SMI Student Blog
Browse the SMI Student Blog Posts
The blog entries below were submitted by past participants of the SMI program during their time in Philadelphia. There are also some yearly recaps from our Summer Program Director.
Structure Determines Function
by Anisha S.Structure determines function. A phrase drilled into the heads of many pre-med students alike, as we learned about the wonders of fibers arranged in parallel groups to make a joint stronger, the chambers of the heart working to send blood to the body, and...
The Goodness of God
by Kristie R.“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” -Psalm 145:9 Stepping into SMI I did not know what to expect. I knew the program would be an enriching experience as it included all of my passions: ministry, underserved urban...
Medical Adventures with the Lord (MAWTL)
by Mary R.As a small town girl who is more used to tuning out croaking frogs at night than loud music and firecrackers, living in North Philly has been an adjustment. Our first couple of days here brought hours of orientation talks where we heard some stories of the...
God at Work Beyond our Understanding
by Silas B.“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!‘For who has known the mind of the Lord,or who has been his counselor?Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’For...
Seeing God in Everything
by Layo F.When I initially applied for SMI and even up until when I arrived at the train station, I didn't quite know what to expect from this experience. I had visited Philadelphia a few times but I had never heard anything about Kensington or its surrounding areas....
Back Providing Community Health Screens: Integrating Faith and Medical Care in 2022
A Report of the Philadelphia Summer Medical Institute, June 18-July 9, 2022 By Holly Favino, Program Director On a sunny day in July a pair of Christian health care students and their interpreter knocked on doors of tightly packed row houses in Kensington,...
The Power of Prayer and Relying on God
by Dani C.SMI 2022 was truly a surreal experience. Each day was spent growing in my faith, overcominghardship, and learning about God’s grace, love, and mercy. From the apparent struggles evident in the powerlessness of low income areas to the resilience of the locals...
Better than I Expected
by Ashley A.Hey everyone! My name is Ashley and I am in nursing school in Birmingham! Coming into SMI, I had no idea what to expect. Being from out of town, I assumed everyone would already know each other and I would be the outsider. I assumed Kensington would be a...
Kensington
by Jaz J.Kensington…. You’ve taught me a lot. You’ve shown me a lot. The first day I saw you, I was afraid of you. You looked like something that was shot right out of a movie scene. I had never seen anything like you. But over the last 3 weeks, I’ve come to know you...
How does one pray… in Spanish?
by Samantha E.“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 1 Corinthians 1:17During college, I was introduced to the world of global missions, in that I would...
My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty
by Lisa S.I’m reminded of this children’s Christian song as I reminisce of my SMI experience. Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty that there’s nothing our God cannot do. SMI has been such an eye-opening and awesome three weeks where I truly saw God work within...
An Avenue for the Gospel
by Lindsey F.I have wanted to be a doctor for a long time. The past three weeks in North Philly have only fueled my desire. One of the most important reasons that have influenced my desire to be a physician is the opportunity for patient relationships and the chance...
Transformational: 30 Years of SMI
A Report of the Philadelphia Summer Medical Institute, June 26-July 17, 2021 By Holly Favino, Summer Program Director Who would imagine that a vaccination effort to combat a 1991 North Philadelphia measles outbreak would adapt and continue today as the...
“God was already at work in this place before you got here.”
by Trevor S. We come into this place with good intentions, energy, excitement, and passion for positive change and spiritual development. We enter with various levels of experience, understanding, and history. We represent a mix of diverse faith...
Simple But Powerful Lessons
By Tolulope I The Summer Medical Institute (SMI Philly 2020) is over and here I am reminiscing on the experiences I gained throughout the course of the program. The image of paintings on the wall of the conference room where I worked still lingers in my memory....