Led by Chair Devansh Bhatt and Chief Executive Riddhi Patel, the Calgary Student Run Clinic is a student-driven initiative working to bridge critical gaps in healthcare access for vulnerable communities. Through after-hours care, education, and community partnerships, the team is committed to delivering compassionate, equitable support to those often left behind by the system.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
The Calgary Student Run Clinic (SRC) functions as a community-based health clinic dedicated to bridging gaps in healthcare access for people who need it most. Our primary patient populations include refugees, individuals experiencing homelessness, and community members without a family physician. We provide after-hours medical care and health education at the Calgary Mustard Seed Wellness Clinic, YW Calgary, and Inn from the Cold.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We exist because too many people in Calgary fall through the cracks. Many of our patients face barriers: financial, structural, social, or just being swamped in the complexity of paperwork and different agencies that prevent them from accessing reliable health care. We do our best to step in to provide accessible medical care, health education, and refer our patients to people who can navigate our complex system to provide continuity of care. Our student team also delivers workshops, distributes essential supplies, and offers on-site health teaching at our partner organizations.
When did you start/join it?
The SRC itself has been operational for 15 years, and each year we have a new team of student clinicians and executives that take on the mantle and keep the clinic running. I (Riddhi) am part of the new team that’s just getting started, while Devansh will be stepping into the Chair role after serving as Chief Executive this past year. Our wonderful physician clinicians have been a part of the SRC for many years and have helped our clinic run. Dr. Andrew Wong is our medical director, who helped to found the SRC as a student and has been an integral part of its success!
What made you want to get involved?
I (Riddhi) got involved with the SRC because I’ve seen firsthand, as an ICU nurse and community volunteer, how gaps in access and prevention deeply affect vulnerable populations. The SRC’s mission of providing accessible, dignified, community-centred care aligns strongly with my belief that healthcare should meet people where they are. I’m motivated by the opportunity to learn alongside peers, work directly with community partners, and contribute to a model of care that prioritizes equity, prevention, and meaningful patient connection. I believe this holds true for all of our team members and clinicians. Ultimately, both of us were drawn to the SRC from its mission to serve the underserved and promote health equity.
What was the situation like when you started?
The SRC was already well established, almost 15 years strong, with a reputation for meaningful community service. Like any long-standing organization, some years run smoothly, and others require more rebuilding. Right now, one of our biggest challenges is staffing: we need more physicians to supervise and mentor students during our after-hours clinics, which is understandably difficult given the hours we function at.
How has it changed since?
Over the past year, a lot has shifted. Some of our physicians had to reduce their availability, and our rheumatologist went on sabbatical, which meant we needed to scale back a few clinic hours. Even with those challenges, we continued to grow. Our Women’s Empowerment Fair saw record numbers, which was a real highlight for all of us. Our QI team also made it much easier to pull and review clinic data, which helps us understand our patients’ needs in a more practical way. We approved a new physiotherapy clinic at YW Calgary and started working with the Women’s Centre of Calgary. We also ran into a handful of unexpected expenses, which come with the territory. In the past few years, we have expanded into two new locations, Inn from the Cold and the YW Calgary, and we obtained non-profit status. Overall, even though this year came with some hurdles, the SRC is still growing, taking on more responsibility, and trying to keep up with the needs of the communities we serve.
What more needs to be done?
We hope to expand our workshop offerings, increase clinic hours, and take on more patients. To do that, we need more staff physicians and more student engagement, not just from medical students, but from across healthcare disciplines. Our long-term vision is growth that remains sustainable, compassionate, and community-driven.
How can our readers help?
There are several ways readers can get involved:
– If you’re a clinician (family medicine physician), please consider volunteering with us. We are extremely flexible with scheduling and deeply appreciative of any time or mentorship you can offer.
– If you’re part of a community organization, we’re always looking for new avenues to support Calgary’s underserved, and we would love to create new partnerships.
– If you’re a member of the public, attending our events, spreading the word, or supporting us financially, all make a real difference.
– And of course, please explore the many other local organizations helping those most vulnerable in our city. Calgary has a strong network of community-focused groups, and they all benefit from support.
Do you have any events coming up?
Our two major annual events for this year have already taken place, but they reflect the heart of what we do. The Women’s Empowerment Fair brought together organizations and resources from across Calgary to highlight the support available to women and marginalized communities. Our Health Equity Dinner gave us the chance to share the impact of the SRC, connect with supporters, and fundraise for future initiatives. We’re already looking ahead to next year’s events and hope readers will keep an eye out and join us when they return.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | Website
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
Calgary has so many wonderful charities and organizations that support those in need, it’s hard to choose! However, we would especially like to highlight our partners: the Mustard Seed, Inn From the Cold, and YW Calgary. These organizations provide essential services such as shelter, food security, case management, family support, and safety resources. They do incredible work supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, and domestic violence crises, and we’re fortunate to work alongside them in caring for our community.
