This past weekend, ICOM student physicians traded their white coats for safety vests, taking to the streets to support a cleaner, healthier community through Ada County’s Adopt-a-Highway program.
Organized by ICOM’s Student Government Association (SGA), the volunteer effort brought students together to clean up a two-mile stretch of Locust Grove Road near the College’s Meridian campus. Armed with trash bags and a commitment to service, students collected litter and debris along the roadway, helping improve the appearance and cleanliness of the surrounding community.
“As future physicians, our commitment to health extends beyond the clinic and into the community where our patients live and play,” said Student Physician Kayla Bland, President of ICOM SGA. “We loved spending the morning out in the community putting preventative health into action. We hope this inspires others to create positive change wherever they are and leave every place better than they found it.”
ICOM first adopted a portion of Locust Grove Road in 2020, and the College has continued its commitment through biannual cleanup events. These efforts provide students with an opportunity to put the values of service and community engagement into action beyond the classroom.
For future physicians, caring for a community extends well beyond the walls of a clinic or hospital. Environmental stewardship, neighborhood safety and public health are all connected, and small acts of service can make a meaningful difference in the places where people live, work and play.
