Student Opportunities
Through MobileMOC, students work alongside healthcare professionals while engaging directly with older adults and other community members in rural Tennessee, developing communication, empathy, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills that are valuable in any career. Students also gain firsthand insight into the realities facing many rural communities such as healthcare provider shortages, clinic closures, long travel distances for medical services, limited transportation options, a lack of nearby grocery stores, and fewer community resources. Through MobileMOC, these experiences help students better understand the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health and daily life in rural Tennessee while gaining a deeper appreciation for the resilience and strengths of rural communities. Students have the opportunity to work inside our mobile clinic and at community partner sites, often senior centers. Students from any discipline are encouraged to get involved, bring their own ideas, and explore innovative ways to serve rural populations while developing skills that will benefit them throughout their career.
How to get involved:
Step 1: Complete the Training
Attending each clinic requires you to complete training prior to completing hours on the MobileMOC. This training covers the 4Ms of Age-Friendly care. It should take about 30 minutes.
- You can access the training here.
- At the end of the last survey, please take a screenshot of the confirmation page including the date and time.
- You will be required to upload a screenshot of the completed training when you register for a clinic date.
- If you are signing up for more than one clinic, please upload the screenshot if you have it. Otherwise, you can email [email protected]
Step 2: Login to GivePulse
- Follow this link to the MobileMOC Group page.
- Click ‘Login via UTC’. Login using your UTC ID and password.
- You are now a member of the MobileMOC group. Complete the membership questions.
Step 3: Select a Clinic
- Now you can sign up for a clinic date. You can search by location or click the calendar button to search by date.
- Click ‘Register’.
- Select the date of the clinic you want to
attend. - Fill out the form. Please note that you must review the Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreement Form and e-sign your name. If you need transportation to the clinical site, please indicate on your registration form. There is an optional research survey you may complete.
Step 4: Attending Clinic
- Clinic starts at 10:00 AM EST. Please plan to be at clinic 20 minutes early for orientation.
- If you need transportation, you will receive a confirmation email with further details. Please do not be late.
- Bring snacks and water and dress for the elements.
- Wear your clinical uniform or professional dress, including a nametag.
- Clinic ends at 2:00 EST. We are usually back on campus by 3:00 PM.
- Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Social Work
Social work students conduct social determinants of health assessments to support our research and data collection
Nursing Student
Nursing students work alongside our registered nurse, Lili Reynolds, to support mobile clinic operations and gain exposure to rural health
Doctor of Nursing Practice
DNP students work alongside MobileMOC's nurse practitioner, Becky Miller, to gain exposure to rural health and clinic operations
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy students work alongside our clinical team and occupational therapist getting exposure to interprofessional collaboration
Master of Public Health
MPH students work with our community health worker, Dionne Gray, to provide preventative health and nutrition education at senior centers
Rollins College of Business
RCOB students work alongside Dr. Davenport, associate professor of accounting, to provide free taxes services through VITA at local senior centers
Intergenerational Connection
Intergenerational learning prepares students for success in any career from healthcare providers, social workers, attorneys, interior designers, engineers, or business professionals, many professionals will interact with older adults and families shaped by aging. A pediatrician may work with grandparents raising grandchildren, a social worker may support multigenerational families, an interior designer may help create safer and more accessible living spaces, and an engineer may develop products that improve quality of life for older adults. By building relationships with older adults, students develop communication skills, empathy, and a deeper understanding of aging.
Professional Development
Working alongside MobileMOC faculty and staff allows students to build meaningful professional connections while learning from experienced leaders in the field. Students who demonstrate professionalism and reliability may earn valuable references and letters of recommendation, while also developing essential career skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, project management, and public speaking—preparing them for success in graduate school and the workforce.
Rural Community Engagement
Through MobileMOC, students gain hands-on experience serving rural communities, including counties with as few as zero to three healthcare providers. By working alongside our team, students develop a deeper understanding of rural healthcare challenges and opportunities while learning the fundamentals of providing care in underserved areas. This valuable experience can help prepare them for future careers and make them strong candidates for positions focused on rural health and community-based care.
Meet Samantha "Sam" Strandberg
Sam’s passion for occupational therapy and for serving older adults began early. “I became interested in working with older adults back in high school,” she said. “While aging is often viewed as a time of independence and meaningful living, many older adults face barriers that limit their ability to fully participate in daily life.” That passion deepened through her work in rural health. “These barriers are often even greater in rural areas, which is why working with MobileMOC has been especially meaningful to me.” Sam describes MobileMOC as a game changer, not only for patients, but for the future workforce. “MobileMOC provides critical exposure to gerontology and rural health while showing students what meaningful, community-based care really looks like.”
For her doctoral capstone, Sam worked with MobileMOC to develop the "Heart Healthy Program" across five rural counties. “The program promotes heart health in older adults by empowering participants to be active, informed, and engaged in managing their own health.” Alongside this work, Sam gains hands-on experience by assisting with occupational therapy consults conducted by Dr. Meagan Oslund, a licensed occupational therapist. “These experiences have helped me build advanced clinical skills while also increasing awareness of occupational therapy in rural communities.”