Question: What do River Rock Casino, Sebastopol Senior Center, and the Sonoma County Flu Task Force have in common?

Answer:   They all utilize Empire College medical volunteers for their wellness programs.
 

Check out the photo album showing Empire students in action at tinyurl.com/SchoolofBusiness-fb.

 

Medical assisting students at Empire College are excited about the unique learning opportunities afforded them through community outreach. Whether studying to become clinical or administrative assistants, they are able to practice their skills in a variety of settings that benefit others as well as themselves.

 

“Our students work hard at these events, many of them making personal sacrifices just to be able to volunteer,” says Shannon Tinsley, Empire’s Medical Department Manager. “Some have to obtain childcare or take a day off their regular job to help out in the community, but the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices.”

 

During the past few months, student volunteers have provided blood glucose screenings and blood pressure readings at the City of Santa Rosa Employee Wellness Fair, River Rock Employee Health Fair, and the Sebastopol Senior Center. During the next few weeks, Empire’s clinical medical students will have a variety of opportunities to practice their injection skills through project-based, experiential learning. They will be assisting the Sonoma County Flu Task Force in vaccinating the public for seasonal and H1N1 flu.

 

“The Sonoma County Flu Task Force is made up of a fantastic group of people,” explains Shannon, who has chaired the Task Force for the past four years. “Completely staffed by volunteers, the group is made up of health center managers and hospital staff from all over the county, as well as staff from Public Health. It is a pleasure to meet with these people on a monthly basis to coordinate flu vaccine delivery in our county. Our goal is to vaccinate those who do not have a regular physician or who are unable to afford a flu shot elsewhere.”