From rural Tennessee to remote Guatemalan villages, Marymount University students spent their spring break putting service into action. They stepped beyond the classroom to address real-world challenges across disciplines, expanding access to health care, supporting disaster recovery and building meaningful connections within underserved communities. Though each trip was different, they all shared a common purpose—using knowledge and compassion to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinics
Three faculty members and eight students from the College of Health and Education traveled to Cookeville, Tenn., for a four-day service trip with Remote Area Medical (RAM), a national nonprofit that delivers free health care to underserved communities. Supported by the Kincaid Foundation, the trip offered students hands-on experience providing care to patients without reliable access to medical services.
“When health care students train in rural communities, they witness inequities in care up close, which helps them see that they have both the skills and the responsibility to make a meaningful difference,” said Dr. Skye Donovan, Dean of the College of Health and Education and faculty mentor for the RAM trip. “These experiences are transformative, inspiring a lifelong commitment to serve where they are needed most.”
Marymount students served in a variety of roles throughout the trip. Upon arrival, they helped with equipment preparation, sterilization and dental tent venting. During open clinical hours, undergraduate students worked on patient intake, eyeglass fittings and as interpreters for Spanish-speaking patients, while Doctor of Physical Therapy students worked with faculty mentors to evaluate and treat patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues.
Junior Health Sciences major Lillian Crawley, who is on the Pre-Physical Therapy track, says the trip was “rewarding” and “eye-opening” as students and health care providers came together to serve a community in need.
“The trip was such a positive experience for me,” Crawley explained. “It was really inspiring to see so many medical professionals giving their time and skills to help others. It also broadened my perspective and exposed me to different populations and health care needs. Overall, it was incredibly rewarding. I really feel like the care and education we provided made a difference in people’s lives.”
Catholic Campus Ministry Trip to North Carolina
Marymount’s Catholic Campus Ministry partnered with Catholic Mission Trips Inc. and Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) to send students to Black Mountain, N.C., where they supported disaster relief efforts following 2024’s Hurricane Helene. Students prepared homes for renovation by gutting, cleaning and assisting with basic repairs.
“Being able to use my design skills made the experience deeply meaningful,” said senior Interior Architecture and Design student Quan McKay. “At the core of my work is the desire to make life better for others, and this showed me how design can directly impact communities.”
Along with relief efforts, students also participated in faith-centered activities that included daily prayer and a mountaintop Mass led by Marymount’s Fr. Gabriel Muteru.
“This trip was a beautiful experience for students to grow closer to one another and God,” Fr. Gabriel said. “It was amazing to see young people come together to support one another and bring the light of Christ to those in need.”
McKay was so inspired by the trip that he will return to Black Mountain to continue working with CORE as a volunteer after graduation.
“This experience brought me closer to God and showed me that real growth comes from serving others. I learned more about life, compassion and connection in six days than I ever thought possible. I can’t wait to return to North Carolina and continue impacting others through this meaningful work.”
Service Learning in Guatemala
In February, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program traveled to Panajachel, Guatemala for its annual service learning trip, led by Dr. Jason Craig and Dr. Megan Moran. Returning for a second year, the group worked alongside local providers to deliver rehabilitation services and strengthen community partnerships.
Third-year student Kayla Gray-Hillian was placed into the community-facing group, which focused on running pop-up clinics and conducting home visits to provide care, support and health education to the public. Her group treated a wide range of issues, from meniscus tears to a patient in hypertensive crisis.
“This trip showed me how truly versatile and valuable PTs are,” Gray-Hillian said. “We can work anywhere and still make an impact. Personally, I learned how important connection is. Building relationships with patients goes beyond treatment. Just being human and present for someone makes a huge difference.”
Although she was excited to make a difference through the trip, Gray-Hillian was surprised by the impact her patients had on her.
“This trip changed me—the experience really impacted me deeply. The community taught me humility, connection and gratitude. I was blown away by their kindness and hospitality. I was crying the last day because I didn’t want to leave. This experience inspired me to consider the ways I can make an impact in my community back home.”
