By Nicole Edwards
nicole.edwards@intakeweekly.com
Greg Berman and Joe Frank have a few years before they're working full-time in the trenches of the medical profession.
But even though they're not physicians just yet, they're not interested in sitting back, allowing sick children to go unnoticed.
The annual Rock for Riley benefit concert, which Berman founded, is now in its second year of rallying medical students of the IU School of Medicine around the needs of Riley Hospital for Children.
Proceeds from this year's concert will support a tower construction project for the Riley Children's Foundation.
Berman, a 25-year-old Indianapolis native and IU med student, launched the inaugural Rock for Riley in September of last year at the Vogue in Broad Ripple. More than 625 people attended that event, which raised more than $25,000.
With the help of 25-year-old medical student Joe Frank of Carmel, Berman is hoping this year's affair, featuring the critically adored alt-country group Wilco at the Murat, generates even greater interest.
"It's a pretty simple concept to buy into," Frank said. "It's just good music for a good cause."
While attending medical school, students must spend one month working at Riley. During Frank's stint there, he said he realized just how important the facility was to those who brought their children in for treatment.
Riley, according to Frank, is a "pretty precious resource." Frank, who worked on a renal rheumatology and infectious disease team, said Riley serves more than just sick children.
"When you get a sick kid, it's not just this kid in that room," he said. "It's his brother, sister, cousins and parents in the room."
Both Berman and Frank believe the event will set the stage for medical students putting their future efforts into good causes.
"It really incorporates service learning," Berman said. "If we're getting 70 students involved at this level, when they become future leaders then they'll be more inclined to donate money and time."
As far as Frank is concerned, Rock for Riley is a win-win for everyone.
"It's certainly a great cause," Frank said, "and Greg and I have a history of being big fans of live music. The opportunity to do this (benefit Riley) and that (listen to live music) . . . (brings) together the things I love the most."