About Us Office of the Dean Education Student Services Departments Hospitals Research Admissions Financial Aid Alumni Parents

RI AHEC celebrates National Primary Care Week

On October 21, 2009, the RI AHEC Program Office in conjunction with Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, RI Department of Health Office of Primary Care and the three regional RI AHEC programs celebrated National Primary Care Week. Dr. Jeffrey Borkan, Chair, Department of Family Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island was guest speaker. Dr Borkan discussed the concept of PCMH: Primary Care Medical Home and the importance of training health care providers for this type of primary care. Several students who received funding from RI AHEC for their projects this past year, presented the results of their various endeavors. Some of the topics included: use of interpreters in a clinical setting, senior wellness, lead poisoning among refugees in Providence, nutrition in the homeless and teen pregnancy/sex education. The students themselves represent a variety of health professions and educational institutions, including University of Rhode Island School of Nursing, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Rhode Island College, Stonehill College and Alpert Medical School Brown University. The students from URI and Mass College of Pharmacy worked collaboratively on their project, "Food intake, obesity, and nutritional risk among the homeless in Rhode Island". The presentations were inspiring and informative. In all, the celebration of National Primary Care Week was enjoyable and instructive.