Dalhousie Medical Students' Society
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Group Activities
Starting a Volunteer Initiative during COVID-19

Our hope is that all new volunteer initiatives that will be undertaken as a group of Dalhousie medical students, or facilitated within our respective classes or campuses, can be considered by the newly formed student committee, Dalhousie COVID-19 Student Response Team (SRT). Independent activities are up to the individual student—and not subject to SRT review—but students are still encouraged to follow the principles outlined by Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine's “Principles around Volunteer Experiences for Students in the Faculty of Medicine”.

If you are planning a NEW student initiative and would like it to be considered by the SRT, please conduct the following:

1)    Provide the names of the organizers
2)    Provide the overall plan/initiative
3)    Include who will be recruited as volunteers and with whom, external to the initiative, students will interact
4)    Proposed duration
5)    Risk of exposure to COVID-19
6)    Send the above criteria to Brett Ells, DMSS President-Elect at Brett.Ells@dal.ca

Individual Activities
Participating in a Volunteer Initiative during COVID-19

When considering individual activities, we encourage students to consider the principles outlined above. Faculty advisors (DMNS: Dr. White and DMNB: Dr. Reiman) at both campuses are available to support students considering volunteering or working independently during this pandemic.

We have also prepared the following five questions to help guide students when considering individual volunteer opportunities. If you answer “No” to any of these questions we encourage you to reach out to the SRT or your faculty advisor for support.
  • Question 1: Is this opportunity educational for you and/or will this opportunity allow you to utilize skills that are appropriate to your level of training and comfort level?
  • Question 2: Does this opportunity pose a minimal risk to your health and safety and those close to you
  • Question 3: Will you be provided with proper training, supervision, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) according to the level of risk?
  • Question 4: Does the organization have liability insurance for your involvement in this opportunity?
  • Question 5: Do you feel free from pressure from the school, health authority, and/or peers to agree to take part in this opportunity?

Dalhousie COVID-19 Student Response Team

To ensure the safety of all parties involved and the effective mobilization of student resources, the DMSS has created the Dalhousie COVID-19 Student Response Team (SRT), whose purpose is to:
  1. Review: The SRT will review volunteer initiatives being planned by students, as well as incoming requests for student volunteers, in the context of the principles developed by the Faculty of Medicine. The SRT, considering risk and benefit, will advise on activities and help identify appropriate groups of students. In this effort, we will seek advice or discuss external requests with our Faculty Advisors (Dr. White in Halifax, and Dr. Reiman at DMNB) for advice.
  2. Communication: The SRT will facilitate communication between classes and active initiatives about volunteer opportunities, as well as share information with the wider student body.
2020-21 Student Response Team Members:
Michael Mackley, Chair, DMSS Past President
Freddy Lee, Vice-Chair, DMSS President
Brett Ells, DMSS President-Elect
Kathleen MacMillan, DMSS NB External Liaison-Elect
Mitch McDonough, DMSS VP DMNB
Prathana Nathan, Med 2 Class President
Rumana Rafiq, Global Health Liaison Sr.
Brynn Aucoin, Past DMSS VP DMNB
Cameron Ashe, Med 4 SAWL
Patrick Holland, Med 4 Class Co-President

Contact Information

Dalhousie COVID-19 Student Response Team

For general inquiries OR clerk-specific requests:
Michael Mackley, DMSS Past President
Dalhousie COVID-19 Student Response Team Chair
michael.mackley@dal.ca
For new student initiatives OR pre-clerk requests:
Brett Ells, DMSS President-Elect
Dalhousie COVID-19 Student Response Team Member
Brett.Ells@dal.ca

Faculty Advisors

Dr. Darrell White, Senior Associate Dean
DMNS Faculty Advisor
d.white@dal.ca
Dr. Tony Reiman, Assistant Dean for Research
DMNB Faculty Advisor
Anthony.reiman@horizonnb.ca

Contact Us

  • Home
  • DMSS
    • Current Members
    • DMSS Documents
    • DMSS Meeting Minutes
    • DMSS Reimbursement Form
    • Sponsors
  • Current Students
    • Interest Groups
    • President's Fund
    • Medical Humanities
    • Student Research
    • Pre-Clerkship Elective Portal
    • Student Discounts
    • Green Team >
      • Green Team Blog
    • CaRMS Info Sessions
    • Committee Updates
  • Events
    • Internal Events
    • Everest Teaching Initiative
  • Resources
    • Recorded Webinars
    • Anti-Black Racism Resources
    • Student Wellness & Mental Health Resources
    • Business of Medicine
    • Visiting Students >
      • Short Term Housing Offers
      • International Students
  • Shop
  • Calendar