Are you a pre-medical student with a passion to integrate your faith in Christ with service to the poor through health care?
What: This residential program will place a small group of students (rising college seniors or recent college graduates) in a Christian health outreach project located in a low-income and highly diverse apartment community in Nashville for approximately eight weeks. During that time:
· Students will serve as a bridge between Siloam Family Health Center, the apartment community, and local ministries (including churches and refugee resettlement agencies).
· Students will live in the apartment community and build relationships with their foreign-born neighbors, facilitating health education training and other outreaches.
· Students will learn firsthand what it is like to live in a low-income community, deal with immigrant and refugee issues, and live on food stamps.
· Students will receive guidance from Siloam staff and other missions-minded professionals. In individual reading and small group discussions, they will reflect on Old and New Testament scripture, relevant topics in health care, and theological connections between the two.
· They will be given the opportunity to shadow medical providers and participate in house-calls conducted by a member of Siloam’s team.
Why: The SMI is a faith-based service learning project whose primary purpose is to inspire pre-clincal students to discern and pursue callings toward whole-person health care and incarnational ministry among the poor.
Dates of SMI: May 31, 2011 through July 20, 2011 (applicants must be able to participate from beginning to end)
Who is eligible?
· The program targets rising seniors in college or recent college graduates who are planning to pursue a graduate medical training program (e.g., Medical Doctorate, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant).
· In order to facilitate a more thorough immersion experience, preference will be given to students from outside the Middle Tennessee area.
· Applicants should be prepared to articulate a desire for and participate in Christian spiritual formation and biblical theological development.
Applications are due by March 22, 2012. Notification of acceptance will be made by April 10, 2012.
Cost: $1,725. This covers everything but travel to and from Nashville. Participants will receive a weekly living stipend to cover food, some local transportation, and some personal needs (though providing your own vehicle is suggested). In the spirit of fostering your own faith journey, we recommend that at least half of the project cost be raised through personal support raising among your church, friends, and/or family. This is to build a base of both financial support and spiritual support, as you might for an overseas missions project. We will assist you in formulating a request to your friends and family.
SMI Components Include:
· Communal Living
· Personal and Group Bible Study
· Health Outreaches
· “Food Stamp Challenge”
· Theological Foundations for Health Care
· Additional Training in:
o Refugee and Immigrant Health
o Poverty Medicine
o Whole-Person Care
Interested students should request an application packet by e-mailing info@SiloamInstitute.org.
The SMI is an outreach of the Siloam Institute of Faith, Health and Culture, an educational initiative of the Siloam Family Health Center. Siloam Family Health Center has been serving the uninsured, low-income refugee and immigrant community in Nashville for more than 20 years. Its mission is to share the love of Christ by serving those in need through health care.
