For 35 years, students at Rush University have combined their passion with innovation and are the reason that more than 30 Rush Community Service Initiatives Programs exist. To celebrate this milestone, university leaders are reflecting on the past, present and future of RCSIP.
RCSIP began in 1991 to help the community better understand their heart health by taking their blood pressure. According to Statista, heart diseases are the leading cause of death among Black Americans. Students intensified their efforts to reduce the life expectancy gap driven by cardiovascular disease for people living on the West Side of Chicago.
Today, RCSIP offers students from all the university’s colleges the opportunity to serve and support communities while honing their healthcare skills through hands-on experiences.
Since its founding, RCSIP has grown exponentially, incorporating a variety of initiatives focused on reducing health disparities through education, outreach and access. Programs include community health clinics, community gardens, health education programs, pipeline programs for school-age children and more.
“Rush University’s commitment to service is a driving factor for students as they decide where to take the next steps in their health care journeys,” says Sharon Gates, senior director, Student Diversity and Community Engagement. “From one Rush Community Service Initiatives Program to now more than 30, our students’ dedication to giving back has never wavered.”
Making an impact in Chicago and beyond
Gates says students at Rush have always risen to the occasion when it comes to community service, both locally and outside of Chicago.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and hit New Orleans, La., the hardest. Rush students quickly responded and collected enough supplies to fill an 18-wheeler truck to send to a city nearly 900 miles away from them. Gates says years later, students did the same thing for those impacted by Hurricane Maria.
In 2020, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses were forced to close their doors, universities evacuated students from campus and face-to-face interaction turned into virtual calls. As life seemed to slow down for many, healthcare professionals worked tirelessly to make sense of COVID-19 and care for the influx of sick patients. During a time of mounting uncertainty, Rush students did not back down. Instead, they helped with vaccination clinics across the community and started the Rush University COVID-19 Journal Club to sift through the information being put out and make the science more accessible.
Carrying the university's mission after graduation
The work students do for their communities doesn’t stop after they graduate. They carry skills they learn and the passion they have for service with them, whether they stay at Rush or care for patients at different institutions.
“When Rush University students graduate, they leave with more than a degree,” Gates says. “Our alumni are always looking for ways to give back. Their commitment to serving their community is what landed them at Rush and is what stays with them wherever their careers may go.”
For more information about RCSIP here.