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MUSC Gives Back Students recognized for community giving by Cindy Abole Public Relations Around the Lowcountry, MUSC students are  known for their academic talents as they train and prepare to become health care professionals. They also are known for their dedicated spirit and volunteer acts in the community.      Each year the MUSC Gives Back student volunteer program recognizes student groups and individuals for their excellence and commitment in the community. Their interaction with individuals and organizations help strengthen their understanding of today’s health care issues within populations, challenges with access to care, and emphasizes the value of student collaboration and interdisciplinary experiences with others.      With their organization awards are from left: Sara Clark, Academy of Student Pharmacists; Holly Mangum, Psi Omega Dental Fraternity; DeAnna Baker, CARES Clinic; Ashley Watamura, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Class of 2009; Margaret Lewis Prescott, Fight for SIGHT; and Lee Lineberry, Graduate Student Association. This year, MUSC Gives Back recognized volunteer contributions from each of the institution’s six colleges and a universitywide student organization or group at an April 17 luncheon. The winners were selected by a committee comprising six MUSC Student Government Association Service Committee representatives from each college.   The 2006-2007 MUSC Gives Back Community Volunteer Award winners are: Psi Omega Dental Fraternity, College of Dental Medicine; the Graduate Student Association, College of Graduate Studies; Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2009, College of Health Professions; Medical Student Ophthalmology Society, College of Medicine; Academy of Student Pharmacists, College of Pharmacy; and the CARES (Community Aid, Relief, Education, and Support) Clinic, Universitywide Organization.   Throughout the year, students were active around the Tri-county from giving free eye exams at multiple sites, providing dental care to children, helping student athletes during Special Olympics and building houses for families with Habitat for Humanity, to educating the public on the value of immunizations and vaccinations, fund-raising, and serving indigent populations with medical care and other related services.   “I always look forward to celebrating MUSC student volunteerism during April’s National Volunteer Week,” said Liz Sheridan, MUSC Gives Back director. “Recognizing our students’ initiatives and contributions illuminates their awareness of unmet needs in our community. Often, these outreach activities validate their chosen health care pursuits to serve others.”   Individual award winners are from left: Teresa Burk, COP; Cathy Mulloy, CON; Anna Marie White, COM;Ashley Watamura, CHP; and Scotty Morrow Buff, CGS. Not pictured is Brian “Eddie” Rodgers, CDM. Applications were judged solely on merit in areas of need, action, outcome and time from each organization’s community involvement and accomplishments. If no application is submitted by a particular college, no award will be granted.   Additionally, the MUSC Gives Back awards also gave individual awards to students for excellence in volunteering and most volunteer hours within the year. They are: Brian (Eddie) Rodgers, College of Dental Medicine; Scotty Morrow Buff, College of Graduate Studies; Ashley Watamura, College of Health Professions-Physical Therapy; Anna Marie White, College of Medicine; Cathy Mulloy, College of Nursing; and Teresa Burk, College of Pharmacy. Psi Omega Dental Fraternity/Dental Medicine This group has been involved training dental students and meeting the dental needs of the community through clinics with Give Kids A Smile Day and Special Olympics Special Smiles, Johns Island Health Fair and Smiles for a Lifetime Dental Clinic. Other volunteer support include the Charleston Miracle League, Race for the Cure and Relay for Life. Graduate Student Association/Graduate Studies Responding to the needs for adequate housing in Charleston was the aim of the Graduate Student Association. The group teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build houses for three families around the area. Other fundraising supported Hollings Cancer Center’s Looking Glass and the Sugar Free Fall Festival. Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2009/Health Professions Aside from fundraising and other service projects, this group sponsored an athletic screening area for participants and donated prizes to support the Special Olympics Area 6 Spring Games. Volunteers tested athletes for flexibility, strength and balance, plus hosted a variety of activity games for participants. More than 700 athletes participated in activities that included a bounce castle, dunking tank and other games. Medical Student Ophthalmology Society/Medicine Organized along with the resident-physician program, Fight for SIGHT (Services for the undeserved, Initiatives for the preservation of vision, Growth and rehabilitation, Health education and advocacy, Training for compassionate physicians), medical student participants are committed to supporting eye care services and providing education for underserved patients throughout the Tri-county. Since July 2006, students helped organize eye clinics at various locations—Canterbury House, Crisis Ministries, ECCO Clinic, First Baptist Church of North Charleston Medical Clinic and St. Andrews Church Medical Clinic. Academy of Student Pharmacists/Pharmacy This group of 95 students was active in many campus and community activities. They were regular volunteers assisting pharmacy residents and conducting medication talks at the Harvest Free Medical Clinic in North Charleston. They also partnered with Tri County Immunization and contributed to events that helped educate the community about the value of immunizations and vaccines. Other activities that they supported include the Special Olympics, Cooper River Kids Run, Operation Diabetes, Hope Lodge and the MUSC Tree Lighting event. In total, ASP members logged approximately 288 volunteer hours this year. CARES Clinic/Universitywide Organization Formed in spring 2005, the CARES (Community Aid, Relief, Education, and Support) Clinic is a student-run, free medical clinic for the Tri-county’s uninsured patients. Representing an interdisciplinary collaboration, the clinic is open 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Medical students work alongside licensed physicians to treat patients. Medical students participate by taking a patient’s medical history and physical. The clinic is able to conduct several blood tests and shares a partnership with Kmart to help pay for patient medications. With a staff of 40 physicians and almost 100 student volunteers, students logged more than 1,228 volunteer hours as of March.     Friday, April 27, 2007 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.