Students for Intercultural Medicine (SIM) was formed in 1991 by School of
Medicine students at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). We are a
student-run, volunteer, non-profit organization with no religious or
political affiliations. SIM was formed for the purpose of educating medical
students at MCG about issues in intercultural medicine. We facilitate
medical student's access to international programs, such as medical relief
efforts, externships and sub-internships, and we also sponsor our own
program abroad. We believe that providing humanitarian aid to
underprivileged patient populations fosters the development of compassionate
and competent physicians.
SIM also supports the Migrant Worker's Health Initiative, an
MCG student-run program, by providing medical supplies as well as recruiting
medical students, doctors, and translators for the Sunday clinics. This
mobile clinic takes place during the annual onion harvest from April to
June, and not only provides primary health care for the migrant population,
but also gives MCG students an opportunity to practice their medical skills
under the supervision of MCG faculty. The program is run in conjunction with
the Medical Spanish elective for first year medical students, and gives
these students a chance to immerse themselves in the culture and language.
In addition, SIM is working with the Migrant Worker's Health Initiative to
expand the program to Gainesville and Dalton, Georgia.
Medical Exchange Program
The Medical Exchange Program in Honduras was created to
provide humanitarian aid to Honduras, in the form of medical supplies and
medical training. The student sub-interships serve to provide early clinical
experience and to enrich students' perspectives on intercultural medicine.
SIM volunteers gather hospital supplies from hospitals in
the Augusta area. These supplies are sent to the Mario Catarino de Rivas
Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Expenses for this component of the
Medical Exchange Program include collection, storage and transportation of
hospital supplies. The supplies include, but are not limited to, scrubs,
basins, gauze, drapes, trays, gloves, masks, gowns, educational materials,
over-the-counter pharmaceuticals.
Eligible students from MCG study at the Mario Catarino de
Rivas Hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Students participate in
rotations including, but not limited to, Emergency Medicine, Neonatology,
General Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and
Orthopedics. The exchange lasts from two to four weeks. Expenses for this
component of the Medical Exchange Program include student transportation,
hotel costs, and other expenses while in Honduras.
Scholarship Fund
SIM currently offers three (3) scholarships to fourth year
medical students traveling to developing countries to complete rotations.
Two scholarships are designated for the exchange program in Honduras, and
one scholarship is available for an international destination determined by
the recipient. Applicants will be chosen according to criteria determined by
the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Fund Raisers
We hold three major fund raisers per year to support the
above outline programs: a Spring raffle and tennis tournament, and a Fall
golf tournament. Prizes for the fundraisers are donated by local businesses,
usually in the form of coupons for goods and services, trophies, etc.
Competitors in both tournaments must pay an entrance fee. All proceeds from
the above events go towards the Medical Exchange Program and the Scholarship
Fund.