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Student-run free clinic accepting patients by Sarah McLaughlin Public Relations A new student-run free clinic, initiated by first and second year MUSC medical students, is currently accepting underserved and disadvantaged patients who need primary health care. The CARES Clinic (Community Aid, Relief, Education, and Support) aims to provide quality preventive and episodic primary health care to the uninsured, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, immigration or socioeconomic status.   The CARES Clinic opened its doors this August in the East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) building in Mount Pleasant, which it shares with the MUSC Family Medicine outreach clinic that serves all patients including Medicaid and Medicare recipients.    The difference between the two clinics is that the CARES Clinic was created and is run by MUSC medical students. Through volunteering at the clinic, students are exposed early in their training to the nuances of providing patient care to a population with diverse and ever-changing health care needs.   Wanda Gonsalves, M.D., Family Medicine, proposed the idea of starting a student-run clinic to a service-learning elective class that volunteered at various local clinics. The class immediately formed several committees to create the CARES Clinic. The clinic follows the same model Gonsalves used during her 10 years at the University of Kentucky, where she witnessed the success and positive affects of a student-run clinic.   “Volunteering at the clinic helps nurture the students’ original reasons for coming to medical school,” Gonsalves said.   Gonsalves is the recipient of the American Family Physician Teacher Award and a University of Kentucky alumni award for community service efforts.   The clinic operates through the cooperation of students and health care professionals associated with MUSC. Students in the service-learning elective volunteer at the clinic for five nights per semester, three clinical nights and two administrative. In class, the students discuss real-world issues related to the clinic. Some MUSC doctors and community members also donate their time to provide comprehensive health care in the areas of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adult life, pregnancy, illness, geriatrics, and end-of-life issues.   First and second year volunteer students learn many clinical procedures that are not typically taught until at least their third year, and are also given the rare opportunity to interact with upper level medical students in a hands-on setting.   “I get so excited when I see them in action; they don’t really get it until they do it,” said Gonsalves of the first and second year volunteers.   The CARES Clinic raised approximately $15,000, and one of its goals is to allocate some of that money to provide certain free medications to patients. Another goal is to eventually offer immunizations. The clinic is currently looking for a pharmacy consultant and to offer lab services.     The CARES Clinic sees patients 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and is always looking for more patients and volunteers. The patient appointment hotline is 876-7097 and additional information can be found at http://www.musc.edu/musccares.   Friday, Oct. 21, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.