July 21, 2009

• Artur Davis to address new medical students

• Team-building challenge course

• Students will conduct health screenings for the under-served

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  The incoming Class of 2013 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine will engage in orientation activities, July 27-31, that include community service, a team-building course and a visit from U.S. Rep. Artur Davis (D). 

Congressman Davis, representing Alabama's 7th Congressional District, will address the 176 members of the Class of 2013 at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 27 in Volker Hall. Davis will discuss health-care reform, the challenges of health care in rural and disadvantaged areas and the future of medicine.

The team-building challenge is planned for Tuesday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 29 in the Campus Recreation Center. 

"The practice of medicine is very much a team concept," said Stephen Smith, Ph.D., director of Student Success Programs for the School of Medicine. "Every day, physicians interact with a variety of teammates  - other doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists - a whole host of health-care professionals. Increasingly, patients are recognized as a critical part of their own health-care team."

The program, developed by the Counselor Education Program in the School of Education, helps students learn to capitalize on the strengths of each member of a group, while learning to help each other overcome weaknesses.

"Teamwork is the primary goal," said Lawrence Tyson, Ph.D., associate professor of Counselor Education. "The quiet follower needs to learn leadership skills while the aggressive leader must understand that all members of a group bring valuable skills to a project. The teamwork of this core group should let them learn from the skill sets of each other."

On Friday, July 31, the majority of the incoming students will participate in health screenings at area shelters and other locations organized by Equal Access Birmingham, a medical student group that provides health services and education to the under-served.  The screenings, held from 1:30 to 3:30 at seven sites, will offer blood-pressure checks, glucose screens, body-mass-index measurements, information on smoking-cessation and nutrition and references to available health resources in the community.         

"Participation in these free health screenings will be a valuable experience for our incoming medical students," said Suzanne McCluskey, co-president of Equal Access Birmingham and a second-year medical student. "Before they even begin their class work, they will have an opportunity to interact with patients and see firsthand some of the problems, challenges and rewards inherent in the practice of medicine."

Course work for the Class of 2013 begins on Monday, Aug. 3.