Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Wed, 30 Sep 2015 | Shelley Andrews | LUCOM Marketing and PR
Even on game day, student-doctors at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) are continuing to prepare for their futures in the medical field.
LUCOM student-doctors and faculty have set up a “mini-medical clinic” near Williams Stadium before home football games to conduct health screenings for students, families and fans. More than 40 people took advantage of the service during the first two home games.
Student-doctor Zack Jensen, Class of 2018 and President of LUCOM-Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO), one of the student organizations participating in providing the service, expressed some of the reasons for his involvement during an interview. “I enjoyed talking to the fans because it supports one of the principle focuses of medical school; getting us ready to care for patients. Talking to the fans reminds me what I’m aiming for as a student-doctor,” said Jensen.
David Klink, D.O., Chairman of the Department of Specialty Medicine, is leading the group of different student-doctors. “They’re not only honing their diagnostic skills, but also their people skills,” said Dr. Klink.
The main screenings they have administered so far include blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass indexes (BMI). Dr. Klink says this is because Obesity, Hypertension and Diabetes are primary contributors to heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Being silent conditions for much of their natural history, many people are not aware that they have the conditions.
“By identifying individuals at risk and advising them to be evaluated by their primary care physicians, we can help improve their health now and into the future,” said Dr. Klink.
Another goal of the health screenings is to further build the relationship between LUCOM, the Lynchburg community and the citizens of the region.
“LUCOM is not just the building on the hill. These screenings are just one of many avenues of service we do to help our fellow man and to fulfill our mission,” said Troy Burnett, LUCOM Associate Director of Student Services.
Jensen is looking forward to future opportunities to be involved in the screenings as well as strengthening LUCOM’s ties with the area. “Our school is new, so getting the community involved is a big step in building future relationships.