LEBANON, Oregon – More than 50 COMP-Northwest medical students and four faculty members volunteered their time Saturday, August 22, 2015, completing health screenings at the Asian Health and Service Center’s (AHSC) 14th Annual Health Fair in Portland.
COMP-Northwest helped screen approximately 350 participants at two stations. At one station, the medical students performed general physical health screenings, including body mass index, glucose levels, and vital signs. Those with musculoskeletal dysfunctions were treated with Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments (OMT). At a separate station, COMP-Northwest students, in partnership with Oregon Health & Science University’s Let’s Get Healthy program, measured participants’ cholesterol levels, glucose levels, and blood pressure, and also consulted participants on their screening results.
The students’ work was overseen by COMP-Northwest faculty members John T. Pham, DO, Robyn Dreibelbis, DO, and Ed Goering, DO, as well as COMP and COMP-Northwest Dean Paula M. Crone, DO. “This year we did a lot more OMT with Dr. Goering,” Pham said. “I really enjoyed watching Dean Crone as she demonstrated OMT techniques to her students while treating a participant.”
For the past four years, Pham has led the charge to get volunteers from COMP-Northwest for the annual event. He volunteered with the AHSC for several years prior to joining COMP-Northwest. This year, COMP-Northwest second-year medical student Amber Ng helped coordinate student involvement.
Pham said many participants were uninsured. “We found a few participants who had significantly high blood pressure. Now having identified their health care needs, AHSC will follow up with the participants and have them referred to the appropriate health care provider,” he added.
COMP-Northwest students took a team approach while assessing their participants. First-year medical students served as scribes and charted for the second-year students, while second-year students performed the physical exams and third-year students helped oversee the work. “In this way, students learn by the classic medical training model of: see one, do one, teach one,” Pham said.
Representatives from Oregon Health & Science University and Pacific University also volunteered at the screening. FamilyCare Health Plans was one of the major sponsors of the event.
“This was a great opportunity and privilege for us to partner with the Asian Health and Service Center and provide health screenings for the Asian community,” Pham said.
“Participants were very appreciative of the care they received, while our students got a special opportunity to serve the Asian community.”
More information about the Asian Health & Service Center can be found by visiting www.ahscpdx.org.
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About Western University of Health Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences (www.westernu.edu), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Oregon, is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in biomedical sciences, dental medicine, health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to the Patient Care Center, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered. The Chronicle of Higher Education named WesternU a Great College to Work For in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
