Beyond-The-Classroom Community-Engaged Learning: Pre-Health Volunteer Programs
A group picture of a 2025 cohort of volunteers on site at McLaren Greater Lansing
By: Tina Houghton
CCEL’s partnerships with McLaren Greater Lansing and UM Health-Sparrow continue to be strong entry points for students exploring pre-professional pathways in health care.
This year, both programs saw steady growth, with Sparrow increasing from 700 to 801 students and McLaren growing from 144 to 197. The most notable gains occurred during the academic year terms, reflecting consistent student interest and stronger alignment with clinical exposure opportunities.
Student coordinator Karthick Prem Satheesh Kumar, wearing scrubs, leads an on-campus orientation for volunteers preparing to serve at McLaren Greater Lansing
In addition, we trained over 25 student coordinators, who played a key role in mentoring volunteers and supporting unit staff. This enhanced both the student experience and day-to-day program operations. Together, these programs supported nearly 1,000 student engagements in AY 2025–26 and remain a critical part of our pre-professional pipeline, connecting students to meaningful service, career exploration, and community impact within our local hospital systems.
