Sigma Chapter October/November 2023 Newsletter

Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter

Vol. 2: Oct & Nov 2023

DELTA EPSILON MU-SINGS Loyalty

Dedication

Friendship

Support

“DEMs-giving,” aka the Sankofa Potluck

In This Edition...

professional development

community involement

social

feature topic

Hi everyone!

Welcome to our second newsletter of the year, and what a year it’s shaping out to be! We have to much to be grateful for here at the Sigma Chapter.

Keep reading to see why :) With LDFS, Lizzie Pittman

Featuring: Healthcare and Communication For we are known by the tracks we leave.

Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter

Vol. 2: Oct & Nov 2023

OUR DEDICATION

COMMUNITY INVOLEMENT Serving

Austin, TX

VOLUNTEERING Our Austin cold front didn’t stop us from serving our community at any chance we could!

Our DEMbers came together to help out at the fan favorite Austin Heart Walk and Light the Night events. At a new event this semester, we danced the night away with Sam’s Adventure Camp!

Outside of DEM, our members dedicate their time at: See More - Texas Victims Advocate Network - Casa Marianella - Camp CAMP - KIND Clinic

Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter

Vol. 2: Oct & Nov 2023

OUR DEDICATION

COMMUNITY INVOLEMENT

Drive

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16TH In October, we hosted our first DEM service event, coordinated by our Volunteer Chair Sami Khan.

Over 40 people donated blood, and we hope to double this

Blood

number next Spring!

Its’ the most daunting patients you’ll

u t u S re

ever meet: Mr. and Mrs. Banana.

In this community-wide event, we gave DEM-bers and friends the opportunity to practice suturing techniques on their ripe, squishy patients. Thank you to our Academic Chair Valeria Trevino for organizing this entertaining and insightful event with Kaplan Test Prep!

MORE EVENTS COMING NEXT SPRING! in the mean time, you can find us at the pcl.

cinilC

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16TH

Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter

Vol. 2: Oct & Nov 2023

OUR FRIENDSHIP

SOCIAL!

rs e t s i n Mi !

Of F un

Throughout the semester, one of our primary goals was to increase bonding in our organization. Our wonderful Director of Prospects, Allie Benson and Sandhya Maddali, have hosted weekly events after meetings to carry out this goal. Some of our largest events included playing video games, pumpkin painting, and gift making. These events have been a much loved way to spend our Tuesday evenings!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH

Texas-OU

What a great way to enjoy each’s other presence while cheering on our Longhorns in Dallas, TX! Win or lose, the memories we made were unbeatable.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH At one of our largest gatherings of the year, we put on our best costumes and banded together for Halloween! We loved getting to see everyone’s creative side come out.

Hallo ween

Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter

Vol. 2: Oct & Nov 2023

COMMUNICATION & HEALTHCARE “It’s a medication used for anxiety and depression.”

“Depression? What is that? I need a cholesterol medication.”

Working in a pharmacy, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with the largest barrier of all: language.

Spanish or American Sign Language, we can manage, although we’ll often have to hand our task off to another staff member. Anything else, and we might as well be communicating through two cups in two states with a single string attached.

Language is more than just a difference between the spoken tongue of individuals. It can be a difference in class understanding, medical knowledge, and more. Nurses reported that digital interpreters do not flow well into the work environment, and hindered patient-provider relationships. Evidence has also indicated that acting as an interpreter for your parents in medical situations may cause increased anxiety and anger in adolescence. Verbal translation is not the only issue facing our patients today. Individuals from underserved populations often feel like they are being spoken to with no room for their opinion or questions. Medical professionals may treat these individuals as if they are a burden to their schedule, rather than someone who deserves genuine care. Without medical knowledge or personal access to a provider, understanding treatment regimens can be frustrating and difficult. These situations could be detrimental to your long-term livelihood if you don’t have a clear understanding of your body and your health.

As future healthcare professionals, how can we decrease communication barriers and improve patient experience? Most importantly, make time for yourself! Consistent relaxation puts you in the best mindset to be with your patients by helping to keep an open mind for their perspectives and feelings. Choose a work environment that matches your values, and treats you as well as you’d like your patients to be treated. If you can, participate in advocacy groups to improve public policy, or gain conversational status in a new language. And finally, approach each patient with a smile–– even those patients,

We Will Forever Be Known By the Tracks We Leave.

-Dakota Sioux Tribe Make sure that your tracks are good ones.

Reach out to your historian for sources and more information!

Sigma Chapter Alumni Newsletter

Vol. 2: Oct & Nov 2023

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR,

TEXAS DEM SIGMA!

, With ldfs

Your Executive Board