Pre-Health Students Make an Impact

Most students don’t dream of spending part of their summer traveling 12+ hours in a van to the Appalachian Mountains of southwest Viriginia to volunteer at one of the nation’s largest free healthcare clinics. But that’s exactly what 10 SVSU pre-health students have done since 2019 under the advisement of Heidi Lang, SVSU Pre-Health Professions Advisor.

Appalachian Virginia, home to over 700,000 proud Virginians, has a rich and diverse history, but this area suffers from severe healthcare disparities and widespread poverty. Some families travel for hours on foot or by car to see a doctor. Consequently, people living here are many times more likely to die from heart disease, cancer and injury related incidents compared to the national average, according to the Appalachia Regional Commission.

Invaluable Experience
St. Mary’s Health Wagon, a nonprofit serving central Appalachia for 42 years, holds free healthcare clinics throughout the year, with the largest held midsummer in Wise, Virginia.

Students gain critical clinical experience that helps them as they take their next steps. “Nobody gets into health professional programs without clinical experience,” Heidi said, “this is one way that we can provide that opportunity for students.”

Labors of Compassion
An additional goal of the trip is to develop what is truly at the heart of healthcare: having empathy and compassion for patients.

Before travelling to Viriginia, students read Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan, which dives into the lives and hardships of the Appalachian people. “We try to give [the students] as much insight about what we're going into before we get there,” Heidi said.

When students arrive, they receive a tour from Dr. Brian McKnight, a history professor at the University of Virginia College at Wise. They see the communities their patients live in, learn the history of the local area and find out why this region of the U.S. is so underserved.

At the clinic, assignments vary based on student experience level and needs at the moment. Students may take vitals and do blood sugar checks, assist dentists & hygienists, help with food distribution or offer a listening ear and reassuring words to patients. Each night students debrief and reflect on the day’s experience.

Michael Carter, a SVSU biochemistry major and site leader for the 2024 trip, said the trip enlightened and inspired him. “I knew I wanted to work in medicine, but I was trying to figure out ‘my why’. This whole experience locked it in for me,” Carter said.

Carter recalled an elderly patient who had to have multiple teeth extracted and had difficulty speaking. He needed to have his vision checked, but the clinic was preparing to close for the day. Michael worked with the vision bus staff to ensure they didn’t leave before the gentleman was seen. “Heidi kept stressing the word ‘advocate.’ Advocate for a patient, advocate for people who can’t. So, I just did that,” Carter explained.

Seeding the Future
Taking a week off from work and paying the out-of-pocket costs can keep this trip out of reach for many students. The past few years, donors have stepped up to cover some of the costs. This year, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology decided it was time to seed a fund that could underwrite student costs, naming it the college’s featured priority for Oppor2nity Days 2025.

Donors took notice. With gifts surpassing the program’s $5,000 goal, at least half of the students’ costs to attend will be covered in subsequent years.  

This life-changing program is a true testament to SVSU’s mission of transforming lives and making an impact in our communities.

If you would like to support this invaluable program, it’s not too late!
Give at svsu.edu/give.