Student Health Fair Tops in Outreach
An IUSM student program to help the needy has garnered national attention from the American Medical Student Association Foundation.
The foundation recognized IU medical students and residents for the Best Community Outreach National Primary Care Week Project for 2004. The award is presented annually to a U.S. medical school having the largest participation in activities and programs designed to serve the poor.
Last October, the Internal Medicine Student Interest Group organized a week-long series of presentations from community health-care experts. The week was capped with a community health fair at a downtown Indianapolis clinic. More than 100 medical students and residents provided free health screenings and offered health education and safety information to the needy.
“With the increasing number of uninsured patients and need for adequate health care in our country, it’s important for future physicians to consider primary care careers,” says fourth-year medical student Shannon Gearhart, who organized many of the week’s activities. She cites the support of the Indiana Area Health Education Center was instrumental in making the project a success.
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