As part of the July 19 closing ceremony that concluded their six-week program, the Medical Academic Achievement Program, which prepares talented minority undergraduates from across the country for medical school, donated $512 to the Charlottesville Free Clinic.
The donation, compiled from the personal resources of the participating students, was designed to represent the selflessness required of a doctor, said MAAP class president Nat Campbell, who is a rising senior at the University of Southern Florida in Tampa.
"MAAP decided to commit the type of altruistic act that will be commanded as a physician," Campbell said. "I think it was a substantial amount for a student-based program."
Campbell added that he felt the donation embodied "the type of selflessness demanded and commanded in public care."
The program, which has existed for 14 years, drew 165 students to the University this summer. Ten other universities, including Yale and the University of Chicago, also have chapters.
Campbell said the students considered several other organizations when deciding where the money should go, including the University's Global Health Center and the University chapter of the Student National Medical Association.
"SNMA in particular was a worthy candidate," Campbell said.
In the end, the donation went to the free clinic because of its service to the community, Campbell said.
Rebecca Weybright, the executive director of the clinic, said the donation comes at a time when costs are always rising.
"We'll probably use the money for pharmacy costs," Weybright said. "We continue to fill more prescriptions."
The past fiscal year, the clinic filled 10,952 prescriptions, up from 8,653 the year before, according to Weybright.
"That gives you a sense of the rising demand" for medicine, she said.
The clinic does not charge patients for its pharmacy services, relying on donations to fund the prescription services.
The University Medical Center and Martha Jefferson Hospital also provide care to the clinic free of charge, such as laboratory and radiology services.
"The majority of our donations come from individuals and businesses," Weybright added. She said donations range anywhere from $25 to $15,000.
Campbell said in his presentation of the gift that churches and local government also contribute to the clinic.
"You can add MAAP, class of 2002, to that list," he said.
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