What can I do to help?
It’s a daunting question that ―in light of recent domestic and world events― seems increasingly difficult to answer properly. Some actions seem beyond reach and others feel as if they might be trite gestures that fail to accomplish much of anything.
And yet, we hear stories almost daily at Albert Einstein College of Medicine about medical students that underscore the truth of the adage: “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
Their acts are a reminder during this holiday season of the power all of us have to make a meaningful difference in the world every day. Here are a few of those recent student stories we are sharing this Thanksgiving week.
Garred Greenberg: Before coming to Einstein, this second-year student ―inspired by his mother’s example― co-founded (along with his sister) an organization that gathers, repairs, and provides glasses to people in need. To date, Glasses for Guatemala has delivered 8,500 pairs of glasses, changing the lives of people struggling with impaired vision. It’s changed Garred’s life also, influencing his decision to enter medical school. Read more about his journey.
Sarah Mizrachi: When she learned about the work of The Blue Card, a group dedicated to helping Holocaust survivors who are having difficulty paying their bills, Sarah, a former cross-country runner at Yeshiva University, decided to race in the New York City Marathon to help raise funds. The cause is a personal one for Sarah, who had family members killed by the Nazis during World War II. She’s also developed a personal friendship with one of the survivors, who has inspired her efforts.
Hilary Samuelson, Rachel Eilon Cohen, Yuliana Noah, Sarah Marx and Rachel Zolno: Sharing knowledge is often the most powerful form of action. These Einstein students decided that was the case after learning more about the issue of sex trafficking in 2015. In response, they devised a study to discover what would be the best way to help medical students identify trafficking victims. They highlighted three different teaching modalities that led to improvements in interviewing patients. This, in turn, led to them presenting their findings at this year’s International Congress of the Medical Women’s International Association in Vienna, Austria. Now, they hope to get some of the lessons they’ve learned incorporated into the second year curriculum at Einstein.
These are just a few of the stories of students making a difference at and beyond Einstein. We’re thankful for them because they remind us that even in the most troubling times, there will always be a way to improve the world around us.
