Get involved with the Einstein Community Health Outreach!
Located in the South Bronx, ECHO is the first student-coordinated clinic in the New York metropolitan area, serving patients from the five Boroughs and parts of Westchester County. Our mission is to provide free primary care for people who lack health insurance or cannot afford insurance and healthcare. ECHO is operated by the Institute for Family Health and coordinated by medical students from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. ECHO provides routine medical exams, social services, and counseling as well as referral services under the supervision of physicians from the Institute for Family Health (IUFH), and Jacobi and Montefiore Hospitals (Einstein affiliates), and also medication services in association with the Fair Pharmacy.
ECHO is staffed by the first- and second-year students on the administrative side, while the third- and fourth-year students provide clinical services under the supervision of licensed physicians. The administrative work typically consists of patient registration, medical chart organization, referrals and medications, lab work, health education, translation, nursing, and clinical shadowing.
Our Saturdays begin at 8 a.m. when we meet in front of Einstein and drive over to the clinic. The clinic opens at 8:45 a.m. and we register patients until noon . The day's work is generally completed by 3 p.m. depending on the number of volunteers and the volume of patients.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Nicholas Wilcox anytime at nicholas.wilcox@med.einstein.yu.edu.
Thank you for volunteering with us.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q1: How do I sign up?
A: Email Nick your full name, email, phone number, your school year, whether you are an MD or MSTP, which Saturdays you are available to volunteer, and your top three positions.
Q2: How soon will I know my confirmed dates for volunteering?
A: We usually respond to emails between one to five days during the semester.
Q3: Is there a maximum or minimum number of days that I have to sign up for?
A: There is no maximum. You can come and volunteer as many days as you want. We encourage you to volunteer multiple days and in different positions so that you get to know various aspects of the clinic.
Q4: What if I get sick or a conflict comes up suddenly?
A: Once your date is assigned, you're expected to practice professional courtesy and keep to your commitment. But if you must miss it, then you're expected to find your own replacement and inform the activity coordinators and myself by email. Each person has a distinct responsibility at ECHO and we depend on each other's being there, fulfilling his or her specific duty. Before emailing me with your choice of days, check your exam and vacation schedules!
Q5: Is ECHO closed during holidays?
A: We're closed Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving weekend, winter final exams week through the New Year's weekend, and Spring break. Also, for those weekends when we have Sunday clinic, we will be closed for that Saturday.
Q6: Can I request to be assigned for a specific position?
A: Yes, if you are committed to a specific area, such as health education, you may request it. However, since spots are limited for each Saturday, we recommend including three positions (in order of preference) in your email. If you have good language skills especially Spanish and occasionally French, and would like to be our translator, please indicate that in your email when you sign up.
Q7: How do I sign up for Sunday ECHO? When is it?
A: The ECHO Administrative Board is working hard to make Sunday clinic happen. Look out for announcements. This Sunday option is open first to those students who have religious obligations on Saturdays.
Q8: I don't know my schedule for certain days…can I email you later this semester when I have confirmed my own schedule?
A: Yes. We are available to answer all scheduling/assignment questions throughout the week anytime by email.
Q9: What's the best way to get in touch with you?
A: Email! We love email. Keep them coming.