THE PATIENT PROJECT

The Patient Project

patience & strength

Aging can be a challenging period for individuals from all walks of life and our goal is to offer companionship and conversation. In addition to volunteering at senior centers through our UCI Wellness Project, we also host speakers and workshops to explore medical narratives, the phenomenon of waiting, and explore the pre-health world. In quarantine, we launched a journal titled Patience and Pandemic and have been recently featured on the UCI News. What started as an idea to alleviate loneliness while waiting in the hospital has now turned into something that promotes community, mental health awareness, and overall well-being throughout Orange County.

Read about us in UCI News: "Alleviating elder isolation"

Our Projects

UCI Wellness Project

A community-building experience with inclusive discussions, games, and crafts. Through our weekly student-led meetings at five senior sites throughout Orange County, we encourage conversation and reflection in communal spaces.

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Our History

"Patience is not passive; on the contrary, it is concentrated strength" - Bruce Lee

The idea started at the hospital waiting room, where the goal was to alleviate the loneliness of waiting. In 2019, the Patient Project became a campus organization at UC Irvine, led by UCI Dalai Lama Scholar 19’-20’ Karishma Muthukumar, who is now an incoming medical student at Vanderbilt University’s School of Medicine. In April 2020, the Strauss Foundation supported the organization’s development. Now, as our organization has grown, we lead weekly community events at five senior sites with the help of Christine Tran-Le who works at the Council on Aging, so no one has to watch the clock alone.

The Patient Project aspires to foster a welcoming environment in senior centers where the elderly can build community with each other, provide an opportunity for students to create meaningful interactions with their community, and practice bedside manner skills translational to their future healthcare careers.
Psychological studies demonstrate the benefits of human interaction, particularly for those who may experience boredom, anxiety, and cognitive decline, which is where the students at UCI Wellness Project have a significant role.

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Contact us for a Partnership

For Universities: looking to start a branch? Contact us to find out more about recruitment, member retention, and implementation.
For Senior centers: seeking to partner with our student organization? Let's schedule a meeting.
For Healthcare professionals: hoping to have The Patient Project at your waiting room? Contact us below.
For Media: contact us to learn more about our mission and impact.

Reach out to us and let's discuss the possibilities!

Upcoming Events

Join the Campus Groups mailing list for the complete calendar of events.

Volunteer weekly. Timings include Monday through Friday, mornings through evenings.

Send us an email below for more details!