Starting a New Project

Many medical students consider starting a new service project or program based on their personal interests, experience and passions. The Office of Community Service Programs at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health welcome this generosity of spirit and will try to assist you as possible.

Please keep the following issues in mind when starting a new project: 

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has many long-standing service projects and organizations that depend on medical student involvement. Any new program or project could negatively affect the number of student volunteers and leaders required to maintain successful operations of these initiatives.

We ask that you be very thoughtful about any potential impact your idea might have on our existing programs and existing community partnerships. Our reputation is in your hands.

UW-Madison and UW System is a large and complicated organization with a variety of legal, administrative, fiscal and resource structures. Make sure you have thoroughly researched how existing rules and regulations may apply to your idea. Seek appropriate guidance as you explore these multilayered issues.

The following general information addresses the unique challenges facing medical students interested in creating new projects.

Consider your unique situation as a student. You have limited clinical skills at this point, but have a different perspective and excellent resources available to you. Many members of the community (especially teenagers) may be less intimidated by you as compared to a "doctor." You have more flexibility in your schedule than you will in the future. You may be more open to new ideas than the more established professionals.

Be realistic and start small. Any project will take significant time and effort. Be sure that you have the enthusiasm and participation of others. A small project done well will grow. A grand project done poorly or never completed will "crash and burn." It is often best to begin working with an established community organization/project and branch out from there.

Continuity is a built-in problem for medical student projects. The project founders move on through school, with increasing time limitations, and ultimately graduate. It is important to build in an aspect of continuity if you are hoping that your project will continue over the years.

(Adapted from: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: A Sourcebook for Local Community Health Projects. The American Medical Student Association 1993)