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FALL 1997

Project HEALTH expecting more than 85 volunteers

This past summer, 35 undergraduates from Harvard University worked at BMC in a new multidisciplinary program called Project HEALTH. Director Rebecca Onie founded the program and supervises the 85 students who will provide more than 5000 volunteer hours at the hospital this fall.

The group works in the pediatric emergency department and in- and outpatient areas. Among the 12 current projects are surveys of transportation barriers, an after-school swimming program for inner city kids and the Family Help Desk in the pediatric outpatient clinic. Here, volunteers distribute information about food, housing, child care, jobs, etc., and encourage people to talk about the issues they are facing. “We have a cell phone and make calls right there to locate resources they need,” says Rebecca. The group will serve in 18 projects this fall.

In addition to service, the program has a mentoring component and a reflection component. Each volunteer is paired with a BMC staff member, who may be a doctor, lawyer or department head. These mentors serve as both advisors and role models for the students. The group also meets weekly on campus to reflect and hears speakers discussing the Public Policy issues behind their service.

Students come from a range of backgrounds. Many are interested in public health, law, or medicine; Rebecca herself plans on attending law school next fall. “These are among the most committed students I’ve seen on campus,” she says, “engaging in social issues in a serious way.”

Launched in the spring of 1996 with 10 volunteers as a pilot program. Project HEALTH will start up at MIT this fall and is looking to expand to other universities in the Boston area. If you have a project idea, contact Rebecca at 414-2113 or via email at rdonie@fas.harvard.edu.