AIDS education and a volunteer training program for medical students

The process of AIDS education poses exceptional challenges for teachers and students. Medical students are in a unique position in the health care system. They are young enough to be ideal role models for high school and college students. They are mature enough to be responsible educators. We describe a special program designed and implemented by a medical student to train other medical students to become AIDS educators. This student-run program provides education for student volunteers who are able to educate other students and members of the community. The program is designed to educate a generation of physicians who will be well-equipped to combat the HIV epidemic and who can serve the community as AIDS educators while still in medical school.