Steadfast & Strong: Jessica Helm

Jessica Helm (Beta Delta Chapter, Miami University) has been passionate about helping others for a long time. With organized opportunities to serve the community in high school, Jessica volunteered at soup kitchens, food drives and events like trick-or-treat for cans and top soccer where she played soccer with kids with disabilities.

“I did a medical mission trip abroad to Peru in high school,” Jessica said. “I went to orphanages and free clinics to help how I could. It was probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever done and really solidified my interest in medicine.” Jessica’s passion for serving others informed her college path, where she has found and made opportunities for herself and those around her to lead through serving others.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the chapter in what they would have been able to do just a couple years ago, Jessica remained an advocate for service. Guided by Jessica’s leadership and innovative ideas, chapter members delivered handmade blankets for breast cancer patients at a local hospital, wrote letters and sent holiday cards to residents at a nursing home, and even walked dogs.

In addition to the work Jessica did as Service Chair for Beta Delta Chapter, she was also on the board for the Pre-Health Fraternity at Miami University to support service and volunteer activities. Additionally, in her field of study, students are required to earn patient care experience hours toward their degree. However, rather than earning those hours through paid positions, Jessica spent her time as a volunteer, racking up 800 hours of volunteer work in a hospital setting.

“I’m such a big advocate for service because I recognize my privilege and know that I want to give back to people,” Jessica said. “Part of being a human is to give where you can, help where you can. It’s a responsibility that we have, looking out for each other as human beings. If I have the time or ability, I will use it to give back to others.”

One of Jessica’s favorite chapter service events happened before she was Service Chair. When Jessica was a first-year student, Beta Delta members brought mouth swab kits to a chapter meeting where those who were interested could provide a sample to potentially be matched to patients for blood transfusions, bone marrow transfusions and more. Three years later, one of Jessica’s sisters was contacted as a match, and that sister accepted the call for help. “I think that is one of the most miraculous instances of how a small service act can go the longest way,” Jessica said.

Jessica is graduating in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in biology (pre-med) with a medical sociology background and was accepted to the physician’s assistant program at Butler University. Butler started the PA program after identifying a healthcare disparity and has grown the program out of a mission of service, which resonates deeply with Jessica. “I chose Butler because the mission completely aligns with my beliefs and I know that I will continue with my service,” she said.