Great Neck, New York, USA – February 25, 2026 – The Empathy in Medicine Initiative (EMI), a student-led nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening empathy and communication in healthcare, has announced the launch of its new Student Chapter Program. The initiative is designed to empower high school and college students to establish local EMI chapters that promote patient-centered communication through structured educational and community-based activities.
Founded by Kevin Lin, a student at Great Neck South High School in Great Neck, New York, EMI focuses on addressing a growing need within healthcare education: developing interpersonal and communication skills alongside academic and technical training. The newly introduced chapter program provides a formal framework that allows students to organize empathy-centered initiatives while gaining leadership and service experience connected to healthcare environments.
Expanding student leadership through structured empathy initiatives
The Student Chapter Program enables participating students to create school-based or community-based clubs aligned with EMI’s mission. Chapters will host communication skills workshops, empathy-focused events, and community education projects that emphasize respectful patient interaction and effective communication practices. These activities are intended to help participants better understand the human aspects of healthcare while encouraging collaboration and service engagement within their local communities.
To support implementation, EMI provides participating chapters with practical resources designed to simplify the process of launching and maintaining student organizations. These resources include structured toolkits, meeting and event planning guides, communication scripts, and training materials. The standardized materials aim to ensure consistency across chapters while allowing students flexibility to adapt initiatives to their specific school or regional needs.
Early traction highlights growing demand among students
The organization reports early interest and measurable engagement through its online platform, which currently shows 233 registered users and 73 submitted applications, with 69 applications pending or under review. This early traction demonstrates increasing student demand for organized programs that combine healthcare exploration with leadership development and measurable community impact.
As healthcare systems continue to emphasize patient-centered care, communication skills are increasingly recognized as essential competencies for future healthcare professionals. EMI’s chapter model provides students with a structured pathway to explore these skills before entering professional training environments, helping bridge the gap between academic preparation and real-world interpersonal experience.
“Too many students want to do meaningful healthcare-related service and leadership, but they do not have a clear structure to start,” said Kevin Lin, founder of the Empathy in Medicine Initiative and a student at Great Neck South High School in Great Neck, New York. “Our chapter program gives high school and college students a practical toolkit to launch empathy-focused clubs and projects that create measurable impact in their schools and communities.”
Providing accessible tools for sustainable impact
A key component of the Student Chapter Program is accessibility. EMI designed its resources to reduce administrative barriers that often prevent students from launching new organizations. By offering ready-to-use templates, training frameworks, and operational guidance, the program allows students to focus on meaningful engagement rather than organizational logistics.
The initiative also encourages collaboration between students, educators, and local communities. Chapters may organize awareness events, peer-learning sessions, and service projects that highlight the importance of empathy in healthcare communication. Through these activities, students can develop leadership experience while contributing to broader conversations around compassionate care and effective patient interaction.
Students interested in participating can learn more about the program, access available resources, and apply to start a chapter by visiting https://empathyinmedicine.org/.
About Empathy in Medicine Initiative
Empathy in Medicine Initiative (EMI) is a student-led nonprofit organization focused on advancing empathy and communication in healthcare. The organization provides educational resources, structured programs, and leadership opportunities that enable students to explore patient-centered communication while creating measurable community impact.
Media Contact
Company Name: Empathy in Medicine Initiative
Contact Person: Kevin Lin
Country: United States
Website: https://empathyinmedicine.org/