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MUSC Gives Back Students committed to health care, community by Cindy Abole Public Relations  By day, MUSC students may be busy focusing on academics and training as future health care professionals, but after hours they  are boundless giving their time and remaining active in supporting individuals and families through generous acts. Whether it's preparing home-cooked meals for the elderly, painting walls or trimming houses to support impoverished families, coordinating games and activities for special needs children or assisting professionals in performing a blood pressure screening, MUSC students are active volunteers in the Lowcountry community. On April 21, students were formally recognized for their contributions in the annual MUSC Gives Back Community Volunteer Awards and luncheon at the Sebring-Aimar House. Already in its 11th year, the event recognizes the giving and unselfish attitudes of hundreds of young men and women who volunteer in the community. “MUSC student outreach is incredible!” said Liz Sheridan, MUSC Gives Back director. “Knowing the demands of their busy academic schedule, I'm always impressed with both the nature and amount of student volunteer efforts perform in the community. Likewise, I'm continually reminded by Charleston's nonprofits  of their appreciation of MUSC student volunteers.”  Founded in 1993, MUSC Gives Back is linked to more than 160 community organizations and agencies in the Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county areas. Each year, student organizations and individuals plan and coordinate their service activities and projects around the community. MUSC Gives Back helps pair students with area service agencies and projects to meet their needs.  This year, 415 student volunteers contributed more than 12,000  hours of activity. In its 11 years, Gives Back activity has generated close to 101,000 total volunteer hours. “Our students give so generously of their time and by doing so enrich the lives of the people they touch and strengthen our relationship with the community we serve,” said Valerie West, Ed.D., associate provost for educational programs and dean for student life. “I have no doubt these are the very students who will become caring professionals and leaders in their eventual communities of practice.” Each month, students report their volunteer activity electronically and through an event attendance log. Towards spring of the academic year, the Gives Back office encourages student groups to submit applications highlighting year-long activity, outcomes and results. An award is presented to winners in each of the institution’s six colleges and in one universitywide category.  The student organization awards were reviewed and selected by a panel of student judges on April 6. They were: John Payne, Medicine; Nicholas Crosley, Health Professions; Jill Abell, Graduate Studies; Meredith Brown, Pharmacy; Brandon Chadwell, Dental Medicine; and Allison Sizemore, Nursing. Judging for the universitywide category was conducted by Angie Anderson, Laurine Charles and Adrienne Tuchman from MUSC’s Office of Diversity. Volunteers were also recognized for their individual achievements. As students report volunteer hours, the Gives Back staff recognizes continued work activity and participation on award levels that include an MUSC Gives Back Koozie, logo baseball cap, T-shirt and other tokens. This year’s MUSC Gives Back outstanding student volunteers are: Greg Jowers, Dental Medicine, St. Matthew’s Church Dental Clinic; Apryl Bronley-DeLancey, Graduate Studies, S.C. Aquarium; Mardell Bates, Health Professions/Physical Therapy Program; Low County AIDS Services; Andrea Corontzes, Medicine, COM Charity Ball; and Stephen Brown, Pharmacy, Berkeley County school volunteer coach. Graduate Student Association/College of Graduate Studies Students organized several social activities throughout the year to raise more than $500 and supplies to benefit three local charities: John Ancrum SPCA, Families Helping Families, and the Coastal Conversation League. Ten students worked with the United Methodist Relief Center to repair and refurbish a new home for a local Mount Pleasant family.  Other service activities include volunteering for the Chocolate Affair supporting the Communities in Schools project, staffing  for games at the annual Sugar-Free Fall Festival, and participation in the campus Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Also during the holidays, members raised funds to sponsor eight individuals with toys, clothes and gifts.  Physical Therapy Class of 2005/College of Health Professions The group’s 44 members were active in both service and fund-raising activities. They participated in the Fun Fitness at the Special Olympics, Save the Lighthouse Race and Kids Fun Run and Sport the Foundation beach volleyball tourney to benefit physical therapy research, 5K HOPE  race benefitting Lou Gehrig's disease research, and 2004 MS Walk.  The highlight of the year involved seven students who participated in a 10-day medical mission trip to South Africa.  American Medical Student Association/College of Medicine This group remains an active force on campus dividing its volunteer activities among supporting the needs of students, campus and Lowcountry communities. One of its most notable activities include the Buddies Program, which pairs members with children diagnosed with long-term illnesses in a Big Brother/Big Sister relationship.  Another activity is the Oct. 30 Diabetic Halloween carnival for children with diabetes. The chapter hosted 200 students from 11 states during their Regional AMSA Fall Conference and focused on complementary and alternative medicine. Outreach activities included working with the Exchange Club of Charleston, The Citadel, College of Charleston and Trident Literacy Association, which paired female medical students with a teen mother to serve as role models for young women. AMSA students provided sexually transmitted disease (STD) education for middle and high school students.  AphA-ASP Academy of Students of Pharmacy/College of Pharmacy The 130 members of this group have worked hard to be an active voice for pharmacy in the community, while maintaining their dedication to community outreach and volunteerism.  The group contributed to service activities with the Ronald McDonald House, American Heart Association, Tri-county Immunization Coalition, Habitat for Humanity, DHEC, S.C. Think First and Special Olympics.  The group organized Operation Immunization and Operation Diabetes, two service projects focused on increasing public awareness and the value of immunizations, plus assisted in blood pressure screenings and medication counseling. Students created and distributed posters to 40 Lowcountry pharmacies and dedicated a day (Oct. 25) to meeting and talking to people about immunization facts, flu shot schedules and other information.  Crisis Ministries/Universitywide For more than 20 years, this organization has offered free, continued health care to the Lowcountry’s uninsured and homeless population. It exists because of the generosity of medical student volunteers and practicing physicians who contribute their services on Wednesday evenings.  This year, the group instituted a new influenza vaccine program from November through December. They also provided free 30-minute education sessions on a variety of health topics. During winter, the group was able to donate 25 large blankets to shelter residents.  Friday, April 30, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.