Student Chapters
Total Student Chapters: 42 -- see the full list here
Patients seen by Mobile Clinics organized by Student Chapters, 2010-2011 academic year: 16,248
Dollars fundraised to the MEDLIFE Fund, 2010-2011 academic year: $25,492
Student Chapters at colleges and universities throughout North America form the core of MEDLIFE. They provide the vast majority of Mobile Clinic volunteer participants, as well as contributing greatly to the MEDLIFE Fund via student-run fundraisers.
Our chapters are responsible for fundraising, organizing Mobile Clinics, and educating their members and the wider community about issues in global health, education and development. By bringing together motivated students passionate about social justice and the plight of the poor, MEDLIFE Chapters help bridge the gap between those in need and those striving to help. It is at our Student Chapters that MEDLIFE's mission begins.
Fundraising
The principal way that Student Chapters participate in MEDLIFE's mission is by fundraising for our MEDLIFE Fund projects. Without the support of continuous fundraising on behalf of Student Chapters, MEDLIFE's mission cannot subsist. Thus, it is of vital importance that chapters work individually and in conjunction with MEDLIFE USA to organize fundraising events that will help make our goal of greater access to MEDs for all of our patients a reality.
Chapter officers must take an active role in planning and organizing fundraising events. Typically, it will be up to chapter officers to brainstorm fundraising ideas, coordinate event dates, location, and necessary supplies, and recruit volunteers to staff the activity. At the conclusion of the event, chapter officers must take the proper steps to ensure that all funds raised are properly handled and delivered to the MEDLIFE Fund.
Mobile Clinics
For a more hands-on, personal experience in global health, MEDLIFE members are encouraged to participate in a MEDLIFE Mobile Clinic. Our Mobile Clinics not only bring primary health care to the poor and inspire our participants, but also serve as a primary means of entry into impoverished communities – a first contact between MEDLIFE and the people we serve, one that will hopefully lead to much deeper interaction for years to come. It is the duty of MEDLIFE Chapters to publicize our Mobile Clinics, recruit interested students, facilitate the application and preparation process, and host follow-up meetings to discuss the Mobile Clinic's accomplishments.
Global Health Education
With the aim of increasing awareness as to the plight faced by the world's poor, MEDLIFE seeks to educate students across North America via presentations on global health. MEDLIFE Student Chapters are thus expected to organize educational events for students, faculty, and anyone else interested in learning more about the state of healthcare worldwide. MEDLIFE encourages chapters to organize speaking events and offer presentations about the work MEDLIFE is doing to combat lack of access to MEDs in areas stricken by extreme poverty. MEDLIFE USA supplies student chapters with relevant information regarding our work in Latin America as well as major health issues afflicting the region.
Structure: Chapter Leadership
Within each MEDLIFE Chapter, student leaders are responsible for organizing and running the above-mentioned tasks. Every MEDLIFE Chapter is led by the following Chapter Officers:
President: The President is responsible for organizing his or her student chapter, maintaining communication with the SAB and Executive Board, and directing MEDLIFE members in reaching the goals set forth by the these groups. To these ends, the President must work closely with and oversee the work of all other Chapter Officers.
Mobile Clinics Officer: The Mobile Clinics Officer is responsible for organizing Mobile Clinics. This involves recruiting students to attend the Mobile Clinic, briefing participants about our mission and expectations, helping participants book air travel, and acquiring donations of medications and supplies when necessary.
Fundraising Officer: The Fundraising Officer is in charge of managing Chapter finances and directing all MEDLIFE Fundraising initiatives at the chapter level. To do this, the Fundraising Officer needs to be in close contact with the President and members of the SAB at all times in order to stay up-to-date on all MEDLIFE initiatives and nationwide events.
Membership and Education Officer: The Membership and Education Officer is responsible for recruiting new members and ensuring active involvement and participation from student volunteers. It is also the role of the Membership and Education Officer to organize educational events for chapter members. The Membership and Education Officer works closely with the Mobile Clinics Officer to prepare volunteers for participation in our Mobile Clinics.
Media Officer: MEDLIFE Media Officers work to create materials and media that promotes chapter activities on campus and in surrounding communities. Media Officers also contribute to the promotion of MEDLIFE activities across the nation, as supervised by MEDLIFE's Director of Media and Communication.
How Members Contribute
Members seeking to get involved with MEDLIFE should work in partnership with their Chapter Officers to help with fundraisers, Mobile Clinics, and global health education events. Members are also encouraged to provide information about MEDLIFE to other interested parties and individuals in order to help us expand our student base, thus allowing us to serve more communities and people in need. Student participation is crucial for MEDLIFE's success, and all members are expected to work towards achieving MEDLIFE's mission by any means available. Dedicated members who want to pursue further involvement may apply for leadership positions at the chapter level and on the Student Advisory Board (SAB).
