Students at the Wayne State University School of Medicine serve the community in many ways.

Mike Kopec, 25, chose to volunteer with Karmanos Hospice slightly more than one year ago because of his interest in end-of-life care.

“I wanted to be exposed to patients who were dying, something that I had never experienced before,” he said. “I also felt that I would be able to serve those patients well by spending time with them when they perhaps needed some extra companionship or care.”

In that role, Mr. Kopec may sit silently with nonresponsive patients, chat with those who are up to a talk, or bring a holiday or birthday card to brighten the day. “Sometimes I act as an advocate within my capacity when the situation calls for that,” he said.

Since the summer of 2006, the third-year medical student has been immersed in a project evaluating depression and its risk factors among teenagers attending two Detroit-area teen health clinics.

“I originally got involved in this project because I have an interest in community health and wanted to do a project that contributed to the Detroit area in some way,” said Mr. Kopec. “From this study I hope that we will be able to come up with some effective interventions to improve mental health among Detroit teens.”

Mr. Kopec decided to pursue a medical education his senior year in high school after his family physician assisted him with recurring headaches. “He helped me, and I thought I’d like to be there for people and build those types of trusting relationships. It’s the humanistic side of medicine that attracted me.”

The third-year medical student grew up in Flint, but now lives in Detroit. He chose the Wayne State University School of Medicine because he wanted to remain near his family and study in Michigan, but also for the clinical training opportunities the school provides. “That was a big plus,” he said. “The patient load here is such that we get a lot of hands-on training.”

With 18 months of medical school to complete, he has not yet settled on a specialty, but is considering primary care.

No matter his chosen field or practice location, Mr. Kopec insists he will live in the community he serves. “I want to be among the patient population I’m serving. No matter where I am in the future, I want to be involved in my community. That appeals to me and that’s why I currently live in Detroit.”