By Foresee Foundation
At the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), preparing future doctors extends beyond the classroom. AUC students come from the United States, Canada, St. Maarten and beyond. Regardless of where they are from, all students are trained with a clear understanding that being a doctor is more than practicing medicine – it is about serving communities. We interviewed Dr. Natalie Humphrey, Assistant Dean of Community Engagement at AUC, to get a better sense of the impact of their volunteer work in the AUC community and the Sint Maarten community at large.
Through its Community Engagement Program, AUC emphasizes this holistic approach by embedding volunteerism into student life. Each year, students contribute more than 600 hours of service across the island in partnership with up to 60 local organizations and NGOs. These partnerships include groups such as the Collective Prevention Services, Diabetes Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Positive Foundation, and White and Yellow Cross Foundation.
The program’s focus is twofold: Supporting health and wellness and promoting environmental sustainability. On the health side, much of the work is dedicated to prevention and early detection of noncommunicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Students organize screenings, provide health education, and offer outreach tailored to underserved groups, including people without insurance, Spanish and Creole speakers, and communities with higher risk factors. Education and awareness are also at the heart of AUC’s engagement. Students provide training and lead sessions on a range of health-related topics to a variety of groups including teachers, sports teams, police and workplaces, equipping community members with lifesaving skills.
On the environmental side, AUC collaborates with the Nature Foundation and EPIC on plastic recycling initiatives, organizes quarterly beach cleanups at Mullet Bay, and partners with local dive shops for underwater cleanups. These efforts reinforce the school’s commitment to sustainability as part of overall community wellbeing.
AUC also invests in education more broadly by offering scholarships to students at the University of St. Martin and to St. Maarten residents who wish to pursue medicine at AUC. Community Commitment Grants further provide seed funding to local NGOs working in health and wellness. One of the highlights of the year is Community Action Day, held three times annually, when up to 200 students volunteer across the island in a wide range of service projects.
“Partnership is at the heart of what we do,” shares Dr. Humphrey, who coordinates the program. “If you’re an organization that supports the health or wellbeing of the community, we would love to work with you. And in turn, our students become better doctors through these experiences.”
For organizations or individuals interested in partnering with AUC’s Community Engagement program, contact Dr. Natalie Humphrey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
