Friday, January 24, 1997
STUDENT HEALTH:
Participants say the education, experience gained are
incentivesBy Toni Dimayuga
Daily Bruin Contributor
While most students spend their nights studying or with friends,
there is a small group of those who devote a part of their time to
playing doctor.
Started about 25 years ago by Student Health Services, the
program consists of Student Health Advocates (SHAs) who hold office
hours in their dorm rooms, where they offer services such as
answers to general medical and health questions, peer counseling
and referrals to Student Health Services.
In addition, SHAs provide over-the-counter medication and forms
of contraception, according to Susan Ward, staff advisor for the
SHA program.
Meeting new people and helping others are among the main reasons
students decide to become SHAs, according to Michele Liebowitz.
"I wanted to work one-on-one with people in a community service
sense instead of volunteering at a hospital, where you end up
filing," said Liebowitz, a second-year microbiology student and SHA
at Courtside. "I didn’t want to be working in an office filing
papers … I wanted to interact with people."
Although Sean Patrick Curran, a second-year biology student,
became a SHA to be more involved with dorm life, the job also acts
as a training ground for medical school hopefuls.
"At first, I came in for the experience but the social aspects
have become more important because of the friendships I’ve made,"
he said.
Even though they schedule office hours, most SHAs say that
students visit them at all hours, even waking them in the middle of
the night. But Liebowitz said that she understands.
"You can’t time when you’re going to be sick or hurt," she
said.
SHAs encounter a number of situations ranging from the common
cold to sprained ankles to questions regarding sexual health. At
times, they even have to take students to the emergency room.
"I’ve taken people to the ER for splitting their lip open,"
Curran recalled.
Currently, Student Health Services are holding recruitment
meetings for potential SHAs, Ward said. She emphasized that all
students are welcome to apply.
"It’s really a service-oriented program," she said.
In addition, there is no need to have previous community service
experience, Liebowitz explained. All one needs is the will and
desire to give up personal time to work with people.
Once chosen to be a SHA, students take Community Health Sciences
19, a class aimed at training them in peer counseling,
over-the-counter medications, how to assess symptoms, first aid,
CPR and sexual health, Curran said.
In addition, SHAs attend retreats and participate in other
activities which eventually form a bond between these students.
"It’s not just about helping people with medications, it’s
(about) the other SHAs I meet," Curran said. "We learn from each
other and from each other’s problems."
Liebowitz and Curran both said their stints as SHAs provided
them with a wealth of education and experience.
"The most important thing I learned is interpersonal skills with
people and being able to take a situation and figure out the best
course of action to take," Curran said.
Liebowitz said that she likes the idea of knowing that she is
able to help people with their physical and emotional problems. She
likes the challenges presented to her.
"I’ve met so many different people and (encountered) so many (of
their medical) problems. It’s a wonderful experience," Liebowitz
said.
For more information on SHA recruitment meetings call
825-4730.