History of Community Service at New Jersey Medical School:

Community service has been a fundamental cornerstone of student life at New Jersey Medical School for decades. Located in the heart of Newark, the medical school is surrounded by a diverse community with complex social and economic challenges. . Many students, faculty, and staff from the institution recognize the unique position of the medical school to partner with the community in order to achieve better health outcomes for local families.

 

New Jersey Medical School is home to one of the oldest student-run clinics in the country. The Student Family Health Care Center (SFHCC) was established following the Newark riots in 1967 with the goal of providing care for medically underserved families in the community. Staffed by medical students and supervised by an attending Family Physician, SFHCC offers appointments for patients two nights per week and continues to be one of the most active student organizations on campus. In recent years, SFHCC has expanded to provide clinical services at satellite clinics in two local homeless shelters in Newark.

In 1996, Student Health Advocacy for Resources and Education (SHARE) was established as an umbrella student service organization. Over the years, SHARE has facilitated numerous service programs related to community health and educational outreach in Newark and beyond. Some examples of student service activities have included:

  • Health education sessions for young mothers
  • Tutoring and mentoring relationships with students from local schools
  • Health conferences for community leaders
  • Blood pressure, glucose, and vision screenings at local churches
  • Creating cookbooks with healthy recipes for families to try at home
  • HIV education and prevention workshops

In addition to getting involved with long-established service groups, NJMS students are encouraged to collaborate with local organizations to design and implement new service projects that will fill an important need within the community. This has led to a culture of active community engagement among NJMS students and a wide spectrum of exciting service opportunities.