Daytona Beach
42 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
Regional Campus News
Daytona Beach
George Bernardo, M. D. Dean, Daytona Beach Regional Campus
Healthy kids: Healthy future
The Little Healthy Heroes program is up and running at the Daytona Beach Regional Campus, thanks to a grant from the Chapman Community Health Program, a College of Medicine student-run health outreach organization. As part of the program, third-year medical students Brittney Jabot, Chris Rushing, Katelyn Kirves and Kristine Luz visited Horizon Elementary to speak to the fourth-grade class about health topics. Two sessions have been completed so far, with topics ranging from healthy eating and oral care to good hand hygiene.
New physician assistant students get a warm welcome
Regional Campus Dean Dr. George Bernardo, top, center, is flanked by Campus Administrator Andrea La Douceur, left, and Clinical Coordinator Niki Wolcott, right. They join third-year medical students welcoming 11 new PA students to campus during the Wellness Social at PopStroke for a day of fun, fellowship and mini-golf.
A room full of happy students at Horizon Elementary greet third-year medical students Kristine Luz, Katelyn Kirves, Brittney Jabot and Chris Rushing. The medical students are taking part in the Little Healthy Heroes program, traveling to the school once a month for five months to present a variety of health-related topics.
Third-year medical student Brittney Jabot actively engages students during the presentation.
One teddy bear and compassionate care go a long way
Following an in-house Teddy Bear Workshop at the regional campus, Kay Kulkarni, Ph. D., the mother of a medical student, mentioned to staff that her developmentally disabled son, Sumvit, had undergone a variety of heart procedures. The traumatic experience led to his fear of doctors and medical equipment, like stethoscopes. Kulkarni wished there was a similar program for her son. Medical student David Labissiere, who has experience working with similar children, suggested a 1-on-1 Teddy Bear Workshop with Sumvit at the hospital, along with his parents and brother.
Success! A couple weeks later the regional campus staff received a text from Kulkarni with photos of a happy and more relaxed Sumvit, following his cardiac visit with his doctors and nurses at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. He had his teddy bear and stethoscope, and his mom reported it was a much better experience for him and they were so grateful.