Motivated and Proactive

med students who worked at a migrant camp

In the College of Medicine, students are empowered to live their ideals. Through SUNY Upstate's Outreach office, our students volunteer in urban schools and not-for-profit agencies, at emergency shelters and at a walk-in health clinic in downtown Syracuse. They take part in food and clothing drives and fundraisers. They volunteer in medically underserved areas in this country and in other parts of the world.

Our students also know they can raise concerns and have them addressed. For example:

They saw too much trash on campus and started a "green initiative" to encourage recycling.
They saw a need for better communication with Spanish-speaking patients and helped launch "Medical Spanish" elective courses.
They pushed for programs that address worldwide health issues, resulting in the popular Global Health Lecture Series.
They wanted a quiet place reserved for spiritual reflection, and the administration set up a meditation room in the library.

Jim Loomis, Class of 2010,
father of two children, ages 5 and 7.

"It's hard to balance med school with family, but they've been really good here," Loomis said. "It's been a real growth experience, a real learning experience. And there's some flexibility in the curriculum for non-traditional students."