Mary Stoeckle or Rahul Kapur by email for more information.
• Healthy Organ Workshop
  Students go to a local school in early 2001 with examples of healthy and diseased organs to discuss health consequences of their behaviors. This opportunity is offered by AMSA, and no membership is required. Signups are at AMSA meetings. Contact Travis Stork by email for more information.
• HIV Education
  Students go to a local school’s health class with a pre-set presentation on HIV. They then answer anonymous student questions and lead a discussion. One evening of training in the fall is required. This opportunity is offered by the HIV Education Group. Contact Gen Brauning or Jaime Kelley by email for more information.
• KEEN
  Students go to a local shelter to play with kids once or twice a semester on Friday evenings. This opportunity is offered by KEEN. Contact Rachel Easterly or Jonathan Stewart by email for more information.
• Laundromat Project
  Students attempt to increase the health of those in the community with limited healthcare access. Students distribute literature every Saturday in front of the Cherry Avenue Laundromat and possibly assist with health screening days. There is a brief training session followed by a two hour shift once or twice a semester. Men are encouraged to participate. This opportunity is offered by the Women in Medicine Group, and no membership is required. Contact Heather Ferris by email for more information.
• Magic Circle
  Students watch children of women at the Women’s Shelter. Moms then have the opportunity to take classes on resume writing, meet with counselors, and socialize with peers. Magic Circle sends teams of 3 students to the shelter two times per week while classes are in session. Contact Anne Hawk by email for more information.
• Prospective Student Housing
  Students host prospective students in their homes for 1-2 nights as interviews are conducted. Coordinators are also needed. Contact Mary Stoeckle by email for more information.
• SMILE
  Students are paired with an ill child to offer support and friendship. Signups are in the fall. This opportunity is offered by Project SMILE. Contact Marianne McPherson, Andrew Terranella, or David Lieb by email for more information.

Available in the Community  

• Book Buddies
  Students work with elementary school students to improve skills in reading and writing. Contact the Charlottesville PTO Council 245-2400 or www.avenue.org/ptocouncil.
• Discovery Museum
  This children’s museum on the Downtown Mall has several hands-on exhibits and needs help with constructing, planning, and administrating the museum. Contact their director, Peppy Linden at 977-1025 or www.vadm.org.
• Innisfree Village
  The village cares for adults with mental disabilities at a retreat west of Charlottesville. Volunteers are needed to take patients on day trips to town, do odd jobs, or teach residents simple skills. Contact their community coordinator, Nancy Chappell at 823-5400.
• Madison House
  Madison House is the UVA volunteer office, so it’s not really a community agency. They have 18 programs with varying time commitments. The staff is great and will happily help you find a program that fits you. They run on the undergraduate schedule and can be reached at 977-7051 or http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~madison.
• Rivanna Trails Foundation
• This group works on building a hiking trail that encircles the city. They meet the 2^nd Saturday of every month to work on the already extensive trails. Contact their president, John Conover at 293-5622 or john@papercraft.com.