Ian McHale arrived in Lima six weeks ago as a MEDLIFE Volunteer Affairs Intern, halfway through a summer that's already reshaping how he sees medicine and community. A Biology major from the University of Vermont with a minor in Community & International Development, Ian has spent the last three years building toward this moment—from joining MEDLIFE as a freshman, to leading his chapter as president, to now designing programs that will reach thousands of students worldwide. This week alone, he's witnessed the power of listening: identifying a patient's need, mobilizing his peers, and raising $800 in under seven hours to build a ramp for Jorge, a man whose mobility had confined him to his home. That's the work of the next six weeks ahead.

Ian's journey with MEDLIFE began as a freshman at the University of Vermont, when he joined his local chapter. That first summer, a brigade to Cusco, Peru changed everything. By sophomore year, he'd become Vice President and Brigades Officer, then traveled to Esmeraldas, Ecuador on his second brigade—where he first learned about the Lima internship opportunity. As a junior, he stepped into the role of chapter President. Today, as a MEDLIFE Volunteer Affairs Intern, Ian mentors two students, volunteers on the pediatric floor at UVM Medical Center, leads MEDVIDA as its president, and finds time to pursue his passions: hiking, snowboarding, camping, and competing with the UVM Triathlon club. His goal for this internship is to connect his Biology major and Community and International Development minor through sustainable community development projects that bring medical access to vulnerable communities.