Sojourner Health Clinic, the student-run free health clinic for Kansas City’s inner-city homeless population, celebrated a successful year that saw more than 700 patient visits with a banquet and dinner on March 9 at Diastole.
Nearly 40 volunteers, financial supporters and community partners attended the event that included Charles Spencer, MS 6, clinic director, presenting awards for service and leadership.
More than 200 students have volunteered their time to operate the clinic since it opened in October of 2004. Faculty physicians and resident physicians from Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill, Truman Medical Center Lakewood and Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City also volunteer their time to supervise and support the students’ efforts.
Student gave 1,400 volunteer hours to the clinic in the past year, up 400 hours from the previous year. The clinic at the Grand Avenue United Methodist Temple is open from noon to 3:30 p.m. each Sunday.
This year’s awards included:
Most hours volunteered – Maria Uloko, MS 2, Ripa Patel, MS 2, Craig Raphael, MS 3, Nikoo Cheraghi, MS 4, Anant Kharod, MS 5, and Sarah Beck, MS 4
Brook Nelson Award for outstanding leadership – Ashwini Poola, MS 4, and Vanessa Smith, MS 3
Dan Purdom Award for outstanding commitment – Sheela Vivekanandan, MS 4, Ashley Mann, MS 6, Krys Sully, MS 5
Ellen Beck Award for physician providing outstanding commitment and inspiration to the clinic – Angela Barnett, M.D., clinical assistant professor of community and family medicine.
The UMKC School of Pharmacy also presented awards to Rachel Sass, year 4 pharmacy, for outstanding leadership in volunteer coordination, and to Kyle Cline, year 5 pharmacy, for most valuable volunteer.
To see more photos from the banquet go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/UMKC-School-of-Medicine/156658154449#!/album.php?fbid=10150124336549450&id=156658154449&aid=293368
