North Carolina Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Inc

THE NORTH CAROLINA ALBERT SCHWEITZER FELLOWSHIP, INC. (NCASF) PROVIDED FELLOWSHIPS TO 27 GRADUATE LEVEL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS WHO LED 14 PROJECTS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA. PROJECTS:PROGRAM 1: TEACHING OLDER ADULTS IN EAST WINSTON-SALEM ABOUT FALL PREVENTION. THEY ARE PROVIDING MOBILE FALL RISK SCREENING TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A FALL INCLUDING ASSESSMENT OF BALANCE AND VISION. THEY WILL ALSO OFFER CLIENTS FREE AND LOW-COST RESOURCES FOR FOLLOW UP SERVICES TO IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY, AMBULATION, AND OVERALL HEALTH.PROGRAM 2: PROVIDING FREE DENTAL TREATMENT AND ORAL HYGIENE EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS IN AN EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTER IN DURHAM, NC THROUGH SMILE MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC WHICH IS UNC ADAMS SCHOOL OF DENTISTRYS FIRST MOBILE DENTISTRY CLINIC. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A 2022-23 SCHWEITZER PROJECT.PROGRAM 3: LEADING AN ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR BLACK AND HISPANIC MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS TO IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS IN NURTURING CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM, MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES, AND DEFINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.PROGRAM 4: SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LOW-INCOME AND HAVE RECENTLY UNDERGONE TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY GENERAL SURGERY. THEY WILL PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, WOUND CARE GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT FOR FOOD SECURITY TO REDUCE POST-SURGICAL FINANCIAL TOXICITY. THE FELLOWS, ALONG WITH A TEAM OF STUDENT AMBASSADORS, WILL ALSO CONDUCT WEEKLY CHECK-INS WITH EACH PATIENT TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SUPPORT, APPOINTMENT REMINDERS, EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS, AND RESOURCE CONNECTION TO PROMOTE IMPROVED POST-SURGICAL OUTCOMES AND SUPPORT PATIENTS RETURN TO INDEPENDENCE.PROGRAM 5: PARTNERING WITH PIEDMONT HEALTH SERVICES (PHS), A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, TO SEND MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS TO THE RURAL MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS OF CHATHAM, ALAMANCE, CASWELL, AND LEE COUNTIES TO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE. THEY WILL PROVIDE REFERRALS TO THE NEAREST PHS CLINIC FOR ANY NECESSARY FOLLOW-UP CARE.PROGRAM 6: LEADING A FREE STUDENT-RUN OPHTHALMOLOGY CLINIC FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THEY ARE WORKING WITH ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO UTILIZE EXISTING CONNECTIONS AND EXPAND CARE IN A FAMILIAR SETTING WITH AN ONGOING COMMUNITY AND STUDENT GROUP POOL. THE CLINIC WILL BE STAFFED BY OPHTHALMOLOGY ATTENDINGS AND RESIDENTS ALONGSIDE MEDICAL STUDENTS. THE CLINIC WILL PROVIDE VISUAL SCREENING EXAMS, REFERRALS FOR FOLLOW UP CARE, AND CORRECTIVE EYEWEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL AND REMOTE ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF A 2022-23 SCHWEITZER FELLOWSHIP PROJECT.PROGRAM 7: CREATING A NEW STUDENT-LED NARCAN TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PITT, CRAVEN, AND JONES COUNTIES. THEY ARE DESIGNING AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE TO TRAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE REGION IN PREVENTION, IDENTIFICATION, AND TREATMENT OF OVERDOSE USING NARCAN ADMINISTRATION. THEY ARE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH EKIM FOR CHANGE TO TAILOR THE TRAININGS TO BEST MEET THE NEEDS OF THE HIGHEST RISK POPULATIONS WHILE SERVING REGULARLY IN THE ORGANIZATIONS HARM REDUCTION CLINICS. EMBEDDED IN THEIR TRAINING IS CURRICULUM TO DESTIGMATIZE AND NORMALIZE INCORPORATION OF NARCAN INTO EVERYDAY FIRST AID KITS.PROGRAM 8: EDUCATING UNDERSERVED PREGNANT WOMEN ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH AND DENTAL CARE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH PITT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS (PCHD) PRENATAL PROGRAM. THEY WILL TEACH ORAL HYGIENE WORKSHOPS AND CREATE A REFERRAL PROGRAM FROM PITT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ECU SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE (SODM) TO HELP PATIENTS ESTABLISH A DENTAL HOME.PROGRAM 9: LAUNCHING A SKIN CANCER PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR VULNERABLE FORSYTH COUNTY POPULATIONS. THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE DOWNTOWN HEALTH PLAZA TO PROVIDE FREE SKIN CHECKS, TEACH PATIENTS HOW TO PERFORM SELF SKIN-SCREENING, AND ENCOURAGE THE WEARING OF FREE SUN PROTECTIVE MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH IMPACT MELANOMA.PROGRAM 10: IMPLEMENTING AN ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAM CALLED THE CAVITY-FREE ZONE TO EMPOWER CHILDREN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE ORAL HEALTH AND OVERALL WELL-BEING. THEY AIM TO INCREASE DENTAL LITERACY AND ESTABLISH A DENTAL HOME FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.PROGRAM 11: LAUNCHING A CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH INTERVENTION FOR PATIENTS AT THE ECU PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION UNIT FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUALIZED GOAL SETTING, NUTRITION EDUCATION, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.PROGRAM 12: LEADING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IN-PERSON PSYCHIATRIC INTAKE VISITS FOR INMATES BOOKED AT THE EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS (EBCI) CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. GIVEN THE BURDEN OF SUBSTANCE USE AND DRUG-RELATED CHARGES IN THE POPULATION, FURTHER EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE INCORPORATED SUCH AS MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT), AND THE COORDINATION OF LONG-TERM TREATMENT FOLLOWING DISCHARGE FROM THE DETENTION CENTER. PROGRAM 13: PARTNERING WITH THE UNC ORAL MEDICINE CLINIC TO HELP WOMEN GET DIAGNOSED EARLIER BY LOOKING AT THE ORAL SYMPTOMS OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES LIKE PAINFUL ULCERS AND CHRONIC DRY MOUTH SO THEY CAN BEGIN TREATMENT. WE WILL ALSO BE TRAINING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE ORAL SYMPTOMS OF THESE DISEASES.PROGRAM 14: CREATING POSTPARTUM PARTNERS, A VOLUNTEER POSTPARTUM DOULA PROGRAM THAT SERVES PARENTS OF COLOR IN DURHAM AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THEY WILL FACILITATE POSTPARTUM DOULA TRAINING FOR DUKE HEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS AND PARTNER WITH MAAME, INC, A LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED DOULA AGENCY, TO PAIR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS WITH LOW-INCOME FAMILIES OF COLOR REQUESTING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AFTER CHILDBIRTH. STUDENT VOLUNTEERS WILL PROVIDE THREE MONTHS OF POSTPARTUM DOULA SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE, INCLUDING SUPPORT WITH NEWBORN CARE, INFANT FEEDING, HOUSEHOLD TASKS, AND PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALING AFTER BIRTH.