Second Ripple Effect Contest Winner Announced Today in New Jersey

Meghan Meghpara, a second year medical student enrolled at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, won’t have to wait to finish medical school before she will start making a difference in the lives of real people. Meghpara is the second winner of the Ripple Effect Contest, a joint initiative created by Heart to Heart International and Welch Allyn, and one of two students to win a humanitarian service trip to Haiti to work alongside physicians and aid workers this summer.  Meghpara submitted a short video titled “I Know That I Am Lucky” which a panel of judges from Heart to Heart International, Welch Allyn and the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) deemed superior for its personality, passion, creativity, sincerity and quality of expression.  The first winning entry was submitted by Oluwatoni Aluko, a second year medical student enrolled at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN.

“We are very excited to have another fantastic medical student join the Welch Allyn team this summer to volunteer in Haiti with Heart to Heart International,” said Krystal Barr, interim CEO, Heart to Heart International.  “Meghan is well on her way in creating her own ripple effect for this world in need and
we hope her volunteer experience will inspire and encourage others to share their time and talents as well.”

The inaugural Ripple Effect Contest encouraged medical students to turn to social media to share how they will create their own “ripple effect” of good in their own community or around the world. Entrants were asked to simply ‘like’ the Ripple Effect program page on Facebook and share a picture or short video that showcases their “ripple effect”—a brief narrative about how they will “change the world” by using their training to help those in greatest need.

“This is a tremendous honor for Meghan and we are extremely proud of her selection,” said RowanSOM Dean Dr. Thomas Cavalieri.  “Meghan’s dedication to helping underserved populations reflects the spirit of the RowanSOM mission and sets an example for medical students throughout the country to follow.”

Under Ripple Effect, Welch Allyn, a leading medical diagnostic device company that delivers pragmatic innovation at the point of care, provides up to $125 in merchandise credits to Heart to Heart International when a student purchases select Welch Allyn diagnostic instruments.1  Heart to Heart International, a nonprofit medical aid organization, uses the credits to acquire Welch Allyn devices for use in its global humanitarian programs, disaster relief, and health professional training for underserved populations.

Reliable medical instruments play a critical role in helping physicians make key assessments, which informs diagnosis and helps them improve care for their patients. When physicians are equipped with the proper medical instruments their ability to assess, diagnose, treat and manage a wide variety of illnesses and diseases, and care for more patients, increases. In many places, medical providers do not have access to even basic diagnostic equipment, limiting their ability to provide quality care to patients and communities.

“Welch Allyn is proud to partner with Heart to Heart International to offer a way for medical students to start making a difference in people’s lives long before their first residency,” said David Allyn, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Welch Allyn. “By simply participating in the Ripple Effect Contest two lucky med students have been given an opportunity to participate in a life-changing humanitarian service trip to support people in need. Further, Welch Allyn is honored to be able to provide some of the equipment the students, physicians and aid workers will use on the trip to improve care in places where it is needed most.  It’s amazing to think it will be used on patients who may have never seen a doctor before.  It may even be used to save a life.”

Ripple Effect credits have enabled Heart to Heart International to acquire more than $10 million worth of medical equipment from Welch Allyn to help clinicians deliver vital patient care in the places that need it most.  Welch Allyn employees have also contributed many hours of volunteer time both at home and abroad.