We would love for you to get involved! Our membership applications are available each fall for any students interested in joining MEDLIFE as a committee member or as a general member (see last paragraph). We encourage all members to take part in our fundraisers and other events to help us raise campus awareness about global health and development.
If you are interested in joining a committee, please read below for each committee's goals and main responsibilities throughout the year:
Clinics Coordination: The Clinics Coordinating Committee is the heart of making our mobile clinics happen! Committee members will coordinate with each other to assist students going abroad to one of the chosen MEDLIFE clinic sites. Each year we host one or two trips, requiring a significant amount of logistics and planning throughout each preceding quarter. Committee members will guide UChicago participants every step of the way, from info sessions and initial meetings, to vaccinations and airfare, and finally to reimbursements and beyond. Last, but not certainly least, the CCC will do its best to instill each mobile clinic participant with a respectful and appropriate mentality towards the unique cultural landscape they'll be working in by hosting reflection sessions, both before and after the trip. We are looking for thoughtful and organized individuals who are interested in learning more about MEDLIFE's national organization and its abroad sites. (Note that to be a committee member, traveling to a mobile clinic is not a requirement.)
Community Service: Even though MEDLIFE is a global health organization, we also prioritize engaging our local community because the same inequalities we learn about across the world persist in our backyard. The Community Service Committee helps MEDLIFE at UChicago give back to the Chicagoland area by researching potential service opportunities, contacting community leaders to schedule trips, and leading other MEDLIFE members on these excursions. We strive to form long-term relationships with community organizations - such as the Living Room Cafe on 64th St. and Cottage Grove Ave. - and organize service efforts that can engage the campus, such as our Winter quarter clothing drive. We are looking for passionate individuals who are interested in learning more about and connecting with the Hyde Park community, in addition to being involved with a global health organization.
Education: The education committee aims to enrich and engage the campus community in MEDLIFE’s mission and other global health initiatives. Through our diverse education presentations — from guest speakers to documentary screenings — we shed light on medicine, education, and development in a global context. We collaborate with experts in global health fields both at UChicago and throughout the city to bring exciting and unique educational opportunities to MEDLIFE members. Our chapter committee allows students to lead their peers and forge meaningful relationships with renowned professors and doctors. Overall, the education committee hopes to extend insight into global health to students interested in science and medicine, and also to those fascinated by the economic and political factors that global health encompasses. We are looking for inquisitive individuals who are interested in organizing panels and presenting on a wide variety of global health topics.
Events Coordination: The Events Coordination Committee’s overarching goal is to think creatively and logically to create memorable events that serve as effective fundraisers while also raising awareness of global health issues. Funds raised go towards the national MEDLIFE organization as well as the UChicago chapter events. Individual members will need to help come up with ideas for larger events and smaller fundraisers occurring throughout the year, create timelines of events, communicate with local businesses or other student groups, and navigate other logistical aspects of event planning. Members will also be involved with choosing specific organizations or causes supported by the national organization towards which to allocate proceeds. We are looking for creative and organized individuals who enjoy working with a team and would be interested in learning more about hosting great campus-wide events.
Publicity: The Publicity Committee works to promote and publicize MEDLIFE events within the UChicago community, such as our Hot Chocolate Sale, Dance for LIFE fundraiser, and quarterly guest speaker panels. Publicity Committee members are responsible for spreading the word about these events, as well as informing the campus about MEDLIFE's mission and the specific causes that we support. We encourage an environment of creativity, especially in poster designs, which are promoted widely through social media and campus flyers. We also work hand in hand with other committees (particularly Events Coordination and Clinics Coordiation) to establish a greater understanding of MEDLIFE's goals within our chapter and throughout the University. We are looking for creative and outgoing individuals who are interested in poster design, website design, writing, and outreach to the community.
General members: While committee members are given more responsibility and expected to be more involved with planning major MEDLIFE events, general members are perfect positions for those who would like to be involved with MEDLIFE but may have less time to dedicate or are unsure of what level of involvement they desire just yet. General members, as well as committee members will have the chance to attend general meetings (which typically involve guest speakers, documentary screenings, and global health discussions), as well as community service events. Both member types are expected to participate in fundraising events, though committee members will have more shifts.
If you have any questions, please email Rohan Goyal or Zoe Levine.