CAVIT will train 20 volunteers to work with allied health students. Every student will participate in a 40-hour work-based internship experience at an area medical clinic or office. Volunteers will mentor students in their medical sites. The internship program will allow students an opportunity to obtain employability skills and gain perspectives about the medical field.

This year the Learn and Serve funds will be used to:

1. To inspire CAVIT students to pursue careers in health care and the medical field. 
2. To give each advanced student the opportunity for experience-based learning in a medical field. 
3. To build a cadre of medical professionals to serve as volunteers to partner with CAVIT in preparing our medical assistants for employment.

• Students and volunteers will feel empowered through serving patients. 
• Students will be able to apply their skills in a real world setting. 
• Students will work alongside medical professionals.

This is the second year that CAVIT has offered an adult volunteer service learning component.

CAVIT will rely on its allied health program advisory committee to identify names of potential volunteers. CAVIT staff will contact area medical clinics and offices to identify volunteers willing to participate in the internship program. The internship program will allow students to develop patient communication skills that are vital to achieving success in a medical career. The volunteers will mentor our students and evaluate their performance. Working with volunteers in a medical environment will make a visible difference in a student’s life.

All of our students and volunteers are included in the planning, delivery, and evaluation stages of our project. Students journal before and after each internship and participate in discussion groups held at monthly meetings. Students are eligible to be the “Student Intern of the Month” and become eligible for a t-shirt after 25 hours of service. We will recognize volunteers at our annual student awards banquet where we a give out a “Volunteer of the Year” award.