{"id":119128,"date":"2020-05-26T14:03:10","date_gmt":"2020-05-27T00:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=119128"},"modified":"2020-08-07T11:17:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-07T21:17:12","slug":"students-medical-reserve-corps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/05\/26\/students-medical-reserve-corps\/","title":{"rendered":"Public health students turn Medical Reserve Corps members"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"students
From left, Tiffany M\u00e1rquez, Anna Davide and Dallas McCulloch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Undergraduate students at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa Office of Public Health Studies<\/a> of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work<\/a> had the opportunity to volunteer with the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Health through Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> Medical Reserve Corps (MRC<\/abbr>) in response to the COVID-19<\/abbr> pandemic. Throughout this challenging time, students were able to complete their spring semester gaining valuable public health experience while giving back to the community.<\/p>\n

Students worked in the call center for Aloha United Way and Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Health Disease Investigation Branch, and helped assemble personal protective equipment. Volunteers also provided daily wellness checks on individuals who tested positive for COVID-19<\/abbr> who were in quarantine. These individuals did not have a social support system and were primarily visitors who became “stranded” in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> after becoming ill.<\/p>\n

Volunteering with Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> MRC<\/abbr> gave students the opportunity to complete their APLE<\/abbr> (Applied Learning Experience) hours, which are required to graduate with a BA<\/abbr> in public health. Once the COVID-19<\/abbr> pandemic began, only volunteer telework hours could count toward students\u2019 APLE<\/abbr> hours.<\/p>\n

Continuing to make a difference<\/h2>\n
\"boxes
Boxes of face shields.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tiffany Marquez<\/strong>, a public health undergraduate student, became the liaison between student volunteers, UH<\/abbr> Mānoa\u2019s Public Health Practicum Coordinator Lisa Kehl<\/strong> and Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> MRC<\/abbr> Coordinator Marjorie Tayao. Due to Marquez\u2019s outstanding leadership and attention to detail, she was hired as the COVID-19<\/abbr> Surge Assistant for Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> MRC<\/abbr> after completing her APLE<\/abbr> internship.<\/p>\n

“COVID-19<\/abbr> has definitely made us find creative ways to complete our APLE<\/abbr> hours,” said Marquez. “I am forever grateful for the learning experience I have attained while interning with the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> MRC<\/abbr>. They accepted me with open arms and lots of aloha. It is a great honor and privilege to serve the community, especially during a pandemic.”<\/p>\n

Public health undergraduate students Anna Davide<\/strong> and Dallas McCulloch<\/strong> were both volunteers with Oʻahu\u2019s<\/span> MRC<\/abbr>. Through this experience, Davide and McCulloch have been able to observe the day-to-day work of public health nurses, contracts and administration, and have been given the opportunity to continue their volunteer work after completing the semester.<\/p>\n

“I am having a good experience volunteering for the MRC<\/abbr>,” said Davide. “It helps me gain experience in my chosen career path and gives me a venue to be useful in a stressful time. The people who run MRC<\/abbr> keep us well trained, and I intend to stay on as long as I am on island.”<\/p>\n

“While COVID-19<\/abbr> is a tragic situation around the world, this is exactly what aspiring public health professionals are training for,” said McCulloch. “I have been given a rare opportunity to be in the thick of everything during a global pandemic.”<\/p>\n