For immediate release: March 31, 2008
Contact: Anne McMillin, APR
Office 775-682-9254
Mobile 702-292-4247
amcmillin@medicine.nevada.edu

Fundraiser will benefit medical students' clinical trip to Nicaragua

Public invited to April 12 event in support of students staffing rural clinic

RENO, Nev.— Students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine have a statewide and worldwide outlook on their medical education. While studying to serve the people of Nevada after graduation, these students are also applying their medical skills to regions beyond the state and the country.

           Ten first-year medical students are volunteering to work in a free medical clinic in rural Nicaragua this spring and their entire class has rallied around them to help raise funds to support this trip.

          A public fundraising benefit will be held Saturday, April 12 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Pennington Medical Education Building foyer on the School’s campus in Reno. Silent auction features items from local businesses, restaurants and vacation trips. Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and entertainment will be provided.

           “We want to incorporate the knowledge obtained in the classroom to a clinical setting that not only enforces the importance of community-based medicine, but also allows us to experience cultural diversity while providing service to medically underserved populations,” said Alyce Sutko, a first-year medical student who is participating in the trip. “This will allow us to better serve the Nevada community in the future.”

            Proceeds from this event will benefit the student trip to Siuna, Nicaragua through the non-profit organization Bridges to Community to service underprivileged members of that community. Each student will purchase his or her own airfare to Nicaragua, but needs to come up with $1500 to cover the cost of medical supplies, facilities, translators, accompanying physicians and accommodations.

            Cost of the benefit is $25 per person or $10 for students and children 12 and under. Tickets will be sold at the door and credit cards will be accepted. Cocktail attire is requested.
The public is invited to attend and support Nevada medical students making a difference locally and globally.

           For those who cannot attend the event, but would like to help, an account has been set up through the university. Checks can be made out to the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation with School of Medicine Student Gift Account as the designee and mailed to: Stefanie Scoppettone, Development Director, Pennington Medical Education Building, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557.

As the state’s only public medical school, the University of Nevada School of Medicine has been a leader in healthcare, medical education and research in Nevada since 1969. The School of Medicine includes 16 clinical departments including family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and five nationally recognized departments in basic science including microbiology and biomedical engineering. The more than 185 doctors of University Health System, the school’s clinical practice, offer care in more than 40 medical specialties and subspecialties with eight physician offices in the Reno/Sparks area and seven in Las Vegas. The school is committed to a best practices approach to medicine and is dedicated to exceptional healthcare for Nevada now and in the future. For more information visit www.medicine.nevada.edu.