Friday, April 21, 2017

LUCOM-SOMA hosts heart healthy workshop for local elementary school

Fri, 07 Apr 2017Asa Keimig | LUCOM Marketing

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) – Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) visited Tomahawk Elementary School for the third year in a row on Friday, March 31, and taught young second-graders the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.

Student-Doctor Noemi Bermudez, Class of 2019, LUCOM-SOMA’s former Membership Director was responsible for the organization of the event, travel arrangements for students, and the preliminary meetings prior to the workshop. “Our expectations for this event was for students to interact with children and convey the message that their health matters and they can do things that will improve it. This type of event allows us to reach out to the community and educate children about heart health.”

The Heart Healthy Workshop at Tomahawk Elementary School provided opportunities for LUCOM students to serve a part of the Lynchburg community, to raise awareness about the osteopathic medical profession, and to raise awareness of heart health. Student-Doctors were able to practice communicating with children at a level in which they could understand all while making it fun and interactive. “I had the opportunity to talk to the teachers about osteopathic medicine and all of the teachers were impressed by the medical students,” said Bermudez. “It speaks volumes about our commitment to service and humility when we take time from our busy schedules to hang out with children with the hope that we will make a lasting impact on their health and lives overall.”

LUCOM student-doctors will have a pediatrics rotation during their third-year and many will interact with children throughout their future practice. The student-doctors learn that children are receptive and not as intimidating as some may think. It allows them to let their guards down and even be silly, which is important especially when trying to get important points across to children.

“This event helped us primarily in the sense of seeing what an aspect of preventative medicine can look like,” said student-doctor Vaneesha Patel, Class of 2019. “So many diseases related to the heart that are common in the United States could be prevented and it helped us realize that as we progress in our career, preventable medicine is vital and there is never an age that is too young to start educating people about a healthy lifestyle.”

View images of the workshop at Facebook.com/LibertyMedicine.