The Rural Health Initiative at UGA is a branch of the Lake Country Rural Health Initiative led by students at the University of Georgia. The club works to promote access to healthcare in underserved communities through rural health service, research initiatives, and philanthropy efforts. Since its inception, the Rural Health Initiative has organized and trained student volunteers to contribute in providing free rural healthcare services in the larger nonprofit’s free health screening clinics. Our screening clinics have previously been held in food banks, youth clubs, and even local health fairs in Athens! Students have the opportunity to provide clinical aid to those who otherwise lack the opportunity to receive such care.  Our volunteers are trained to conduct intake, take vitals, perform urinalysis, test for pregnancy, flu, and COVID-19 strains, and carry out blood work including lipid panels and A1C tests.

Alongside providing necessary free healthcare services to the rural underserved, students are able to obtain valuable clinical experience and community service for matriculation to professional programs such as medical school, PA school, and other healthcare programs. Our clinics and training sessions have given volunteers both meaningful experience and opened numerous opportunities for various students to obtain clinical jobs through applicable skills and direct patient care experience.

UGA RHI also works to invest in the next generation of healthcare and has countless opportunities for mentorship both internally and externally. We host an internal mentorship program allowing upperclassmen to share their experiences in obtaining experience, and pre-health coursework in small group environments. Alongside our internal mentorship program, an external Ambassador Program has hit the ground running allowing students to act as a mentor to high school students interested in healthcare professions. Our mentors act as models for our high school mentees, allowing them to have a resource in assisting their educational, professional, and personal development.