MEDLIFE

Last week, we joined the Brown University MEDLIFE Chapter on campus for their last meeting of the year. As about 25 students shared pizza and soda, co-presidents Katie Deangelis and Abby Kerson summarized the chapter's accomplishments throughout the year, highlighting their increased visibility on campus, participation in two Mobile Clinics, and multiple large-scale fundraisers.

This year, the chapter raised $1,500 for the MEDLIFE Project Fund – enough to fund approximately 1.5 staircase projects in Pamplona, Peru. One of their most successful fundraisers was a raffle that required prizes to be donated by local businesses, and a heavy publicity push to get fellow students to buy tickets. Members expressed that this was a great way to reach out to the broader community and to cultivate new, local partners.

Nora Orton, a chapter member who now helps organize Brown's Mobile Clinic trips, also shared photos during the meeting from the two Mobile Clinics that Brown students participated in this year. Norah first got involved with MEDLIFE as a freshman when she saw a MEDLIFE Mobile Clinic trip advertised through the campus morning email. On a bit of a whim, she signed up for and attended a clinic in Riobamba, Ecuador, during the spring of 2011.

On May 2nd, Joe Tylutki recorded a special message from everyone here at MEDLIFE. Please click on the video below to watch:

As the academic year comes to an end, MEDLIFE would like to thank you for the incredible year we’ve had. With all of our accomplishments this year we’ve learned more than ever that none of this would have been possible without the support of our amazing student chapters.  We’d like to hear more about your accomplishments and experiences with us and possibly include your feedback in a future MEDLIFE video.

If you have a few minutes to spare, we'd appreciate your help by following these simple instructions: 

1.) Using a digital video camera: If you have access to a video camera, and the means to either set it up on atripod and record yourself or have a friend help you, this would provide the best quality. 

or

Using your web cam: An easier way is just to use the built-in camera on your computer. You can record video easily on a mac that has a camera using the podcast software (if you have it) or by simply opening quicktime and choosing file > new video recording. On a PC you can do the same using windows media player.

Please answer the questions below the best you can: 

- What got you interested / excited about MEDLIFE? 

- How did you get your chapter off the ground? (specific tactics for advertising, recruiting more students, etc)

- How did you plan your first meeting?

- If you aren't a registered organization on campus, how can you still host a successful meeting?

- What specific techniques did you use to get people to come to the meeting? (flyers, listserv, chalking, etc)

- How was your first meeting? How many people attended?

- Tell us about your best fundraiser: How much money did you raise? How did you plan it? How did you advertise?

- How did you recruit members for an e-board?

- How did you organize your mobile clinic? How did you build excitement initially?

- Where did you go and how did you choose which site?

- How many people attended your Mobile Clinic?

- How did you prepare as a group for the trip?

- Do you have any personal anecdotes from your trip? A special moment or what the project was that you specifically worked on and how you felt about the experience?

Please answer the following questions regarding maintenance:

- How do you maintain interest in the chapter after time or after a Mobile Clinic? What tactics seem to work to keep students involved?

- What obstacles did you face regarding participation?

- Did any of your members participate in internships?

- If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to be a MEDLIFE leader, what would it be?

- What's different about MEDLIFE as an org on campus?

- Complete the following sentence: "I'm a MEDLIFE leader because ... " (one sentence)

2.) Once you've completed your recording, save it to your computer.

3.) Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it letting us know you made a video and which email we can use to send you an invitation to upload it to our DropBox account.

And that's it! With your feedback, we can gather valuable information to share with fellow chapters and later compile a video of the best responses to share with the whole community.

Thanks again for making this our best year yet! 

On a beautifully sunny day in Newark, students of the MEDLIFE Chapter at University of Delaware hosted their second annual Italian ice sale to raise funds.   

Location and weather is key, according to members; they set up their stand in a high traffic area near campus on a day when the weather called for refreshingly icy treats. Since registering the chapter as an official organization, they receive money each semester that can be used to fund events like these. For this event in particular, they purchased Rita's Italian Ice at a discount price and then sold cups at $1.00 each. 

Apart from raising funds for the poor, the event helped raise awareness about MEDLIFE, as many students walking by asked "What is MEDLIFE?" and were informed about our mission and how to get involved.  

If you have fundraising photos that you'd like to share with us, please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it along with any great ideas or tips so that we can pass along to the rest of the MEDLIFE community. Thanks for your help! 

MEDLIFE'S FIRST WEST COAST CONFERENCE OFFERS STUDENTS FROM A RANGE OF UNVERSITIES A CHANCE TO DISCUSS, BRAINSTORM, AND FOSTER A COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS EMPOWERED AND PASSIONATE FOR PROMOTING HEALTH EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA.

UC Berkeley's MEDLIFE Chapter cordially invites all MEDLIFE chapters and their members to UC Berkeley for a chance to meet with one another, share, and discuss various aspects of MEDLIFE. The conference will be held February 17th-18th at UC Berkeley (about 25 minutes outside of San Francisco). We have a great weekend planned, including bonding activities, public health guest speakers, interactive workshops, and more! The conference will be a unique opportunity for MEDLIFE members from across the nation to meet in person and promote our important cause.

Attendees should arrive between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM and will be hosted by one of the UC Berkeley members. Upon arrival, Friday night will include a welcome dinner and a fun-filled scavenger hunt on the Berkeley campus! Various activities and workshops will commence on Saturday -- including a UC Berkeley professor's lecture on his/her work in the healthcare sector in poverty-stricken, developing countries as well as various workshops on establishing a successful chapter and reflections on experiences in MEDLIFE.

There will be a participation fee of $30, which includes all meals and costs for activities during the conference. We hope you will be able to join us!

Register Now >>

The 50:50 Campaign is MEDLIFE's online fundraising tool that allows students to raise money towards their participation fees and travel grants. University of Denver student Andrea Reinig shares her experience fundraising with our 50:50 Campaign:

How did you get involved with MEDLIFE?

I heard about MEDLIFE through my friend's roommate, who is a part of the MEDLIFE club on campus at University of Denver. I looked at the website, went to a meeting about the winter break Peru trip, and decided I really wanted to participate.

How did you hear about MEDLIFE's 50:50 campaign?

While researching the Mobile Clinics on the MEDLIFE website, I read about the 50:50 campaign and thought it was a great idea. I did not want to raise money just for my own benefit, so this campaign allowed me to give back to the Mission Fund as well.

How were you successful in raising money and getting the word out?

In order to raise money, I sent out emails to friends and family explaining what I was partaking in and how half the money collected would help cover my personal costs to participate in the clinic, and the other half would help MEDLIFE provide the health services that I would be helping out with. I also told my parents that I did not want any other Christmas presents this year since they were paying for me to go on this trip.

I am not typically the kind of person to ask others for money, so when I asked for help and explained how badly I wanted to go via email and in person, my family and friends were more than willing to help out.

What drives you to continue raising funds for MEDLIFE?

After participating in the clinic in Cuzco, I realized how badly people need health care in certain communities. It is one of those things that you have to see in person, in order to understand the severity of the conditions. In America, you can drive ten minutes and be at a hospital or doctor's office. That is not the case in Peru. All of the communities we went to were far away from any form of health care. I was able to see how the money was spent and how much it benefited the patients.


What stood out to you about the Mobile Clinic experience?

The whole Mobile Clinic experience was unbelievable. I saw a different side of the world I have never seen before, and I am very glad I got this opportunity to see it. It was touching for me to see kids circling our tent, excited to learn how to brush their teeth. Several of the women that were lined up to see the doctor shook my hand and smiled which showed me how much they appreciated our help.

How do you plan to share the experience with those who donated to your 50:50 campaign?

I plan on sending out thank you cards with pictures to those who donated to my 50:50 campaign. I want to show them how much I appreciate their donations and how their money was put to good use.

Having had the Mobile Clinic experience, how would you encourage other students to atttend a Mobile Clinic and start a 50:50 campaign?

This was a life changing and humbling experience for me. I think it changed me as a person because it made me realize how fortunate I am. I encourage any student to attend a Mobile Clinic because it is such a fun way to help those who really need it. Plus, you meet tons of awesome friends along the way. The 50:50 campaign is a great way to give back, and reduce the financial burden of participating.