August 29, 2018 | Downers Grove, IL

New students at Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine participated in a day of service as part of their orientation program.

Before beginning their rigorous course of study, first-year medical students at Midwestern University participate in an annual day of service. This year, 204 new students at the University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) packed food, sorted donations, cleared brush, and more as part of their orientation program. The following are just some of the projects completed by the students:

• assisted with book distribution at a Back to School Fair for SCARCE in Wheaton; 
• sorted donations at the Family Shelter Service in Westmont;
• packaged food at the Feed My Starving Children in Aurora; 
• cleared brush and performed general maintenance at Little Friends, Lyman Woods, and the Indian Boundary YMCA in Downers Grove; the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton; and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.        

Participation in service projects gives students first-hand experience with the needs of the community they will one day serve as health professionals. The projects also reflect a University-wide commitment to community service.