Annual Brody tradition features student service

Brody School of Medicine students, eft to right, Nikitah Goel, Akilah Grimes, Cierra Piggott and Bailee Gilchrist participate in the Brody Day of Service. (Photos by Gretchen Baugh)

One week before they found out where they were headed to complete residency as doctors-in-training, the Brody School of Medicine’s Class of 2015 had only others’ futures on their minds.

Approximately 75 students participated March 13 in the “Day of Service” – an annual event for each Brody graduating class.

ECU medical students Jack Yazbeck, Amna Ahmed, Ryan Phillips and Dmitri Zouev, left ot right, sort food as part of the Brody Day of Service.

Many members spent time at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC’s Greenville branch, where several tons of potatoes were sorted to be distributed to needy families. Two groups of students worked to clean and organize student-led free clinics: the Greenville Community Shelter Clinic and Grimesland Clinic. Another group painted the inside of Third Street Community Center and other students assisted the Ronald McDonald House with its Sport-A-Shirt, Share-A-Night fundraiser.

“While every student has a specific passion and area of service that they have committed to as a student at Brody, these five projects provided a final chance for the Class of 2015 to enjoy giving back to the community together,” explained Elizabeth Sibrack, fourth-year student and class representative. “The community has been integral in our medical education by allowing us the opportunity to learn from them as our patients at ECU and Vidant.”

She said service enhances classroom and clinical education by allowing for greater understanding about their patients, community resources and obstacles to care.