outreach

VCOM-Carolinas Supports Clinic with Colorful Run

ebailey — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:16:24 +0000

VCOM-Carolinas Supports Clinic with Colorful Run ebailey Wed, 08/21/2024 - 11:16

VCOM-Carolinas Supports Clinic with Colorful Run

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The VCOM-Carolinas campus was filled with excitement and vibrant colors as 151 participants rallied for the VIVA! Color Run 2024 on Saturday, August 17! Runners, walkers and dancers of all ages and fitness levels from the SWAG��Ƶcommunity, St. Luke’s and beyond joined forces for a morning of fun, fitness and philanthropy. The event successfully brought together not only SWAG��Ƶand St. Luke’s members but also participants from the broader Spartanburg community.

Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic, ensuring access to high-quality healthcare for uninsured, low-income residents of Spartanburg County. The turnout and support were truly heartwarming, with people coming together for such a meaningful cause.

A very special thanks to:

The MOVE Exec Board—Smit Patel, Benjamin Cutler, Katylyn Harms and Sayesha Reddi— for their outstanding organization and dedication to making this event a success.

SWAG��Ƶfaculty members Dr. Alexis Stoner and Dr. Lisa Carroll, whose leadership and enthusiasm were felt by everyone throughout the event.

Chet Cantrell and Marc Rivera from St. Luke’s who worked tirelessly to ensure the event's mission was front and center.

With 151 tickets sold, this event was a vibrant celebration of community spirit and support. Thank you to all participants, volunteers and sponsors for making VIVA! Color Run 2024 a success. We look forward to doing it again next year!

community events outreach

Carolinas

By Lily Collins -

Healing Hands in Chembolet: Dr. Gwenn Jackson's Transformative Medical Mission in Kenya

ebailey — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 17:21:06 +0000

Healing Hands in Chembolet: Dr. Gwenn Jackson's Transformative Medical Mission in Kenya ebailey Fri, 07/19/2024 - 13:21

Healing Hands in Chembolet: Dr. Gwenn Jackson's Transformative Medical Mission in Kenya

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Gwenn Jackson, MD, VCOM-Louisiana's OB/GYN discipline chair, recently returned from a transformative medical mission trip to Chembolet, Kenya. This community of 6,000 in northwest Kenya welcomed Dr. Jackson and her medical team as they provided crucial medical care over the course of a week.

The goals of the mission were to strengthen the relationship with the Chembolet community and organizer, 410 Bridge, and to promote self-sufficiency in the community. “The community leadership believes the strength of the community is dependent upon proper medical care for the people," Dr. Jackson explains. In addition to medical care, the mission also focused on water purification, economic development, education and spiritual support.

Dr. Jackson served as the mission’s medical director, and she was the only physician on the eight-person team from the United States. She coordinated resources, provided general medicine evaluations and consulted on cervical and breast cancer screenings. The team also included members from the Kenyan Health Service and provided care to more than 800 individuals, addressing issues like uncontrolled hypertension, pediatric respiratory illnesses and musculoskeletal complaints.

Each day began with a 40-minute drive to the community clinic, where patients were already waiting. After a prayer, the team treated patients from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with only a 15-minute break for a simple lunch. An emergency medical technician triaged patient, directing the most serious cases to Dr. Jackson. Hundreds of Kenyans with a variety of health concerns waited under tents, with those not seen one day prioritized on the next. Counseling and prayer were also provided. After the clinic, the team returned to the city, secured supplies and debriefed over a meal.

For Dr. Jackson, the ability to utilize her Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) skills was a highlight. "As an MD trained in OMT when I joined the SWAG��Ƶfaculty, on this trip, I was able for the first time to utilize my new skills to help women with musculoskeletal pain. " One memorable case involved a woman who had suffered from knee pain for two months. She was diagnosed with an ACL tear, and when treated with a simple knee compression wrap, could walk without pain. She thanked Dr. Jackson with a heartfelt hug.

Language barriers and economic limitations posed challenges, but the team's dedication and use of interpreters helped bridge gaps. Despite limited resources, the team identified and addressed medical conditions and assisted patients in providing life-transforming care. The experience profoundly impacted Dr. Jackson’s perspective as an OB/GYN physician and instructor.

Even though I have a specialty within medicine, the need for skills in general medicine never goes away. There are opportunities everywhere to use [these skills], and I want to encourage students to always be prepared.

Gwenn Jackson, MD, FACOG, CPE , Discipline Chair for Obstetrics and Gynecology

Looking ahead, Dr. Jackson is eager to continue her mission work. Not long after returning from Kenya she participated in an international outreach trip to the Dominican Republic in July with SWAG��Ƶcolleagues and students. If the opportunity presents itself to return to Kenya, she would love to do so.

"By the grace of God, I had a terrific career in medicine,” she shares, reflecting on her journey. “Answering the call to go and provide for others who have so little allows me to honor God using my skills and experience. It’s a small gift in return for all the blessings medicine has provided me."

Dr. Jackson’s dedication and compassion exemplify the spirit of VCOM, and her mission work continues to inspire and uplift the communities she serves.

outreach

Louisiana

By Danielle Voumard -

VCOM-Virginia Alumni Are Paying It Forward

ebailey — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:29:26 +0000

VCOM-Virginia Alumni Are Paying It Forward ebailey Wed, 04/17/2024 - 16:29

VCOM-Virginia Alumni Are Paying It Forward

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Both Amar Mukhtar, DO, and Sonul Gulati, DO, are first-generation medical students whose families hail from different parts of the globe: Dr. Mukhtar’s family is from Sudan, and Dr. Gulati’s family is from India. VCOM’s commitment to international outreach was a key part of their experience as students, and now they are paying that commitment forward through their MedDreams Foundation.

SWAG��Ƶwas the only medical school Dr. Mukhtar applied to, even though he’d never heard of osteopathic medicine until he was introduced to it while an honors student at nearby Virginia Tech.

The more I learned about it, and asked questions, the more SWAG��Ƶmade sense with everything that I was planning to do in my career, with a real focus on underserved communities.

Amar Mukhtar, DO

Dr. Mukhtar recalls having a vision to return to Sudan to start a clinic, and before his College interview, he’d never heard of a medical school having an international program quite like VCOM’s. That piqued his interest in attending.

Before heading to George Mason University as a freshman, Dr. Gulati didn’t know that he wanted to attend medical school. But once he did decide that was his future, he began attending medical school open houses. That’s how he found VCOM. “Something stood out about it, immediately,” Dr. Gulati recalls. “I remember telling my mom, ‘This is the place. This place is awesome.’” For Dr. Gulati, VCOM’s dedication to providing care to the medically underserved, both in this country and abroad, was a key factor in his decision to choose VCOM. “I respected the fact that not only did they go on a mission trip, but they also had a clinic,” Dr. Gulati notes. “The patients get ongoing care, not just when SWAG��Ƶis there.”

VCOM-Virginia’s international trips gave them a chance to interact with patients and put into practice what they had learned in the classroom. Obviously, the experience was one where there was a lot of personal satisfaction from making a difference in the life of the patients, but Dr. Mukhtar notes that the ability to interact with their faculty was also important. “You get to see their human side and picture your life after training. They’re normal and having fun,” he chuckles. That was a meaningful realization for a first-generation medical student who didn’t have a complete understanding of life as a doctor.

Dr. Gulati remembers taking baseball cards to give as gifts during his trip to the Dominican Republic. “I remember an 8-year-old kid who was playing with his cards and opening and showing them to everyone,” Dr. Gulati recalls. “I asked him, ‘Do you even know who these people are?’ He said no, but he smiled big and ran away. I realized that it wasn't about the gifts. It was just that he felt loved. Someone gave him something, and he felt gratitude for it, and that's what it's all about.”

Despite having met during orientation, Drs. Gulati and Mukhtar did not know each other particularly well until just prior to their graduation from SWAG��Ƶin 2016, when a group had planned a European vacation. In the end, it was just the two of them, and it was a pivotal moment in their relationship where they truly came to know each other and understand all they had in common.

Several years later, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gulati reached out to Dr. Mukhtar and asked him to go on another trip through VCOM, but the trips were so popular that there was a waiting list to attend. That inspired them to think about how they might offer additional opportunities for physicians and students—from SWAG��Ƶand other medical schools—to participate in international outreach. Thus, the MedDreams Foundation was born. “Seeing SWAG��Ƶput together these impactful trips in South America gave us the confidence to say, ‘Hey, we think we can make an impact here as well,’” says Dr. Mukhtar.

For Dr. Gulati, his international work is a way to give back. “SWAG��Ƶtook a risk on me,” he observes. “I might have not been the strongest candidate, but they saw something in me. So, I feel like it’s my job to give back. I can do that using what they taught me to become a physician and helping the underserved community.” He goes on to say that leaving the United States and going to places like Monterrey, Mexico—where the MedDreams Foundation will host its first trip this summer—is particularly gratifying. “Certainly, working in the hospital makes a difference. I feel like I am making a difference in the world, but I think if I wasn't working there, there'd be another doctor there. In Monterrey, if we don't go, there are no other doctors who are going. I feel like I’m making an even bigger difference.”

You get to learn about their cultures. You make lasting relationships with the other medical students. And then after that, you also get a chance to go and experience the city. It doesn't get better than that.

Sonul Gulati, DO

Their vision of the future for the MedDreams Foundation is to help build or grow a facility in Monterrey—and anywhere else they might go. “We want to help in whatever way we can and make sure that our presence is sustained,” Dr. Mukhtar says. “Eventually, we want to have a layered platform where residents are teaching med students, the med students are helping undergrads, and the attending providers are helping them all.”

Both acknowledge that if they didn’t have the blueprint from VCOM, they wouldn’t be sure they could make these trips happen. Dean Sutphin, VCOM’s vice provost for international and Appalachian outreach, has given them guidance and expertise that has been key to getting the work of the foundation going. When they recently hit a speed bump getting insurance, for example, they reached out to Sutphin, who is extremely passionate about this kind of work, and he replied very quickly to help them through it.

They say there is nothing quite like the feeling of helping others on international trips. “You learn so much about other people in the world and different cultures and different perspectives,” Dr. Mukhtar observes. “And you learn to have an open mind when you see something that you're not used to. It is really important to get out of your locality and see something different and understand that people have different ways of doing things.”

Learn more about the MedDreams Foundation at www.meddreamsfoundation.org.

outreach

Virginia

By Amy Ostroth -

Bringing Comfort and Hope

ebailey — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 17:15:07 +0000

Bringing Comfort and Hope ebailey Thu, 04/13/2023 - 13:15

Bringing Comfort and Hope

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You might be able to imagine how it feels to see the USNS Comfort anchored in a harbor, especially if you live in a part of the world that requires the services it provides.

With a length of 894 feet, the ship is only a few feet shorter than the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 2. Stood on its end, the ship would tower over the Golden Gate Bridge and the Space Needle. In short: It’s big. Painted white, with large red crosses, it certainly makes an impression.

The 1,000-bed hospital ship has 15 wards and 12 operating rooms and provides medical services that support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian efforts across the globe. This fall, it traveled to Guatemala, Honduras, Columbia, Dominican Republic and Haiti as part of its Continuing Promise 2022 mission and 12 SWAG��Ƶstudents were able to spend time on the ship—nine went to the Dominican Republic and three to Honduras.

We often think of VCOM’s mission as providing medical care to underserved communities in the Delta and Appalachian areas of the United States. But international outreach has long been part of the College’s work. A new memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Southern Command—SOUTHCOM, for short—has added further opportunities for SWAG��Ƶand its students. Trips on the Comfort are part of the MOU, but it also allows for joint activities with U.S. and in-country military related to humanitarian efforts as well as joint educational and health care outreach.

“SWAG��Ƶbuilt a relationship with SOUTHCOM that is good for both organizations,” says Dean Sutphin, vice provost for international and Appalachian outreach at VCOM. “Our permanent clinics abroad and relationships with commanders and agencies around the world made us a logical and attractive partner. We’re already providing continuous care in many of the countries that SOUTHCOM is supporting through their missions.”

Of course, the relationship with SOUTHCOM is also a natural fit for SWAG��Ƶgiven how many of its students participate in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). HPSP is a scholarship program that helps students pay for their medical degrees and prepares them to serve in the United States Army, Navy or Air Force. Currently, there are more than 140 HPSP students across VCOM’s four campuses.

VCOM’s commitment to international outreach is a powerful recruiting tool. “We’re attracting students with a humanitarian interest and our international program enriches the students’ medical experiences,” Sutphin says. “We are a leader in global health opportunities and prospective students know it.”

Merwan Faraj, a member of the Class of 2023 at VCOM-Carolinas who spent a week on the Comfort, says VCOM’s international outreach was a big factor in his decision to attend. “The way SWAG��Ƶdoes international outreach is different than other schools,” he explains.

“It’s year-round support. To me that says something about the type of people who run the College. SWAG��Ƶis not doing quick mission trips where they get in and get out. I wanted to be part of that kind of family.” Despite their desire for medical care, patients can be overwhelmed when they come to the Comfort, Merwan says. There are people everywhere, many in military uniforms, and it can be loud and disorienting for people who need help. He remembers a scenario that happened several times while he was on the Comfort. “A mother would come into the tent with her kids, and you could tell that they wanted help,” he remembers. “I learned to take care of the kids first and with the language barrier, I had to use nonverbal communication to gain trust. I’d give the kids a stethoscope so they could try it on me. When they could hear my heartbeat, their eyes would light up.” Merwan learned quickly that if he could help the children, it was easier to help their mothers.

Jacob Harrison, Class of 2023 at VCOM’s Auburn campus, was also inspired to choose SWAG��Ƶbecause of its international outreach program. When he stepped aboard the Comfort this fall, it turned out to be an unexpected opportunity for him to get into the operating room. “We performed primarily laparoscopic cholecystectomies and open inguinal hernia repairs,” Jacob says. “These procedures have a relatively quick recovery time and substantially impact the patient’s health and ability to get back to work, thus benefiting the economy. Being able to perform several of the same cases in a row enhanced my knowledge of the procedures, anatomy and anatomical variations that may be seen.”

Just as important as getting into the operating room was the chance to get to know patients. Unlike in the U.S., patients on the Comfort completed the process of prescreening, pre-operation, surgery and post-operation on three consecutive days. “On the first day, we were all strangers, but after seeing them three days in a row, we were all very familiar with each other,” Jacob recalls. “You could tell a dramatic shift from timid and nervous, to excited and appreciative. I think their time on the Comfort was just as much of an experience for them as it was for me.”

Jacob says such an experience is one way to set yourself apart if you’re planning to apply for military residencies. But it is a unique and valuable experience for any medical student. “Experiencing a new culture, in addition to military culture, while learning how to navigate patient care in light of limited resources and a language barrier is truly invaluable,” he observes.

“Don’t be afraid to go,” Merwan offers. “It is truly an honor and a privilege to do things like this for other people. It’s also humbling. It’s easy to get bogged down in grades and tests and this will remind you how amazing the career is that we chose and will push you to keep moving forward.”

Ron Januchowski, DO, who serves as associate dean for curriculum, assessment and medical education at VCOM-Carolinas, was in the United States Army and retired as a colonel after 31 years of active and reserve status. He accompanied SWAG��Ƶstudents on the Comfort and knows what a valuable experience it was for them. He notes that meeting the military personnel is helpful in the residency match process because students are able to directly interact with program faculty from different military residency programs. But more than that, the trip is an opportunity for personal growth. “The students were able to function in an austere environment, seamlessly involve interpreters in patient care and function as a part of the military medical team,” Dr. Januchowski says.

Fred Rawlins III, DO, is co-chair for internal medicine and co-director clinical medicine course at VCOM-Virginia. He is a member of the VCOM-Virginia Class of 2010 and served for 10 years in the Air Force and was an instructor for Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) while overseas. He agrees with Dr. Januchowski that the experience on the Comfort is a meaningful opportunity for VCOM’s students. Dr. Rawlins participated in the trip to the Dominican Republic and says that the experience reinforces good physical exam skills in a resource-limited environment. For example, his students were able to hear and diagnose abdominal bruits in suspected aortic aneurysms. They also saw a patient exhibiting early diastolic decrescendo murmurs with de Musset’s sign, suggesting severe aortic insufficiency. It’s meaningful for the students to not only see these issues outside of a classroom, but also to help improve the quality of life for patients in the real world.

Clearly, trips like these are valuable experiences for doctors and patients alike. Sutphin gets emotional talking about the work he and the SWAG��Ƶstudents are doing. “Many of the people in-country lack water, electricity and live on less than $1 a day,” he says. “We’re here to be of service where the host country says they need the help. Patients tell us that we bring them hope.”

outreach

By Amy Ostroth -

VCOM-Carolinas alum Patrick Bearden, DO Gives Back Through Caring for Underserved Communities

ebailey — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:49:28 +0000

VCOM-Carolinas alum Patrick Bearden, DO Gives Back Through Caring for Underserved Communities ebailey Mon, 03/13/2023 - 14:49

VCOM-Carolinas alum Patrick Bearden, DO Gives Back Through Caring for Underserved Communities

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Growing up in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, Dr. Patrick Bearden’s family was hit hard by the 2008 recession.

A graduate of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), Dr. Bearden spends time volunteering at St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic in downtown Spartanburg to give back.

“I grew up in an underserved community. After the recession in 2008, my family got hit by that pretty hard, and I kind of relate to being in an underserved population and not having access to certain things,” Dr. Bearden said. “So, if I can help volunteer in places to help alleviate that, it’s my way of giving back.”

Dr. Bearden recently joined Medical Group of the Carolinas – Family Medical Center at Spartanburg Medical Center — Mary Black Campus. He was drawn to family medicine during clinical rotations at VCOM, where he helped patients with a variety of health issues and ages.

“I think it was just the exposure to everything and then wanting to do everything. I just wanted to be able to do a variety of things rather than specializing in one thing,” Dr. Bearden said. “I really enjoy interacting with my patients and helping them be as healthy as they can be and living their lives to the fullest."

Gardening and healthcare

Outside of medicine, Dr. Bearden enjoys hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, being outdoors, cooking and gardening at home.

“We’re just starting out. We have two raised vegetable gardens, and we have an herb garden. And then we have annuals and perennials,” Dr. Bearden said.

Tending to a vegetable or flower garden is an investment and a process, much like working on the health of a patient, he said.

“I like investment in terms of just doing the research on something. If it’s diabetes or if it’s ‘How do I make sure my peonies grow really well?’ and then actually doing it and investing your time in it and then seeing the results of that,” Dr. Bearden said. “With both things, sometimes it takes time.”

‘A shared decision’

Dr. Bearden and his wife live in Spartanburg with their 8-month-old daughter. His recent experience on the patient side of things, with his wife going through the labor and delivery process, helped fuel his desire to work with patients and take a shared decision-making approach.

He said so much of working with patients is learning how to be an effective communicator.

“In the end, it’s their decision,” Dr. Bearden said. “I can’t force them to do anything, so I try my best to be a good educator so they’re able to make the best decision for their health and for themselves.”

Link to the original story by Daniel Gross, published September 2022

community outreach

Carolinas

Giles County Health Fair

ebailey — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 18:35:32 +0000

Giles County Health Fair ebailey Mon, 03/06/2023 - 13:35

Giles County Health Fair

Tags: outreach

Location: Giles County High School (map)

FREE Glucose Check and Lipid Panel
FREE HbA1C for Uninsured Individuals
FREE Medication Checks and Consultation with a Local Pharmacist
Live Speakers for Nutrition, Healthy Relationships and Dealing with
Substance Abuse
Height/Weight/Blood Pressure Checks
FREE Blood Typing
Open Conversations with Practicing Physicians, Nurses and Pharmacists
FREE Vision Screenings

$1,000 in giveaways.

Campus: Virginia

When: March 18, 2023 9:00am to 2:00pm EDT

MMSA Health Fair

ebailey — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 19:51:44 +0000

MMSA Health Fair ebailey Mon, 02/21/2022 - 14:51

MMSA Health Fair

Tags: diversity, outreach

SWAG��ƵMedical Muslim Student Association Presents:

ISNRV HEALTH FAIR 2022

1284 N MAIN ST, BLACKSBURG, VA 24060

Visit the MMSA Health Fair for free check- ups, health awareness talks, and OMM treatments!

More Info (PDF)

Campus: Virginia

When: March 4, 2022 5:00pm to 8:00pm EST

DHEC Recognizes Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine for Community-minded COVID Vaccination Efforts

ebailey — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:26:55 +0000

DHEC Recognizes Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine for Community-minded COVID Vaccination Efforts ebailey Wed, 01/12/2022 - 14:26

DHEC Recognizes Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine for Community-minded COVID Vaccination Efforts

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Representatives from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) this week presented a Community Hero award to the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) for its continued efforts to make lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines available in communities throughout the Upstate, especially in rural and underserved areas.

In March 2021, DHEC partnered with VCOM to co-locate a COVID-19 vaccination clinic within the college’s community health center. Since then, SWAG��Ƶhas administered more than 8,000 COVID-19 vaccines, and the clinic’s staff and students work to promote vaccine outreach and information within the surrounding communities. SWAG��Ƶalso uses its Mobile Medical Unit to reach people in neighborhoods that don’t have nearby access to health care centers or clinics. VCOM’s commitment to helping those in medically-underserved areas supports DHEC’s overarching efforts to help ensure all South Carolinians have evidence-based information needed to make informed decisions about their health and equitable access to great public health and healthcare services, including immunizations like COVID-19 vaccines.

"This partnership with SWAG��Ƶhas been a pleasure because it has been truly a joint effort and everybody's been at the table problem solving, thinking through what works best for all involved and that's been a pleasure,” said Kandi Fredere, DHEC’s Upstate Region Public Health Director. "It benefits our communities when partners come to the table and collaborate. We greatly appreciate the SWAG��Ƶteam and their willingness to work on public health issues.”

SWAG��Ƶis both humbled and honored to receive this award. Receiving this award truly is a testimony to our school’s mission: to be globally minded and community focused to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations…I’m proud to be partnering with DHEC; it’s definitely a wonderful partnership that I hope will continue to grow.

Matthew Cannon, DO, FACOFP , Dean for Carolinas Campus

While SWAG��Ƶfocused on offering COVID-19 vaccines since March 2021, the college also was able to provide routine shots to children to make sure they stayed current on important vaccinations such as measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), tetanus, diphtheria, polio and chicken pox.
SWAG��Ƶis a medical college for osteopathic medicine that provides the full scope of practice, including examination, diagnosis, writing prescriptions, performing surgery and providing musculoskeletal manipulation. Many SWAG��Ƶgraduates pursue primary care residencies to meet the needs of people in nearby communities. Learn more about the college at www.vcom.edu.

Nominating a Community Hero
To nominate a Community Hero for their efforts to be a local leader and support public health actions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, submit a nomination form and a brief description of the nominee’s community involvement. DHEC will regularly announce new Community Heroes and will archive all award recipients online here.

community outreach

Carolinas

Responding to the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

ebailey — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:54:01 +0000

Responding to the Opioid Overdose Epidemic ebailey Thu, 11/18/2021 - 19:54

Responding to the Opioid Overdose Epidemic How medical students joined together to be proactive in helping to save lives

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In September 2020, the Virginia Department of Health reported that drug overdoses in Southwest Virginia were up 11% since the start of 2020. The Class of 2024 at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Virginia campus took this information and chose to make a difference by committing to a goal of 100% participation of their class in naloxone training. While this training was not an academic requirement, the class effort demonstrated the community-minded physicians they plan to be in the future.

Naloxone (or Narcan®) is the only medication approved to block or reverse the life-threatening effects of opioid or narcotic overdoses.

“The opioid crisis in the United States has had a profound impact on the lives of so many. With overdose-related deaths climbing again during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that we need to ensure our rising healthcare professionals feel competent and confident in their ability to intervene in an overdose situation now more than ever,” said Hunter Funk, Class of 2023. “The Class of 2024 reaching 100% participation in our voluntary initiative shows how committed they are to serving the needs of their community, and I am honored to have been part of a training team that shares such a deep passion for substance use awareness.”

Students Set the Goal

During the 2019 and 2020 academic years, two Substance Use Awareness Weeks were led by Class of 2022 students Megan Schlegelmilch, then President of the Emergency Medicine (EM) student organization and Hannah DePoy, then Chair of the Bioethics and Humanities in Medicine Committee. These Awareness Weeks included naloxone training for interested students. Over 200 students, faculty, and staff were trained by the EM student organization.

The EM student organization took this one step farther, hosting a “train the trainer” event, where over 30 students trained to become REVIVE (Virginia’s naloxone training program) trainers.

With overdose-related deaths climbing again during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clear that we need to ensure our rising healthcare professionals feel competent and confident in their ability to intervene in an overdose situation, now more than ever.

Hunter Funk, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2023

DePoy and others became part of the new sub-group within the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), the Overdose Prevention Task Force (OPTF). The vision of the OPTF is to eliminate overdose deaths around the country through osteopathic medical student education, advocacy, and action The organization has worked tirelessly to establish College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) Leaders on every osteopathic campus to further its mission. Last year, Hunter Funk, Ami Shah and Katlyn Logsdon, all Class of 2023 members, led VCOM-Virginia’s Overdose Prevention Task Force (OPTF) COM Leaders. This year’s leaders are: Cynthia Dillon, Gabriel Cox, and Pragna Sutrave, Class of 2024.

“Training students to administer naloxone is essential to fulfilling our duties as future osteopathic physicians. Not only does this program educate individuals on the science behind opiate addiction, but it also aids in de-stigmatization efforts. So many of us either know or are familiar with someone who faced opiate addiction,” said Ami Shah. “Throughout the past year, it has been both a humbling and profound experience to have the opportunity to teach others about the impacts of opiate addiction, naloxone, and the stigma surrounding it. While also learning the stories and motivation behind students to learn more about how we can work together to become more prepared, impactful, future osteopathic physicians.”

The Inspiration Behind the Initiative

Student-doctor DePoy was first introduced to Jean Bennett, PhD. Dr. Bennett has become a source of continued inspiration and assistance in related endeavors and was the first to introduce DePoy to the collaboration between Philadelphia medical schools that yielded naloxone in the pockets of all first-year medical students’ white coats.

Inspired by their successes, this brainchild began growing as DePoy imagined the possibility of bringing together all medical schools in Virginia and West Virginia to achieve this same goal. Supported by Virginia campus Dean Jan Willcox, DO, the VCOM-Virginia COM leaders and Jessica Higgins, the 2020-2021 President of the student Emergency Medicine organization, worked to broaden naloxone training efforts to include ALL first-year VCOM-Virginia students.

“The Revive! training program empowers Virginians to save a life from opiate overdose. As a trainer, I was impressed to see the Class of 2024 step up and take on this commitment, especially under the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic that already made their first year more difficult than most,” said Jessica Higgins, Class of 2023.

Training Programs Uplift Students and Trainers

Due to the pandemic restrictions, students were eager to get involved on campus, even through virtual meetings. From late fall until early spring, numerous small training sessions were held until they reached their goal of 100%. “We were hopeful but realistic that the demands of medical school would likely translate to a lower completion rate. To say that we were blown away by student involvement would be an understatement,” said DePoy.

During training sessions, they would sometimes invite students to share their reasoning for taking the training. Many students reported their desire to gain additional skills that might save a life. Others felt their knowledge regarding OUD, and overdose treatment could be bolstered. But what continued to touch the trainers deeply were the countless students who shared how they had been personally affected by those with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and opioid overdose.

“Even as the child of someone who lived with SUD, I needed the reminder of the pervasiveness of this disorder. SUD knows no bounds, and statistically, not only do many students have loved ones living with SUD, some students, just like practicing physicians, also live with SUD,” said DePoy. “Our calling as osteopathic physicians to address the multidimensional wellness needs of our patients even extends to caring holistically for ourselves and our colleagues.”

DePoy hopes that one-day naloxone training will be implemented into the Basic Life Saver (BLS) course. This training includes CPR and is required for medical school matriculation.

“This osteopathic medical school class, matriculating during a time of social distancing and challenging opportunities to contribute to the community, showed their leadership and committed to 100% participation in Naloxone training. This goal was accomplished before their white coat ceremony. Adding to the impact and significance of this story is the fact that VCOM-Virginia second-and third-year medical students led the training,” said Dean Willcox.

Naloxone training, while only one hour in length, provides students with evidence-based skills to treat opioid overdose while also addressing topics that may promote a non-stigmatized introduction to OUD.

Editors note: This program has now been successful for TWO years. Both the Class of 2024 and now the Class of 2025 became voluntarily trained prior to their respective White Coat Ceremonies.

Hannah DePoy, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2022 student, setting up for the training sessions.

outreach

Virginia

By Cindy Shepard Rawlins -

State Officials Celebrate New COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic with VCOM-Carolinas in Spartanburg’s Northside Community

ebailey — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 19:46:11 +0000

State Officials Celebrate New COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic with VCOM-Carolinas in Spartanburg’s Northside Community ebailey Tue, 03/02/2021 - 14:46

State Officials Celebrate New COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic with VCOM-Carolinas in Spartanburg’s Northside Community New Northside Clinic made possible by partnership with SWAG��Ƶand DHEC

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The northside community in Spartanburg is home to a new COVID-19 vaccination clinic, the latest community-inspired idea in the state’s ongoing efforts to ensure all South Carolinians have fair and equal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) partnered with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to co-locate a COVID-19 vaccination clinic across the street from the college. During the March 1 grand opening of the Northside Clinic, Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Josh Kimbrell joined DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer, SWAG��ƵPresident Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, and local leaders to unveil and tour the new clinic.

I was proud to cut the ribbon at VCOM's Northside Medical Clinic in Spartanburg this morning. Leadership at this facility recognized that they had the ability to help our state's vaccination efforts and got to work. Because of their dedication and cooperation with DHEC, we now have another location in the Upstate for South Carolinians to get their vaccine.

Henry McMaster , Governor of South Carolina

As of March 1, the clinic is accepting appointments for the Moderna vaccine from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Clinic staff and students will also promote vaccine outreach and information within the community.

“We are honored and thrilled to have SWAG��Ƶpartner with South Carolina in expediting future distribution of COVID-19 vaccine, particularly in underserved areas of Spartanburg County,” said Senator Josh Kimbrell. “This is a great example of a public-private partnership that furthers public health.”

In addition to the new clinic, the state’s first “clinic on wheels” is being deployed in Blacksburg utilizing VCOM’s Mobile Medical Unit. DHEC had previously partnered with SWAG��Ƶin the fall of 2020 to make school vaccinations easily accessible to Cherokee County students using VCOM’s Mobile Medical Unit.

SWAG��Ƶis committed for the long term to the mission of reaching out to medically underserved populations. We are so excited right now for the clinic opening in this community and for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP , SWAG��ƵPresident

Individuals who are currently eligible to receive their vaccine can make their appointment at the Northside Clinic by calling 1-866-365-8110 or visiting scdhec.gov/vaxlocator. DHEC, as the enrolled provider for this clinic, receives approximately 250 doses of Moderna vaccine each week. Because the current demand for COVID-19 vaccine significantly outweighs supply in South Carolina and across the country, appointments are limited to the weekly doses available.

“The new Northside Clinic is a prime example of how valuable partnerships are as we all work together to end this pandemic,” said Dr. Simmer, DHEC Director. “Together with SWAG��Ƶand other community partners, we’re focused on putting people first as we continue to roll out COVID-19 vaccines across the state. With our local leaders, partners and community members we can get beyond barriers to meet critical needs and save lives.”

Learn more about VCOM’s Mobile Medical Unit

For the latest COVID-19 vaccine information in South Carolina, visit scdhec.gov/vaxfacts

community outreach

Carolinas

By James Nichols -