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MUSC Gives Back Program inspires compassion through service by Cindy Abole Public Relations For a decade, MUSC students have made valuable strides not only in their educational experience but in their roles as active citizens who’ve learned how to give back to the community through service and a compassion to help others live happier and healthier lives. On April 15, MUSC student groups, organizations and individuals were recognized for their unselfish efforts through the 10th annual MUSC Gives Back Community Volunteer Awards. The program’s focus is to guide students interests to help others with the community’s needs. The university also saw this as a way to prepare its health care professionals-in-training by instilling personal responsibility with the opportunity to fulfill the community’s need to strengthen and improve the quality of life of Lowcountry residents. MUSC Gives Back was founded in 1993 with 77 students. Today, more than 750 student volunteers have logged a total of 22,075 hours, of that nearly half has been attributed to student group outreach. The ten-year total adds up to more than 88,000 total volunteer hours. “MUSC Gives Back is a wonderful way for our students to be involved in the community in which they live and study,” said MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D. “It never ceases to amaze me that our students, with their very busy schedules, find time to help others in need. Hopefully, these efforts establish patterns of giving that last many years after our students graduate and begin their professional careers.”  The program's linked to more than 160 community groups and agencies in the Tricounty area. The process begins when a group requests help for a specific need. The information is published in the MUSC Gives Back newsletter or on the program’s Intranet. Students can respond directly to the agency to coordinate details and their level of support. Later, students are able to either log in volunteer hours or conduct other record keeping. “One of our primary functions of the MUSC Gives Back office is to suggest service project ideas to students,” said Liz Sheridan, MUSC Gives Back director. “We eagerly look forward to this time of year when we actually see how some of our earlier suggestions and recommendations are carried out. It pleases me to learn from these applications that community volunteer requests are being met by MUSC student organizations. I’m always impressed with our students who seek to address the unmet needs of the Tricounty area and abroad.” Additionally, MUSC students have become more involved in volunteering their time with worldwide medical missions sponsored through the Office of International Programs and Services. These short-term missions provide students with unique learning experiences and an introduction to global health issues.  About 17 applications were submitted by student groups and organizations. The winners were chosen by a selection committee of student groups and a member of the Student Government Association (SGA). Applications were judged solely on merit and community involvement and accomplishments. Other judging categories include need, action, outcome and time. The highest score is based on these criteria to determine the winners in each field. Judges for this year’s awards were: Jessica Johnson, College of Health Professions; Cameron Willard, College of Nursing; Will Sasser, College of Medicine; Octavia Peck, College of Graduate Studies; Aliesha Gilliard, College of Pharmacy; Keith Wickizer, College of Dental Medicine and Lee Taylor, SGA Service Committee Chair.  Besides recognizing top groups, individual volunteer awards from each of the six colleges recognized students who achieved distinction as outstanding student volunteers based on their reported hours. They are: Greg Jowers, College of Dental Medicine; Margaret Holbrook, College of Graduate Studies; Kristen Overcash, College of Health Professions/Physician Assistance Program; Iman Naseri, College of Medicine; Lynn Anglin, College of Nursing; and Stephen Brown, College of Pharmacy.  College of Dental Medicine/Psi Omega Dental Fraternity Providing dental care for underserved Lowcountry families, fabricating mouth guards for basketball players to prevent sports injuries, building houses to assist Sea Island Habitat for Humanity and supporting the Charleston Exchange Club in local child abuse prevention efforts was just some of the projects tackled by members of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity at MUSC. The group participated in the American Dental Association/S.C. Dental Association’s Give Kids a Smile Day on Feb. 21 benefitting about 70 children. They also worked to provide mouth guards for members of the College of Charleston’s women’s basketball team. College of Graduate Studies/Graduate Student Association The 26 members of the Graduate Student Association led a busy year volunteering to help students with science fair projects at the Charleston County Library, MUSC’s Diabetic Halloween to benefit children with diabetes. They also collected supplies and donations to benefit Jenkins Orphanage and Crisis Ministries. Member also hung drywall and helped shingle a North Charleston house supporting Habitat for Humanity.  College of Health Professions/Physical Therapy Class of 2003 Fulfilling a desire to serve their communities and educate the public about their profession, the Physical Therapy Class of 2003 chose to hold seminars and offer health and wellness screenings at area malls in October in conjunction with the American Physical Therapy Association’s PT Month observance. Several members participated in medical mission trips traveling to Nepal, Nicaragua and Venezuela, supported Habitat for Humanity, Kid’s Night Out to assist children with special needs at the Cathedral of Praise Church in North Charleston, serving meals at Ronald McDonald House, the clothing drive for Goodwill Industries and the Caring Connection’s Holiday Social. They also successfully coordinated their second annual Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Hope 5K Run/Walk to benefit the ALS Foundation for Research. College of Medicine/American Medical Student Association The AMSA group divided its volunteering based on its identified needs with the hospital, student and Charleston area communities. AMSA students supported the Buddies Program, a Big Brother—Big Sister program with children and elderly patients diagnosed with long-term illnesses. They supported the annual Diabetic Halloween for children with diabetes. The group helps students by sponsoring its Residency Fair. AMSA students help the community through outreach programs through the STD and PANDA programs. STD allows medical students to give educational presentations on the risks of sexually transmitted diseases. PANDA is part of a new partnership program between MUSC, the Exchange Club, The Citadel, College of Charleston and Trident Literacy, that pairs female medical students as big sisters to teenage mothers.  College of Nursing/Student Nurses’ Association Aiding low-income family housing, providing patient family care, supporting patients at the Children’s Hospital, women diagnosed with breast cancer and women in need of encouragement during drug/alcohol addiction rehabilitation were some of the activities provided by this group this past year.  College of Pharmacy/APhA-ASP Academy of Students of Pharmacy The APhA Student Pharmacists is dedicated to preparing pharmacy students while helping them to educate and promote community service activities. The group conducted blood glucose tests, dental exams and other diagnostic tests for individuals during Operation Immunization, a project in local pharmacies to promote immunization awareness. They also participated in a Palmetto Project health fair benefitting children and adults. Other support included activities with the American Heart Association, Tri-County Immunization Coalition, American Cancer Society, Habitat for Humanity, Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Lowcountry Aids Services, International Student Exchange Program and American Diabetes Association. Universitywide/MUSC Student Government Association This year’s group completed 11 total service projects and volunteered more than 341 hours, with more than 90 percent participation since fall 2002. The group sponsored a Running of the Bulls road race benefitting Happy Days and Special Times. Volunteers also packed and delivered food for Meals on Wheels and built houses for Habitat for Humanity. SGA donated almost $500 in food to cook meals served at the Ronald McDonald House and Crisis Ministries, November’s Cirque to Magique Fundraiser and took turns supporting the Diabetic Halloween. “The success of MUSC Gives Back is testimony to the character of our students and the leadership provided by the program’s director, Liz Sheridan. MUSC’s relationships with individuals and community service agencies is strengthened by the impressive acts of service our students provide.” —Valerie West, Ed.D.  Associate Provost for Educational Programs and Acting Dean for Student Life     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.