Welcome back to Faces of the CUP! Today we are highlighting an invaluable member of our medical volunteer staff, Brenda Dolejs. Brenda is a Medical Manager, and this is her 9th year in this position. When she isn’t overseeing the team of medical volunteers at Target USA CUP, she works for the University of Minnesota as an Education Program Administrator in the Department of Family Health.
Fun fact: most of the medical volunteers at USA CUP are medical students! Brenda explained that many medical volunteers at USA CUP are resident physicians and medical students from a U of M education program. Other volunteers include faculty from the U of M that give back at this tournament because they learned a lot at USA CUP when they were medical students themselves.
Brenda also oversees the front desk volunteers. She stated that these volunteers are students who are eager to learn more about the medical field. USA CUP is an excellent opportunity for them because they develop triage skills, learn about event management, and shadow physicians.
Brenda provides quality education for her students and other volunteers. Target USA CUP wouldn’t be possible without her excellent leadership!
To close out the interview, I asked Brenda a few important questions:
What do you like most about USA CUP?
“The energy of the medical students! USA CUP is a unique experience for them. It is not often that these students are able to see and treat acute adolescent and pediatric injuries.”
What are you most excited for during USA CUP?
“The progression of learning! The volunteers, especially the medical students, start out intimidated and unsure, but they grow and blossom throughout the week as they gain confidence.”
Thank you, Brenda, and the rest of the medical volunteers for all that you do during Target USA CUP!