(C-113) Managing Expectations to Enhance Student Club Commitment

Introduction:: Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) MedWish is a student-run organization that has for several years collaborated with MedWish International to recycle discarded medical equipment for distribution to emerging economies. This mutually beneficial activity enhances MedWish’s global health service mission while at the same time providing experiential learning opportunities for University students.


Materials and Methods:: In the current work we describe steps undertaken to attend to the challenge many clubs face in sustaining volunteer engagement. Over the period of a year, Club leadership implemented two initiatives with positive outcomes. First, we implemented a more stringent event and activity attendance policy for membership. Second, we sponsored didactic and experiential events to broaden student club experiences.


Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Comparing CY-2022 and CY-2021, overall club affiliation stayed the same; however, membership requirements resulted in an increased from 20 qualified members in CY-2021 to 59 in CY-2022, a 295% increase. Attendance of club events saw a rise in average attendance, from 12.5 to 17 people per event during this period, a 136% increase. During biomedical testing or sorting trips, the average attendance did not change significantly, but retention of members increased by an order of magnitude.



By implementing new membership requirements, the seriousness of the MedWish global health mission and vision were more vivid, with surveys showing this influenced students’ perception of the club, inspiring students to engage more with their volunteer work. Increased student engagement allowed the club to achieve its goals of expanding hands-on BME education, furthering its collaboration with MedWish International, and impacting global health.


Acknowledgements (Optional): : Research reported in this publication was partially supported by the Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25-EB014774-07. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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