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Life and Work with Stephanie Chu

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Chu.

Stephanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2008, I had just moved to Denver to start my career as a Sports Medicine Physician at the University of Colorado. I was doing “exactly” what I wanted to do when I embarked on a career in Sports Medicine, I was an outpatient Family Medicine/Sports Medicine Physician and also a Team Physician for the Colorado Buffaloes varsity athletic teams. I never had any aspirations in medical school or residency to do anything humanitarian or even in global health. I had barely ever really “traveled” only really going to various family vacations growing up throughout the U.S. and some international trips to visit family when I was very young to Hong Kong (or the tropical “sun and fun” getaways while in residency).

The start of 2009 introduced me to my now-husband who was asked by an old childhood friend about recruiting male soccer players (or ex-players) for a “summer camp” in Kigali, Rwanda. She had just started a non-profit that brought a group of disadvantaged/orphaned children in Rwanda a summer camp of FUN for a week during their summer school holidays. Dan asked what I thought about going on this trip himself even though he wasn’t a soccer player and I said it sounded like an amazing experience. And then, I asked an innocent question that would change my life forever. “Do you think they need/want a doctor?” Five months later, we were on our way to Kigali, Rwanda with some supplies in hand and open hearts and minds.

I volunteered in 2009 with Hope Shines and their Summer Camps as a counselor to the children. Working with a group of 10 kids for a week through English and craft lessons as well as performing in a “dance-off” at the end of the week against the other volunteer groups. I led an HIV lesson with the help of a local Rwandese Nurse and fell in love with the people and children of Rwanda. Upon leaving, I asked a lot of questions about Rwandan healthcare and the health of these children in particular. I decided to personally support the kids we worked with and their health insurance for the upcoming year and made it a priority to return to Rwanda the next year.

In the summer of 2010, I embarked on conducting general health exams and collecting demographic and health information on the OVC (orphans and vulnerable children) Hope Shines partnered with for these Summer Camps. I personally spoke with and examined nearly 100-120 children that summer educating them on health hygiene, clean water/hydration, and nutrition. I continued with my HIV lessons to the children during the camps and again made my plans to return to Rwanda in 2011.

Since those early years, I returned to Rwanda each summer from 2011-2015 before taking a hiatus after the birth of my son in 2016. In 2017, we were able to return to Kigali with our 1-year-old son. I became the Volunteer Coordinator and Camp Director for Hope Shines in 2011 and continue to do this today. I found myself doing things like gathering travel vaccination and travel medical insurance for volunteers from the U.S. and Europe in preparation for their first-time journey to Rwanda much like I experience in 2009. I partnered with U.S. and Rwandese teachers to devise curriculums for the Summer Camps that were both educational and FUN and introduced “Themed Camps.” I learned how to be a “tour guide” while in country to make the experience exactly that, an experience to remember for a lifetime. I was able to do all of this on a volunteer basis while continuing to further my “full-time job” as a Sports Medicine Physician. Many may ask “why?” It’s simple, Hope Shines was and still is a very grass-root, small NGO, my focus has always been the children and the people of Rwanda. If it means the children benefit more from the fundraising efforts Hope Shines receives by my volunteering my time and efforts then that’s all I need to keep giving selflessly.

Today, being a working mom to two kiddos (ages 3 and 1), I have not been back to Rwanda since 2017 (but am hoping to bring my youngest soon!). My work with Hope Shines consists of coordinating volunteers for our local Annual Event as well as continued work with our Summer Camp volunteers when finances permit and we get enough volunteers for the Camp. I now support my husband who has been Hope Shines Executive Director since 2015 as the Medical Consultant and for “fun” I help with the website development and marketing for the Annual Event.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Anyone who is a part of small non-profit organizations knows the struggle is always fundraising and getting the word out there about work that is meaningful and impactful to you and your beliefs but may not be a care to others. Volunteering and working for Hope Shines has not been smooth or easy and the learning curve has been a steep one for sure.

Some of the struggles has been balanced. I started getting really involved with Hope Shines at the exact same time I was trying to further my career in Sports Medicine.

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What sets you apart from others?
I am a Sports Medicine Physician at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. My clinical practice sites vary greatly from seeing general family medicine patients in Westminster to the weekend warrior recreational athlete at UCHealth CU Sports Medicine in Denver, work injuries in firefighters at South Metro Fire Rescue and Division I variety athletes at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I love my job and the breadth and depth of who I see in my offices on a day-to-day basis. While I see both male and female athletes in Sports Medicine, my passion lies in the female athlete and the unique injuries that can affect females, getting a new mom back to her sport or helping the young adolescent female understand the changes in hormones while still allowing her to compete at a high level despite puberty is what makes my female population special.

As a female Sports Medicine Physician, I believe what sets me apart from other is my work with Hope Shines. I am able to see the world from a different lens and true not take anything for granted. Hope Shines has helped me open my eyes and realize nothing should be assumed or expected and everyone should love and forgive no matter the circumstance.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Books: Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust is an amazing book to get into the heart of a young woman during the Rwandan Genocide.

Pricing:

  • Sponsor a Child $60 for 1 Month
  • Kiza Recycled Soap Project $3000 Goal

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Jennifer Honeycutt

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