Because practicing medicine is more than just diagnosing and treating patients, medical students at the West Lafayette campus—along with all other eight IU School of Medicine locations—are encouraged to engage in medical service learning experiences as members of the community. Students who participate in these types of projects are able to better understand social and community contexts of health care.
West Lafayette offers a variety of service learning opportunities, including Crossroads Student Outreach Clinic. This free, monthly health clinic is a collaboration between IU School of Medicine and IU Health and is staffed by physicians in the Family Medicine Residency at IU Health Arnett. It provides a needed community service along with a service-learning opportunity for medical students and residents.
Other service learning opportunities include Big Brothers Big Sisters projects, Bowling for Riley, a blood drive, a Boys and Girls Club of Lafayette partnership, Caregiver Companion work, Diabetes Day, Habitat for Humanity events, HEART (Health – Education Empowerment – Resource – Team) health fairs, McCutcheon High School Honors Biology Class experience, Purdue Spring Fest, Rainbow Resources Fair, a toy drive and a clothing drive.
Service learning programs across the state are available to advance students’ professional interests. International medical service learning opportunities are also available and may include financial support. Students have participated in programs such as Himalayan Health Exchange over the summer or in the ENLACE program in Nicaragua during spring break. Working with underserved populations throughout the world cultivates enhanced social responsibility for future physicians.
