MUSC International Student Association Wins Service Award

Congratulations to the International Student Association (ISA), which recently won the 2021-2022 MUSC Student Organization Award for Excellence in Service! The MUSC Office of Student Programs and Student Diversity highlights outstanding student organization volunteer service and partnership with the community through this annual recognition. Awarded groups were formally celebrated at a campus awards reception on April 27.  

“Winning this award is the culmination of many years of work ISA has done. We have started many things on campus: the International Bazaar, the Big Sibling program, a monthly mental health outreach, and the annual Be The Match Stem Cell Registry drive. It is a team effort, and every year new international students bring new ideas to the organization, and the support we are given from the CGH and MUSC make those ideas possible.” Joseph Karam, MUSC ISA President

Service has been an integral aim of the International Student Association. This year the ISA organized local community service projects such as the Be the Match drive, which registered over 300 new stem cell donors across the MUSC campus. An ISA team also joined the American Heart Association Lowcountry Heart Walk, raising close to $500 for heart research.

Service initiatives also included activities to celebrate and increase connection within the MUSC international community. Numerous events for international community members were hosted this year including Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day treat giveaways, a Charleston Harbor boat tour, International Friends and Family Picnic, and the International Bazaar. Hosted monthly, First Fridays at the MUSC Urban Farm created an opportunity for international students, staff, trainees, and faculty to meet, relax, and have fun with activities like yoga, cardmaking, and playing board games. 

The Center for Global Health congratulates the hard-working ISA volunteers and leaders who make these events possible.   

The 2021-2022 ISA leadership includes:

Joseph Karam, Co-President - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Amanda Daulugala, Co-President - Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology
Shahad A. Alghamdi, Vice President - Pharmacy
Alain Greige, Service Chair - Medical Scientist Training Program
Rose Akiki, Social Chair - Medical Scientist Training Program

Learn more about the MUSC International Student Association

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Here are a few photos from the ISA events for 2021-2022. View more event photos at the Center for Global Health Flickr.