Clinical Student Observership

Job Type: Volunteer

About Multi-Cultural Health Evaluation Delivery System (MHEDS)

MHEDS was established 50 years ago as a joint project of the Erie Diocesan Mission Office and the Erie Council of Churches to meet the health needs of African-American and Hispanic Farm Workers and other low-income individuals and their families. Refugee and immigrant health were added in the late 1990s. On January 1, 2019, MHEDS entered the Federally Qualified Health Center system as a Look-Alike.

Our service area is the City of Erie. Our mission is to enable all who wish to achieve complete mental, physical and social well-being by providing equitable, culturally sensitive, patient-centered health care, regardless of their ability to pay. MHEDS has a very diverse panel of patients: 35% are Asian, 29% Black/African American, 29% White, and the remainder mixed race. 6% are Latino/a. As an FQHC Look-Alike, MHEDS must comply with standards that ensure all patients have access to comprehensive health care services. We also offer health insurance enrollment, interpretation, and translation.

MHEDS expanded by opening a second site at the JFK Center in 2020. The second site allowed us to begin to offer women’s health and accommodation to serve more new arrivals. In late 2021, MHEDS began receiving Afghan refugees along with its anticipated arrivals. In early 2022 we began receiving Ukrainian refugees. Our anticipated 549 new patients became 1,010. This Federal Fiscal Year, we have been told to expect 750 refugees plus additional Afghans and an unknown number of Ukrainians. Eighty percent of MHEDS’ staff are hired from within the New American group, allowing us to be more aligned both linguistically and culturally with those we serve.

Student Clinical Rotation Volunteers

Before starting the rotation, students who will working closely with patients (hands-on) are required to provide the following documents: 

• Photo ID 
• Letter from their clinical education program confirming enrollment, good standing, liability insurance and a contact person with phone/email. 
• Vaccine records 
• Proof of health insurance for duration of rotation 
• Background clearances 
• It is the responsibility of the student to provide the preceptor with any paperwork and/or evaluations that are required. 

Student Shadowing Volunteers

Students who are not enrolled in a clinical education program and/or wish to shadow (hands-off) as part of preparation/application for such program must provide the following documents: 

• School ID 
• Photo ID  

International Medical Graduates Observership Program Prerequisites

• Photo ID 
• Enrollment in or graduation from a medical school listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) (www.faimer.org). 
• Permission for MHEDS to access ECFMG and USMLE reports. 
• Passing one or more USMLE examination, e.g., Step 1, Step 2 CS, Step 2 CK and/or Step 3. 
• Providing a copy of their ECFMG transcript. 

Interested, qualified students may apply and submit the requisite documentation at the links provided.

J.L. Nick & Associates & MHEDS are equal opportunity employers.