Starting medical school can be overwhelming. We know many students want to get involved in the community but don't know where to begin. Class of 2027 Krish Nayar and Rujuta Takalkar put together this list of organizations to help with starting your journey. Below, you will find various organizations in the community that previous students have volunteered with.
Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS
Provide health care (including gender affirming care, PrEP, primary care, etc.) and other support services for mainly (but not exclusively) queer individuals in the Valley.
Opportunities for Students:
Clinic shadowing
Nonclinical volunteering (educational and other support services)
Student POC: Krish Nayar (they/them) c/o 2027; nayar.krishnan@mayo.edu
Organization POC:
Clinical services – contact ONLY if interested in shadowing! Taylor Piontek, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, AAHIVS (he/him/his) - Director of Clinical Services; tpiontek@swcenter.org
Volunteering – Website Submission
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Welcome Center (International Rescue Committee)
Emergency Shelter for asylum seekers in Arizona that provides healthcare, clothing, food, showers, and a place to stay.
Opportunities for students:
Clinical and nonclinical volunteering
Student POC: Izzy Reitz c/o 2026; reitz.isabella@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Sign up for orientation
Circle the City
Circle the City’s mission is to create and deliver innovative healthcare solutions that compassionately address the needs of all individuals facing homelessness.
Opportunities for students:
Nonclinical volunteering (for now!)
Student POC: Krish Nayar c/o 2027; nayar.krishnan@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Michael Santeusanio (MSanteusanio@circlethecity.org) - Training and Volunteer Manager
Special Olympics
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Opportunities for students:
Nonclinical volunteering
Student POC: Cathleen Huang c/o 2027; huang.cathleen@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Summer Burgess; summer@specialolympicsarizona.org
Voices for CASA children
Voices for CASA Children is a 501(c)(3) organization that brings a voice to Arizona’s children by promoting and supporting volunteer advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, and public awareness of the importance of safe and permanent homes for all children. VOICES is an affiliate of the National CASA Organization.
Opportunities for students:
Nonclinical volunteering
Student POC: Rasika Rao c/o 2024; rao.rasika@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Info@voicesforcasachildren.org
One N Ten
Non-profit organization that serves LGBTQ youth and young adults ages 11-24.
Opportunities for students:
Nonclinical volunteering, camp counselor
Student POC: Diego Gomez c/o 2026; gomez.diego@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Volunteer@onenten.org
St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul is a free clinic for uninsured patients of Phoenix. Students can see patients at SVP through Mayo during Advanced Doctoring or with the student-run clinic on some Saturdays. However, there are also opportunities to interpret or scribe outside on your own.
Opportunities for students:
Clinical volunteering (interpreting, scribing)
Student POC: Natalia Linares c/o 2027; linares.natalia@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Elva Hooker; ehooker@svdpaz.org
Adopt a Road
Adopt-a-road allows individuals and groups to serve their local communities by cleaning and maintaining roadways.
Opportunities for students:
Nonclinical volunteering
Student POC: Ning McKenzie c/o 2025, mckenzie.ning@mayo.edu
Organization POC: Bruce Wall, adoptaroad@scottsdaleaz.gov
Zone 7: Beyond Health
Address the key determinants of health, beyond healthcare. Among other things, this includes education, housing, health literacy, income, geography, etc.
Opportunities for students:
Clinical volunteering - health screenings and services for the urban unhoused
Nonclinical volunteering - running health workshops in public schools in public schools and community centers, operating a transitional living program, fundraising and advertising scholarships for low-income students, conducting relevant research with opportunities for presentation/publication
Student point of contact: Ryan Allen c/o 2027, allen.ryan2@mayo.edu
Point of contact at org: Nick Allen allen.nicholas@mayo.edu or Ryan Allen allen.ryan@mayo.edu
Thank you to Krish Nayar and Rujuta Takalkar (C/o 2027) who put this list together.
Last updated in June 2024 by Laura Geldmaker.