Our volunteers have gone on to become accomplished physicians and scientists. Below is testimony from former MAPS volunteers.
“MAPS how allowed me opportunities that I never thought I would have had in my undergraduate education. I’ve been through the ER, intensive care, and dialysis (just to start) of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, which is rated as one of the top [...] hospitals in the country! The experience has been invaluable and it’s certainly given me an edge as a pre-medical student. What is more, the MAPS leadership team is excellent and they have accommodated my every question and request with much kindness. I would recommend MAPS to any pre-medical student as a great introduction to the medical setting in an experience unlike any other!”
— Kiefer Greenspan, Biology, Class of 2013
“MAPS provided a new lens to view the hospital environment. Through these lens of safety, even a high ranked hospital like UCLA Ronald Reagan can show room for improvement. This enables students with future in medicine to strive for excellence and create a more perfect place.”
— Taral Patel, Physiological Science, Class of 2013
“I joined MAPS when I heard about it during the UCLA orientation. I wanted to be volunteering in all parts of the hospital therefore after hearing it, I made some contacts and become a part of it. In the future, I want to be a Child Life Specialist and MAPS had me hands on experiences on looking at all the departments and confirming that I would like to be in a pediatrics settings. Through MAPS, I befriended a lot of people around my age as well as others who are a part of MAPS. I used to be a shy and timid person but after MAPS, my low self-esteem works its way out to have a higher self-esteem. In any case, MAPS has definitely made me who I am now and I am glad to have once joined the team.”
— Steffenie Susanto, Psychology (Mt. St. Mary’s College), Class of 2010
“MAPS has given me the opportunity to live the life of a medical student! I get to see doctors and nurses do their jobs everyday and, thanks to MAPS, I am able to work with them and obtain a hands-on experience in the medical field. Maps has helped me choose a career in the medical field and with every volunteering experience I learn more about myself and the future I have chosen.”
— Lina Manoukian, Physiological Science, Class of 2013
“The UCLA MAPS Program has been absolutely terrific! I am so glad I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer with them. Thanks to the MAPS Program, I gained invaluable experience in the hospital units, which allowed me to get a taste of what it would be like to work in a hospital one day. The program furthered my understanding of medication administration and blood draws, and allowed me to experience what treating a patient is really like while shadowing nurses and doctors. I am so happy I participated in the program!”
—Lindsey Ward, Art History, MAPS Summer Volunteer from Columbia University, Class of 2012
“MAPS is an amazing program that challenges students to be take an active role in today’s medical community. It has furthered my interest and fascination about medicine and medical care. The limitless opportunities allow students to gain clinical experience in a myriad of departments. The program strives to reduce medical “carelessness” and improve the efficiency medical treatment. I had a great time volunteering with MAPS and they have provided me with not only knowledge and insight about correct and safe medical practices but also have helped me to realize the care that is necessary to handle patients. I believe that MAPS is the cornerstone in creating awareness and guidance for the correct approaches to administer medicine for the medical community in large.”
— Debobrato Das, Bioengineering, Class of 2012
