News

From SITC

FALL NEWS 2009

Welcome (back) to Students in the Community (SITC)! We're looking forward to a great 2009-2010 school-year, improving the health of the urban underserved. Read on for information on how you can become involved in each of our three program areas, and please join us for our orientation on October 13th.

SITC Orientation

Tuesday, October 13th, 5:30-7:00p
UW Health Sciences Bldg, Room TBD
Food provided

HEALTHCARE OUTREACH

Co-Directors: Adam Balinger (balinger@u) and Heather Henne (hmhenne@u)

SITC-Aloha Health Outreach Center. The Center provides one-on-one assistance with disease prevention, health promotion and coordination of care for residents of Aloha Inn. Center sessions are held every other Sunday from 2:30-4:30pm. Students meet with recently homeless men and women, take histories and perform exams, and collaborate with them to develop plans for lifestyle improvement or obtaining medical care at UW Medicine facilities or community clinics. Master the art of the history, physical and SOAP note under the mentorship of some of the most dedicated preceptors in town.

To sign up for a Center session, visit: http://depts.washington.edu/uwsitc/index.php?title=SITC-Aloha_Health_Outreach_Center

Tuesday Evening Clinic. Visitors to the SITC-Aloha Health Outreach Center often go on to obtain care at from Dr. Jill Watanabe at the Tuesday Evening Clinic. This clinic is held every other Tuesday evening at the HMC Adult Medicine Clinic. Student volunteers who arrange care are encouraged to attend the Tuesday Evening Clinic with the person they refer, and participate in their care. This is a great opportunity to provide continuity for poor individuals who often suffer from confusing and uncoordinated healthcare.

When you sign up for a Sunday Health Outreach Center, bring your calendar in case you arrange care for someone at the Tuesday Evening Clinic, and let the Center Manager know whether you'll be able to attend the Tuesday appointment.

PATIENT EDUCATION & HEALTH PROMOTION

Director: Farah Abdul (farah17a@u; sitchealthed@gmail.com)

The Patient Education & Health Promotion Committee organizes health education events at Aloha Inn and the Women's Referral Center. They have opportunities for dedicated members and one-time volunteers.

Patient Ed. Committee Members. The Patient Ed Committee is accepting applications for members. Members will be involved in various phases of planning health promotion events; developing health information packets, giving health presentations, making visuals or posters on health topics, leading exercise or walking groups, creating educational activities, answering questions at health fairs, actively brainstorming ways to improve health education, etc. Committee members are required to commit for the full school-year. They may be more involved one quarter and less involved in another, but are expected to contribute to the group through the year.

Members must fill out an application form, attend the first group meeting of the year, complete 1-2 orientations, and attend the quarterly group meetings thereafter.

First Patient Ed Meeting: Tuesday, October 6th, 5:30-7:30pm in HSB T-473.

Please fill out an application by noon on Friday, October 2nd. Applications can be completed at: https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/farah17a/83878

Patient Ed. One-time Volunteers. Health professions students who cannot commit to year-long committee membership can volunteer to develop and present content on specific topics for specific events. They will be paired with an undergraduate student who will take the lead on the event logistics, and eagerly soak up any knowledge you have to share. Email Director Farah Abdul for a list of topics and dates.

STUDENT EDUCATION & ADVOCACY

Director: position vacant, please contact SITC Board Chair, Maegan Ashworth (ashmeg@u)

Advocates for the Underserved (Coordinators: James Kuo jimkuo2@u and Teresa Lee teresa2@u). Advocates for the Underserved is the committee devoted to advocating for the health of the underserved at the local, regional and national level. They're kicking off the year with a talk from Dr. Ericka Bliss about her experiences with health policy in Olympia. Watch for meetings with city and county officials and a lobby day in the months to come.

Talk by Dr. Bliss: Wednesday, October 21, 6:00-7:30pm in HSB T-635.

UCONJ 450 Healthcare in the Urban Underserved Community (Course Coordinators: Sara Forrester shforrester@gmail.com, Heather Surerus-Lopez hasl@u, and Elijah Anthony Burbank, elibur23@u). SITC sponsors a course every winter quarter on healthcare for the urban underserved. Watch for course announcements and get your add code early!

Quarterly Seminars. SITC sponsors at least one seminar or workshop per quarter. Watch for announcements in the coming year. If you can think of knowledge or skills you'd like to learn to more effectively improve the health of the underserved, consider serving as an event organizer. Contact SITC Board Chair, Maegan Ashworth with ideas.

BY THE WAY...The SITC Board of Directors is looking for additional members, especially members willing to serve as Board Secretary, Website Coordinator, IT & Database Coordinator, or Communications & Marketing Coordinator. Contact Board Chair, Maegan Ashworth for more information on these positions.

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