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UAlbany Students Work with Those Who Save
Lives
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Vanessa Arcuri and Ryan Christensen
at their frequent volunteer service post, the
Albany Medical Center emergency room. |
Just like life on ER, television's
long-running, fast-paced medical show, "Albany
Medical Center's ER is hectic, busy and
serious," say UAlbany pre-med students
Vanessa Arcuri and Ryan
Christensen. Both took
part in the student volunteer program that is
coordinated by the School of Social Welfare's
Community and Public Service Program (CPSP).
The program offers hundreds of students every
year the opportunity to perform community service
while earning course credit. Students gain hands-on
experiences that can focus their professional
aspirations and enrich their personal growth.
Vanessa, a senior biology major from Staten
Island, was assigned to the ER and the neonatal
intensive care unit (NICU). "You get to
see a lot of things you might never see before
entering med school," she said. Junior
Ryan Christensen from the Poughkeepsie area agrees. "I
ran blood and urine samples to the labs, transported
patients, kept the medial carts stocked with
supplies and even had a chance to work in the
surgical intensive care unit."
"What they do in the ER are tasks that
doctors and staff don't have time for," said
Kelly Marrone, coordinator for the program. While
they are doing all these myriad tasks, they have
the opportunity to observe dramatic medical procedures
and the use of key, sophisticated equipment – an
invaluable experience for those students considering
the medical profession.
Pre-med junior Eleanora
Gurariy, a Russian
native, also from Staten Island had extensive
experience working in the ER. "I worked
the four-to-nine shift at night two days a week,
but I just forgot about the time. I fulfilled
my 100 hours of volunteer work, but I kept going
back because I loved it-- it was such a great
experience!"
For 35 years the Community and Public Service
Program (CPSP) has been central to volunteer
efforts in the community by the University at
Albany. Student service to the community and
overall civic responsibility are CPSP's central goals. The projects tie
local agencies to students for integrated field
learning/work experiences. More than 30,000 students
from across all disciplines have participated since
the program's inception. The valuable experience
that UAlbany students gain through their volunteer
service can be a major plus in securing jobs after
graduation.
Related Links:
School of Social Welfare
Community and Public Service
Program
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