Real Medicine, Real Patients

Volunteer for shifts at the Amaus Clinic

From the start, our medical students interact with the people who will become the focus of their professional lives—patients.

First- and second-year students can:

Volunteer for shifts at the Amaus Clinic (above) and work with doctors who treat underinsured and uninsured Syracuse residents.
Accompany chaplains on patient visits in University Hospital.
Take "The Miracle Elective" and follow a mother-to-be through pregnancy, birth and baby's first year.
Visit a local doctor at his or her practice.
Meet patients who accompany guest lecturers.
Volunteer at Hospice of Central New York.
Sign up for "Peds Relief" (right) and spend a few hours with pediatric patients in University Hospital.
Shadow nurses during their hospital shifts through our "Partners in Care" program.

Opportunities for first- and second-year students provide a wide variety of patient encounters, and it's not limited to Central New York. Students also spend vacations working at clinics in international settings.

Peds Relief

Peds Relief is a volunteer organization that gives SUNY Upstate medical students the opportunity to play with the pediatric patients in University Hospital. Read why two students love it.

"The children are wonderful, the interactions are rewarding and it's a wonderful volunteer opportunity. The children are all ages, from infants to teens. In some cases the parents live far away and can't stay, so we help step into that role. One time I just held a baby for four hours, and it was wonderful!"

– Heather Minto, Class of 2011, Peds Relief club president (above)

"Peds Relief is a fantastic organization. Medical students spend so much time in the classroom studying anatomy and biochemistry, it can be overwhelming and it's easy to forget why we are here. Peds Relief is a reminder of why I want to be a doctor. It's incredible to spend a few hours with a kid and see how much of a difference that time makes."

– Jennifer Caputo, Class of 2012