At vaccination clinics, Rowan University students lead ... and learn

When the pandemic hit, medical students like those at Rowan University were jolted out of their clinical rotations as hospitals braced for the impact.

So, as soon as the first COVID-19 vaccines became available, students at Rowan’s two medical schools volunteered by the hundreds to deliver vaccines to the front lines: in hospital conference rooms, mass vaccination sites and special population drives.

"We saw how desperate people are to access the vaccine,” said Lauren Burgoon, a fourth-year medical student who witnessed hospital staff running to get theirs. “It honestly is a privilege to work on this. You get to see the relief in a lot of people’s faces.”

Rowan University’s two medical schools in southern New Jersey are part of the largest mass vaccination campaign in the nation’s history, as the United States races to inoculate the population against the rapidly mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus. As of April 26, more than 231 million doses have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Normally intent on dissecting cadavers or following along on rounds at local hospitals, Rowan University medical students are saving lives instead.

A medical student at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, N.J., prepares to vaccinate Dr. Robert Gordon, a pulmonologist and faculty member at the medical school. The state-designated vaccination site opened on Dec. 24, 2020.

When the pandemic hit, medical students like those at Rowan University were jolted out of their clinical rotations as hospitals braced for the impact.

So, as soon as the first COVID-19 vaccines became available, students at Rowan’s two medical schools volunteered by the hundreds to deliver vaccines to the front lines: in hospital conference rooms, mass vaccination sites and special population drives.

"We saw how desperate people are to access the vaccine,” said Lauren Burgoon, a fourth-year medical student who witnessed hospital staff running to get theirs. “It honestly is a privilege to work on this. You get to see the relief in a lot of people’s faces.”

Rowan University’s two medical schools in southern New Jersey are part of the largest mass vaccination campaign in the nation’s history, as the United States races to inoculate the population against the rapidly mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus. As of April 5, more than 167 million doses have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

A medical student at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, N.J., prepares to vaccinate Dr. Robert Gordon, a pulmonologist and faculty member at the medical school. The state-designated vaccination site opened on Dec. 24, 2020.

A medical student at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, N.J., prepares to vaccinate Dr. Robert Gordon, a pulmonologist and faculty member at the medical school. The state-designated vaccination site opened on Dec. 24, 2020.

Normally intent on dissecting cadavers or following along on rounds at local hospitals, Rowan University medical students are saving lives instead.

On a recent morning at the Rowan Medicine Vaccination Center, first-year medical student Eamonn Brace wore his white coat, as he volunteered at the center on the campus of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, N.J.

One of the first state-designated sites to administer COVID-19 vaccines to the public, Rowan’s special population vaccination center targeted public health care workers and first responders. It’s staffed by 450 RowanSOM students—from first-year students, like Brace, on up to fourth-year students gearing up to graduate.

“I wanted to do something that was impactful,” said Brace, whose volunteer work has included observing patients after they receive the vaccine.

“When you’re in a white coat, there are a lot of things that come with that. People are looking to talk to you and to feel better about the process. It is interesting to be a medical student during this time. This will make us better physicians.”

The situation is similar at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, where medical students established a school-wide volunteer drive to support the vaccination effort at Cooper University Health Care’s trauma center in Camden, N.J.

Rowan’s nursing students, as well as a dozen undergraduates in the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management program, also are staffing various vaccination sites throughout southern New Jersey. Working as interns, emergency management students provide logistical and planning support to the operation of New Jersey’s vaccination mega site at Rowan College of South Jersey.

“This opportunity allows students to not only observe, but participate in one of the longest disaster response operations in recent history,” DPEM Professor Len Clark said. Students assist with everything from making sure supplies are on hand to helping incident command staff to developing public information materials.

Adam Goldsmith, a first-year medical student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, preps a patient for the COVID-19 vaccine at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, N.J. The neighborhood-based clinic serves a hard-hit section of the city that accounted for 44 percent of its infections.

On a recent morning at the Rowan Medicine Vaccination Center, first-year medical student Eamonn Brace wore his white coat, as he volunteered at the center on the campus of Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, N.J.

One of the first state-designated sites to administer COVID-19 vaccines to the public, Rowan’s special population vaccination center targeted public health care workers and first responders. It’s staffed by 450 RowanSOM students—from first-year students, like Brace, on up to fourth-year students gearing up to graduate.

“I wanted to do something that was impactful,” said Brace, whose volunteer work has included observing patients after they receive the vaccine.

“When you’re in a white coat, there are a lot of things that come with that. People are looking to talk to you and to feel better about the process. It is interesting to be a medical student during this time. This will make us better physicians.”

Adam Goldsmith, a first-year medical student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, preps a patient for the COVID-19 vaccine at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, N.J. The neighborhood-based clinic serves a hard-hit section of the city that accounted for 44 percent of its infections.

Adam Goldsmith, a first-year medical student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, preps a patient for the COVID-19 vaccine at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, N.J. The neighborhood-based clinic serves a hard-hit section of the city that accounted for 44 percent of its infections.

The situation is similar at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, where medical students established a school-wide volunteer drive to support the vaccination effort at Cooper University Health Care’s trauma center in Camden, N.J.

Rowan’s nursing students, as well as a dozen undergraduates in the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management program, also are staffing various vaccination sites throughout southern New Jersey. Working as interns, emergency management students provide logistical and planning support to the operation of New Jersey’s vaccination mega site at Rowan College of South Jersey.

“This opportunity allows students to not only observe, but participate in one of the longest disaster response operations in recent history,” DPEM Professor Len Clark said. Students assist with everything from making sure supplies are on hand to helping incident command staff to developing public information materials.

‘The smallest things matter’

At the Rowan Medicine Vaccination Center, medical school students are working every day to “make it a better experience for our patients,” said third-year medical student Anjani Patel, president of the RowanSOM Student Council and co-chair of the COVID-19 Student Task Force. Patel proudly administered the Moderna vaccine to RowanSOM Dean Thomas Cavalieri on the center’s first day.

"When we discussed the jobs students would do in the center, I said I would like students to do clinical jobs,” Patel said. “However, as time went on and the clinic progressed, our students stepped into roles such as registration and data entry. We learned how to access the Electronic Medical Records systems, verify insurances and much more—things medical students aren't usually taught in their curriculums.

In addition to learning the proper vaccination technique, Burgoon said CMSRU students learned the ins and outs of setting up a clinic and how much the little things—the spacing, the placement of a “sharps” box for used syringes, the sanitization of chairs and tables and pens—actually were big things.

“There are parts of this that aren’t glamorous,” Burgoon said. “I’m re-energized by this work. I feel like I’m making a direct difference.”

Dr. Jen Caudle, a Rowan Medicine family doctor and associate professor, takes a selfie after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, N.J.

‘The smallest things matter’

At the Rowan Medicine Vaccination Center, medical school students are working every day to “make it a better experience for our patients,” said third-year medical student Anjani Patel, president of the RowanSOM Student Council and co-chair of the COVID-19 Student Task Force. Patel proudly administered the Moderna vaccine to RowanSOM Dean Thomas Cavalieri on the center’s first day.

Dr. Jen Caudle, a Rowan Medicine family doctor and associate professor, takes a selfie after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, N.J.

Dr. Jen Caudle, a Rowan Medicine family doctor and associate professor, takes a selfie after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, N.J.

"When we discussed the jobs students would do in the center, I said I would like students to do clinical jobs,” Patel said. “However, as time went on and the clinic progressed, our students stepped into roles such as registration and data entry. We learned how to access the Electronic Medical Records systems, verify insurances and much more—things medical students aren't usually taught in their curriculums.

In addition to learning the proper vaccination technique, Burgoon said CMSRU students learned the ins and outs of setting up a clinic and how much the little things—the spacing, the placement of a “sharps” box for used syringes, the sanitization of chairs and tables and pens—actually were big things.

“There are parts of this that aren’t glamorous,” Burgoon said. “I’m re-energized by this work. I feel like I’m making a direct difference.”

Vaccinating underserved populations

Both medical schools have a true spirit of collaboration among their students, Patel and Burgoon said. Both schools are dedicated to getting vaccines to underserved populations, which have been especially hard hit by the virus.

“We know we have to focus on marginalized communities,” Patel said, noting that RowanSOM recently held a Saturday vaccination clinic for the special needs community served by the Rowan Integrated Special Needs Center. Three days a week, buses bring in underserved residents from Camden and work to vaccinate shut-ins is ongoing.

“We’re ready to do this for months,” Patel added. “Every shot saves a life.”

“When you ask CMSRU students to do something, they get behind it,” Burgoon said, noting that, through their vaccination efforts, students are living CMSRU’s mission of equity and justice. “I’m proud to go to a medical school with people like this.”

Adam Goldsmith, a first-year student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a city resident at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, N.J. Volunteers from Rowan's two medical schools are assisting at vaccination sites across southern New Jersey.

Vaccinating underserved populations

Both medical schools have a true spirit of collaboration among their students, Patel and Burgoon said. Both schools are dedicated to getting vaccines to underserved populations, which have been especially hard hit by the virus.

Adam Goldsmith, a first-year student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a city resident at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, N.J. Volunteers from Rowan's two medical schools are assisting at vaccination sites across southern New Jersey.

Adam Goldsmith, a first-year student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a city resident at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in Camden, N.J. Volunteers from Rowan's two medical schools are assisting at vaccination sites across southern New Jersey.

“We know we have to focus on marginalized communities,” Patel said, noting that RowanSOM recently held a Saturday vaccination clinic for the special needs community served by the Rowan Integrated Special Needs Center. Three days a week, buses bring in underserved residents from Camden and work to vaccinate shut-ins is ongoing.

“We’re ready to do this for months,” Patel added. “Every shot saves a life.”

“When you ask CMSRU students to do something, they get behind it,” Burgoon said, noting that, through their vaccination efforts, students are living CMSRU’s mission of equity and justice. “I’m proud to go to a medical school with people like this.”

This content was paid for and created by Rowan University. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.