The Community Health Initiative--Phoenix, also affectionately known as the "CHIP" program, is a group of student developed and directed service-learning programs at UACOM-P that was founded in 2013, and a sister program has been going on at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson since 1979. The initiative is comprised of various opportunities that allow medical students to serve the community through clinical care, health education and more. Services focus primarily on medically uninsured and underserved populations.
Wesley Clinic
Population: Primarily Spanish-speaking, uninsured
Specialty: Available to primary care providers (FM, peds, OBGYN, IM), other specialties could be considered on a case-by-case basis
Setting: Federally qualified health center providing primary care
Schedule: Occurs weekly on weekday nights
Compensation: This is a compensated position at primary care rates as determined by the University of Arizona
St. Vincent de Paul Clinic
Population: Primarily Spanish-speaking, uninsured
Specialty: Available to all specialties
Setting: Charitable clinic, currently has primary care providers and needs additional specialty support
Schedule: Primarily Saturday mornings
Compensation: Not compensated
Street Medicine
Population: Unsheltered homeless
Specialty: Available to all specialties
Setting: Activities occur on "street runs", where volunteers in teams walk through city streets chosen for their high density of unsheltered individuals. Activities also occur at local churches and shelters.
Schedule: Weekend mornings, occasional weekday evenings
Compensation: Potential for compensation for committed primary care preceptors at rates as determined by the University of Arizona
Physicians for Human Rights -- Asylum Clinic Evaluations
Population: Asylum seekers
Specialty: Primarily psychiatry, internal medicine, family medicine, OBGYN, depending on the case.
Setting: Lawyers offices, local detention centers, other contexts may be possible depending on the case. You must have basic training in completing evaluations using the Istanbul Protocol, which CHIP Director can help you arrange training for if interested.
Schedule: Completely flexible when you want to schedule the medical interview
Compensation: Not compensated
UA Primary Prevention Mobile Health Unit
Population: Spanish speakers, community at large
Specialty: Primarily primary care, but potentially emergency medicine
Setting: Mobile clinic that works around Phoenix, partners with Mexican embassy
Schedule: Variable, both weekdays and weekends, and both morning and evenings
Compensation: Not compensated
