Student Health NEWS Updates on Medical Care and Counseling and Mental Health Services for USC Students
NEW VENDING MACHINE GIVES STUDENTS 24-HOUR ACCESS TO HEALTH PRODUCTS Health issues can arise at any time. And college students, who can keep less conventional hours, may be more likely to need an Advil or a condom late night than between the hours of 9 and 5. That was the idea behind a new vending machine available to students 24 hours a day through a partnership between USC Student Health and USC Pharmacy. Instead of snacks, the machine stocks a variety of over-the-counter pharmacy products at its King Hall location, starting this spring semester. The machine, stocked with both general and reproductive health products, was first proposed by students in Undergraduate Student Government as a way to make emergency contraception, like Plan B, accessible to students after campus pharmacies have closed. Similar vending machines have appeared in recent years on the campuses of Stanford University and UC Davis. “We thought it was important for students to have around-the-clock access to emergency contraception on campus,” said Andie Wright, director of wellness affairs for USG. Sarah Van Orman, chief medical officer and associate vice provost for USC Student Health, was immediately on board with bringing one to USC after meeting with student leaders last spring. She and Kari Trotter Wall, director of pharmacy for the USC Pharmacy and Health Center Pharmacy, agreed that students might need a number of other pharmacy items at odd hours as well. Beginning January 2019, the “wellness-to-go” machine will be open for business with everything from Ibuprofen and thermometers to pregnancy tests and (continued on page 3)
SPRING 2019
New Faces in Health Care at USC
Pictured l. to r.—top row, Robert Mendola; second row, Erin Jones, Heather Needham, Anne Michels; third row, Vladimir Ayvazyan, Sarah Van Orman, Deirdre Logan
U
SC Student Health, part of Keck Medicine of USC, has grown its clinical staff considerably in the 2018-2019 academic year. Under the leadership of nationally recognized college health expert Dr. Sarah Van Orman, USC Student Health has expanded services, enhanced student access to care, and demonstrated its commitment to the highest standards in health care. Van Orman, who spent the last decade improving student wellness at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as executive director of university health services, has a successful track record addressing critical public health issues such as sexual misconduct and assault, risky alcohol use and mental health challenges in the college student population. As associate vice provost for student health and chief medical officer for USC Student Health, Van Orman recruited Dr. Robert Mendola, board certified in psychiatry, to head mental health and counseling services. In the past year, USC Student Health has brought on two new gynecologists, three new adolescent medicine physicians, and 10 new counselors – all of whom are board certified and hold faculty appointments in the Keck School of Medicine of (continued on page 2)
STUDENT HEALTH NEWS
(New Faces continued from page 1) USC. Among USC Student Health’s new physicians: Dr. Anne Michels came to USC from Kaiser Permanente, where she was a partner physician and lead for the quality and peer-review process for the OBGYN department. The full-time OB-GYN says providing care to a college student population gives her the opportunity to educate young women on how their bodies work, how to protect themselves from STDs or pregnancy, and how to take care of themselves. “I want to empower and educate the young women in my care,” she said. Dr. Deirdre Logan, who earned her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of USC and her master’s in medical management from the USC Marshall School of Business, is an advocate for equity in women’s health care. She joins USC Student Health as its second full-time OB-GYN after 14 years at Watts Health-
SPRING 2019
care, a community clinic providing health care and services for patients with little to no insurance.
“Students should know we’re always here to help.” —Dr. Erin Jones Dr. Erin Jones is USC’s new adolescent and young adult physician. She most recently completed a two-year fellowship at UC San Francisco, where she cared for a wide range of student health needs, from birth control to eating disorders, and substance abuse to transgender gender-affirming hormone treatment. Her message to USC students: “Some of our students might be nervous about coming to us, but they should know we’re always here to help and to be a sounding board for them.” Dr. Heather Needham, a Keck School of Medicine alumna, returned to Los Angeles returns after practicing adolescent and
Don’t turn your back. Insist on being counted.
young adult medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital and serving as assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. She says she wants her young adult patients to know they are in a safe space to say what’s on their minds without fear of being judged. She also encourages students to remember self-care and to do things they enjoy. “Having an activity or hobby helps to reduce your stress, which is important for your overall health,” she said. Dr. Vladimir Ayvazyan, who is board certified in internal medicine and received his medical degree from Ross University, Dominica, is passionate about disease prevention and helping his patients achieve a healthy life balance between diet, exercise, schoolwork, and time with friends and family. “I look forward to helping students prevent problems early on so that they can get a handle on an already existing chronic condition or prevent a disease from progressing,” said Ayvazyan.
The 2019 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct begins April 2 #PictureAllOfUs
Watch your email. Click on the link. Own your experience. Take the survey.
STUDENT HEALTH NEWS
VOLUME 01
(Vending Machine continued from page 1) emergency contraception. “Students who may be experiencing symptoms of a cold or need something as simple as a Band-Aid in the middle of the night will have access to health care products. It’s also important that students who choose to be sexually active have access to condoms and emergency contraception with no barriers,” Van Orman said. “Having this available 24/7 on campus removes barriers for them.” Staff of USC Pharmacies will maintain the machine’s contents, so USC students will have agency over their health and well-being at all hours of the day. “At USC Pharmacy, we’re always looking for new ways to better serve students and make it easier for students to access the medications, clinical services and health resources they need,” said Raffi Svadjian, executive director for USC Pharmacies. “From a pharmacy point of view, we were happy to help bring the vending
A Community of Support — Group therapy offers the opportunity to gain new skills and insights while connecting with like-minded peers. USC Student Health has numerous student support groups facilitated by counseling professionals in a safe, non-judgmental space. A sample of current groups includes:
Available 24 hours, the pharmacy machine in King Hall dispenses health products for students.
option to the USC student population,” said Trotter Wall. “We know that students’ time is valuable and always aim to assist them with their health needs in an efficient manner.” Students can find the new vending machine in the lobby of King Hall, just next to Starbucks at Café 84.
Drop-In Counseling
• Calm Your Anxiety • Bipolar Support • Yoga as Healing • Peace with Food • Gender Spectrum Support • Mindfulness Skills for Daily Living • Women of Color • Befriending Perfectionism • Managing Mood For information about joining a group, call 213-740-9355 (WELL).
TOGETHER WE CAN BEAT
THE FLU
“Feel Better” Workshops WEDNESDAYS 2-3PM & EVERY THURSDAY 4-5PM — Trojan Conference Room (Engemann Student Health Center, 1st floor) These workshops are open to all students who would like to learn basic coping skills for managing stress and adversity. Topics range from adjusting to college and preventing procrastination to calming anxiety and improving relationships.
“Let’s Talk” for International Students EVERY THIRD WEDNESDAY 6-7PM — Location TBD Join other international students for a casual discussion about common adjustment challenges, managing stress and connecting with others.
“Let’s Talk” Drop-In Sessions Drop in and chat with a counselor at any of the locations and times below.
Get the vaccine Wash your hands —
(UPC) MONDAYS 2:30-3:30PM Student Union 422 TUESDAYS 2:30-3:30PM Cinema Graduate Student Lounge Rm 249 WEDNESDAYS 2:30-3:30PM Student Union 422 THURSDAYS 2:30-3:30PM Student Union 422
Cover your sneeze/cough —
Stay home if you are sick —
Avoid contact with sick people —
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
(HSC) MONDAYS 12-1PM Pharmacy School B16 at PSC TUESDAYS 2-3:30PM PhD Program KAM 305 (HSA) Alhambra Campus EVERY SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAY 11:15AM-12:50PM PA Building (A11) Room 179
— The flu vaccine is free for USC students who have the Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) when it is administered at the USC Student Health Centers. Immunizations are available as walkins (no appointment necessary) during weekdays, from opening until 4:30 p.m.
1031 West 34th Street Los Angeles, California 90089-3261
USC STUDENT HEALTH
LOCATIONS Engemann Student Health Center University Park Campus 1031 West 34th St.
Eric Cohen Student Health Center Health Sciences Campus 1510 San Pablo St., Suite 104
(part of Keck Medicine of USC) is a comprehensive source for primary care, counseling and mental health services, preventive health services and health promotion for all USC students on its two campuses: University Park (Engemann Student Health Center) and Health Sciences (Eric Cohen Student Health Center). Accredited by the Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc., all health care providers of USC Student Health are fully accredited faculty of the academic medicine departments of Keck Medicine of USC.
studenthealth.usc.edu For 24/7 medical and mental health concerns, call
213-740-WELL (9355)