Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Advocates for Cleveland Health (A4CH) and the undergraduate chapter of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA)—two student organizations at Case Western Reserve University—persisted in their efforts to help the Cleveland community.
Most years, the organizations collaborate to host a benefit dinner in support of patients with brain cancer. But with social gathering restrictions in place this year, they instead directed their assistance to those impacted by the pandemic.
With many families experiencing increased need for personal hygiene products, A4CH and AMSA jointly organized the collection and distribution of 300 individually packaged disposable kids’ masks and 840 health kits for community members, each kit including two bottles of hand sanitizer, one package of wipes and a cloth mask. The kits were distributed to patients at University Hospitals Rainbow Center for Women and Children, a facility at which members from both organizations regularly volunteer.
“This [project] enabled CWRU students to impact the health of Cleveland residents across the city,” said Jasmine King, an undergraduate student and president of AMSA, noting students both on and off campus participated. Members of the organizations dedicated nearly 15 hours to see the project through.
“[We] found the experience to be meaningful, enriching, and an ideal opportunity to further expand [our] understanding of the issues facing the Cleveland community,” King said.
Beyond this collaborative effort, A4CH and AMSA actively engage in numerous initiatives to enhance the pre-health student experience and the overall wellbeing of the Cleveland community.
A4CH is the largest undergraduate public health student organization on campus. The organization strives to improve the health of Cleveland’s underserved populations and the CWRU community through screenings, education and advocacy. A4CH members embrace cultural humility and empathy as they aspire to better understand health disparities across Cleveland. A4CH develops coalitions, advocates for equity and promotes sustainable solutions that enhance wellbeing.
AMSA is a robust network of pre-medical and medical students with more than 30,000 active members globally. The national organization cultivates the next generation of physicians to be change agents in shaping the future of medicine. The AMSA chapter at CWRU catalyzes the development of future leaders through extensive multidimensional, transdisciplinary initiatives. The undergraduate organization seeks to enrich the pre-med experience of undergraduate students by offering educational programming, interactive events and service, networking, and mentorship opportunities.
Interested in getting involved with A4CH or the AMSA? Check the Advocates for Cleveland Health CampusGroups page or by emailing email at a4chexec@case.edu. Visit the American Medical Student Association page or email amsaexecboard@case.edu.