Medical Students' Service Project Hits Home

The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Class of 2015 recently completed its Servapalooza 2012 with room makeovers at the Center Against Family Violence Emergency Shelter in El Paso.

The shelter is a non-disclosed location where abused women and children can seek refuge from their abusers and stay while they get back on their feet.

“Abuse is so ugly, we wanted to give them a beautiful and comfortable room where they could feel good as they start over,” said first-year medical student Jeff Mohlman.

Students redecorated and built shelving, purchased bedding, linens and wall décor for shelter rooms after being inspired by a presentation given by a shelter representative.

“By adopting the rooms and providing the materials, we were able to create a feeling of safety and security for these women and their children,” Mohlman said. “We wanted to help them realize that they had made the correct decision by leaving their bad situations and seeking help."

The rooms students decorated have a fairly high turnover rate, with women and children staying until they are strong enough to begin a new life without abuse, said first-year medical student Azadeh Nasrazadani.

“Even though we were only contributing in a small way, it meant more to us knowing we were supporting women that had the courage to leave their abusive relationships,” Nasrazadani said.

“We hope we made a difference in their lives because it has made a difference for us by opening our eyes and allowing us to see that abuse does happen, but it doesn’t have to,” Nasrazadani added. “People can be free from it if they are courageous and work to free themselves. We are thankful we could be involved and hope that if we ever do spot abuse in our future practice of medicine we will be quick to help these patients needing help.”