SHARE presents to legislators of the Northeast

words and photos by Hailey Choi

Natasha Nayak (NJMS '12) introducing Student Sight Savers.

The leaders of SHARE were given an opportunity to present our programs and activities to the state legislators of the Northeastern states at a luncheon held at New Jersey Medical School, on Thursday, August 20th, 2009.

The luncheon was part of a 3-day program called Legislators in the Lab, intended for assemblymen and senators from Northeastern states to become more familiar with the medical schools of the area. The National Press Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) and NJMS also publicized the event to others. A news article about the event can be found here.

Leaders of the 7 different sub-organizations of SHARE, as well as the SHARE executive board, put together a brief 15-minute presentation that summarized the various community service projects initiated and carried out by the students of NJMS. The leaders hoped to present the student initiative and dedication to community service, a value that is one of the strongest points at New Jersey Medical School.

NJMS is located in the inner city of Newark, NJ, where there are many underserved populations. The students interact with the community in multiple occasions, from offering health screenings, tutoring, free clinic, to leader empowerment. The goal of SHARE is not only to offer the abilities of the students at NJMS, but also to promote a continuous relationship with the community and for the students to learn from the community leaders.

Thomas Eck (NJMS '12) presenting Student Sight Savers.

On their evaluations, the legislators remarked that they had gained a complete understanding of the medical school's relationship with the community through participating in the Legislators in the Lab program. They rated SHARE programs to be one of the most informative and itneresting points of the 3-day program. All participants felt that the student program and involvement should be a major part of future programs.

From the interaction of the legislators with the student leaders, they seemed very impressed with not only the student efforts in community service, but also by their professionalism. Many commended the powerpoint presentation and the students' expertise in describing their activities. The student-run free clinic, SFHCC (Student Family Health Care Center), peaked the interest of many. A 2-hour tour of the clinic in the evening was also included as part of the program.

Carmen Castilla (NJMS '12) and Puja Shah (NJMS '12) represent STATS (Students Teaching AIDS to Students)

For the student leaders, the luncheon provided a chance to publicize SHARE activities at NJMS and also to practice presenting their various programs in a formal setting. The student leaders were also given time to sit at tables with the legislators and converse with them - answering any questions and curiosities. After finishing the presentation and interacting with the legislators, the student leaders left for their classes feeling proud and hoping that their presentation made a difference.