12th Street Health & Wellness Center | UAMS Interprofessional Education

The Interprofessional Fresh Food Coalition began in the spring of 2015, when a group of students started bringing fresh produce to the patients at the 12th Street Health and Wellness Center. On six different clinic nights over the summer of 2015, 12th Street patients were able to take a bag of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage and more home with them after receiving medical care at the Center. The Central Arkansas Library System generously donated the produce from their teaching garden at the Children’s Library. Jon Bierman, the gardener at the Children’s Library, has supplied more than just vegetables — he also has been a great source of expertise, encouragement and enthusiasm for IFFC students.

Also during the spring of 2015, IFFC students received a grant from the UAMS College of Pharmacy’s Women’s Giving Circle. The $500 grant paid for building supplies for a garden box on campus. Cheri Goforth, the UAMS Director of Campus Life and Student Support Services, and Penny Talbert, the UAMS Grounds Manager, graciously allowed IFFC to locate their garden on the south side of the South Dorm.

In late July and early August, student volunteers built the 30′ x 4′ x 2′ box and filled it with soil. In late August, with seeds supplied by Jon at CALS, student volunteers planted a fall garden. Fall crops at the UAMS garden include carrots, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, lettuce, radishes, cilantro, spinach, and basil.

Melissa Clark, Pharm.D., MPH, is the IFFC faculty adviser. Any student can join the IFFC by signing up at this link:

https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=1873403773

If you are interested in learning more about the IFFC, you can contact Erin Puryear at epuryear@uams.edu.

The student leadership of the 12th Street Health & Wellness Center is pleased to announce our most recent Specialty Clinic event. On Thursday, September 10, 2015, the volunteer staff at 12th Street HWC held a Women’s Health specialty clinic. Patients were offered pelvic exams, Pap smears, and breast exams. Patients at the Women’s Health clinic were also offered the opportunity to schedule a free mammogram through the UAMS MammoVan.

This is the first of four women’s health clinics to be held this academic year as part of the 12^th Street Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). The WHI seeks to expand basic women’s health services at 12^th Street, including STD testing, pelvic examinations, Pap smears, HPV testing, thyroid testing, breast examination, patient education on breast self-exams, and mammograms.

The WHI is a two-year plan created by the student leadership of 12^th Street. The two year plan is as follows:

1. WHI Year 1 Goals, Academic Year 2015-16:

• Hold quarterly Women’s Health Nights at 12^th Street, during which pelvic examinations, Pap smears, and breast exams are available

• Have mammograms available at 12^th Street at least twice via the UAMS Mobile MammoVan, with a goal of 40 mammograms performed

• Investigate offering women’s health services as part of regular clinic nights, including budgeting,precepting, cytopathology, and referrals for women who need advanced treatment

2. WHI Year 2 Goals, Academic Year 2016-17:

• Based on feasibility as assessed during Year 1, offer women’s health services as often as is

practicable for each service;

• Host the UAMS MammoVan at least four times, with a goal of 80 mammograms performed

• Create preceptor relationships, institutional partnerships, and funding sources that will allow the

WHI to continue into 2018 and beyond

Progress is Sprouting up for the Interprofessional Fresh Food Coalition

12th Street Health & Wellness Center Student Leadership holds Women’s Specialty Clinic