Medical students unite for Haiti

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The most populated city in Haiti was leveled by an earthquake in January 2010. By the time the world saw the pictures of what was left, one first year medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk had already sprung into action, in an effort to raise money for earthquake relief.

EVMS medical student and UVa alum, Katie Davenport set her sights on uniting medical schools across the country, on a "Medical Students United for Haiti" t-shirt crusade. She says she knew from the beginning she didn't want to go it alone.

"Who in my class could I bring in to make this work? That's when I brought Jon in because he's a great problem solver," said Davenport.

With fellow medical student and Wisconsin native Jon DeLong on board, Davenport says the project seemed to take on a life of its own and success came quick.

"All of a sudden, just this idea explosion! I'm like we've got to do this and this and this," DeLong told WAVY.com.

The end result of a lot of talking, e-mailing and texting was a relatively simple blue t-shirt that quickly became the talk of medical schools all over the United States. The words 'Medical Students United for Haiti' decorate the front of the shirt, set against a red outline of earthquake stricken Haiti.

To wear a shirt, costs only a minimum $15 donation and because it only costs the group about $6 to make each t-shirt, the net profit ended up being about $9 per shirt, and every penny of that goes directly to earthquake relief.

"We're hoping to raise $50,000," said DeLong, a goal that seems very realistic given the nature of the advertising. Thanks to the power of social networking, DeLong says word spread fast and the 'Medical Students United for Haiti' Facebook page exploded.

"We are checking constantly and trying to update and send people updates on how many schools we have, who's joining and what kind of money we are raising," DeLong told WAVY.com

As of this publishing, more than 1,200 members have joined the page and 42 medical schools from across the country are now selling a hot item.

"It's become a job for us. An enjoyable job," said Davenport.

It's also an undertaking EVMS Community Outreach Director Dr. Terri Babineau called remarkable.

"They certainly have taken it to the extreme and it's amazing. I don't think most people realize, a medical student will typically be studying outside of class...eight to 10 hours a day," Babineau told us.

And as this project continues to march forward, Davenport and DeLong have become much more than just students with an idea.

"You don't go to medical school, not wanting to help," said Davenport.

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