SMART Move
The Medical School partners with Central Falls schools to spark early interest in health careers .
LAST FALL , STUDENTS IN CENTRAL FALLS STARTED LEARNING MORE about how good health impacts every aspect of life — and how they can someday become health care professionals .
Calcutt Middle School is now home to a SMART Health and Wellness Clinic and the inaugural site for SMART Plus , an initiative led by The Warren Alpert Medical School that ’ s designed to spark early interest in health and medicine careers .
Joseph Diaz , MD , MPH , associate dean for diversity and multicultural affairs at the Medical School , says the medical education component is particularly important given Central Falls ’ federal designation as having a shortage of health professionals in relation to the population .
“ We are extremely excited about the opportunity to introduce Central Falls students to a variety of careers in health care and to increase their sense of possibility in terms of what types of professional futures are available to them ,” Diaz says . “ This opportunity provides students access to ongoing mentorship and conversations about health and health care careers .”
Calcutt ’ s SMART clinic , funded by The Warren Alpert Foundation , joins established SMART clinics at two Providence schools . Taking the place of a traditional nurse ’ s office , the clinics are “ a more dynamic , integrative way to think of health in educational spaces ,” says Luckson Omoaregba , MS , director of pathways programs at the Medical School .
SMART clinic staff — including nurse practitioners , social workers , and other health professionals — identify and address the physical , behavioral , social , and emotional risks to classroom success , then design and deliver interventions through on-site , real-time health services . They treat all students without regard to insurance or immigration status .
The clinic is “ trying to meet every need that students might have while they ’ re in school . Students don ’ t learn if they don ’ t feel well , if they ’ re not in the right mental health headspace ,” Omoaregba says .
Calcutt ’ s SMART clinic staff are from the surrounding community , he adds . In the future they plan to offer opportunities for medical students and residents to assist with clinical treatment .
FROM CLINIC TO CLASSROOM
DAVID UPEGUI , PHD , A SCIENCE TEACHER AT CENTRAL FALLS HIGH school , has for years invited Warren Alpert medical students to speak to his classes . Last year , for example , Diaz and student Carey Favaloro visited his class on anatomy and physiology , relating the subject to the work of examining patients and making diagnoses .
“ Because of their experience and knowledge as medical professionals , they could augment my teaching — for example , they could talk about case studies and situations they ’ ve dealt with in a clinical capacity ,” Upegui says . The SMART Plus pathways program formalizes these connections and reaches even more students , he adds .
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