Mobilizing the Future Healthcare Workforce: Students Assist America

An Interprofessional Approach

Students Assist America (SAA), an interprofessional initiative of 11 associations spearheaded by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, is asking federal and state leaders to give hundreds of thousands of students the opportunity to help vaccinate the public, and assist with the related tasks necessary for an effective and efficient vaccine roll out. 

Through SAA, future physicians, physician assistants, nurses, social workers, veterinarians, dental professionals, public health experts, optometrists, pharmacists and psychologists have joined together as an interdisciplinary safety net to ensure that the weight of the COVID-19 emergency does not crush the daily operations of the healthcare system and put individuals and communities at further risk.

Providing Relief, Ensuring Safety

I started volunteering with MRC in 2018 as a new student of public health, and they make it very easy. They are very organized. After COVID, it has exceeded my expectations and I love working with students from other health fields.

Sarah Work, Virginia Tech MPH Graduate 2020

This flagship approach initially launched in Virginia through a partnership between Students Assist America and the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps. Responding to the request by Governor Ralph Northam to bring students into the fight against the pandemic, academic institutions across the state are working to ensure their students have the opportunity to help their communities now, during  future vaccination efforts, and well into the future once the COVID-19 crisis has passed.

A similar model is operating now in Arizona and more states are coming on board.