Lending a hand in the Heartland

When Susie Friedman finishes her undergraduate education at Ohio State, she plans to go to medical school and become a doctor.

Even as an undergrad, she's working on her bedside manner.

Friedman recently led a group of nine Ohio State students on a weeklong alternative summer break trip to Minnesota's Camp Heartland, a getaway for children who are HIV-positive or have AIDS.

Ohio State volunteers at entrance to Camp Heartland

The students helped build an amphitheater and stage for camp theater productions and made a heart-shaped stone labyrinth. They also took part in HIV/AIDS education sessions and got to know the camp counselors.

“Many of the counselors are former campers and have been affected by HIV/AIDS,” Friedman said.

Friedman is a veteran of Ohio State service trips, having delivered meals to terminally ill patients in Washington, D.C., during Ohio State Alternative Spring Break 2005.

An English major, she became certified in AIDS education through Ohio State's College of Social Work this past school year.

“I learned about numerous aspects of living with HIV/AIDS, as well as domestic and global concerns. So when the opportunity to volunteer at Camp Heartland--an organization targeting pediatric AIDS--came along, I was excited to get involved and try to help the community I had spent time learning about,” she said.

Working at the camp “helped me to better understand the role of a doctor as an educator,” Friedman said. “With HIV there is definitely a stigma involved, even in current times. Part of a doctor’s job should be to educate the public about these health issues and try to alleviate prejudice and stigma.”

“My experience at camp definitely enhanced the pre-medical side of my education.”

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Lending a hand in the Heartland