 The Indianapolis medical students will be joined by their counterparts at the IU schools of nursing, dentistry, health and rehabilitation sciences and social work. IUSM education centers in Terre Haute and South Bend also are organizing events to coincide with National Primary Care Week, Oct. 17-23. |
Awareness and education can go a long way to prevent many health-care problems, and that is the message IU School of Medicine (IUSM) students want to convey to inner-city residents needing medical attention.
The future physicians are organizing a health fair at the Westside Community Health Center from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23.
The event coincides with National Primary Care Week, which advocates the importance of health care and brings health professionals together to serve those with limited or no access to care.
This is the sixth year the medical students have sponsored the health fair at the center in the Haughville area, just west of the IU Medical Center campus. Students will work under the supervision of IU physicians and faculty.
This year’s event, which is organized by the Internal Medicine Student Interest Group, includes immunizations for adults, information on pediatric immunizations, and blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol checks. Also, information about colorectal cancer, prostate health, osteoporosis, smoking cessation, breast cancer, poison control, consumer safety and nutrition will be available.
IUSM education centers in Terre Haute and South Bend also are organizing events to coincide with National Primary Care Week, Oct. 17-23.
The Indianapolis medical students will be joined by their counterparts at the IU schools of nursing, dentistry, health and rehabilitation sciences and social work.
"More than 60 percent of Indiana counties have been identified as having health professional shortages," says Shannon Gearhart, a fourth-year medical student who is helping coordinate the health fair. "While our focus is on the local level, we want to emphasize the need for primary care throughout Indiana and the nation."
During National Primary Care Week, the students are sponsoring a daily lecture series at Wishard Memorial Hospital (Oct. 18-22) on issues such as health professions needs and opportunities, programs for the indigent and the state government’s role in health care. Gregory Wilson, M.D., commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health also will discuss the Indiana Chronic Disease Management Programs.
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