On the first Friday of the month we do a significant outreach campaign at The Conrad Center. It has become so popular that we have named it “First Fridays” at Conrad.
At 745am, The Daily Planet staff cheerfully starts invading the center. Their doors have long opened prior to our arrival, because they serve meals (including a belly warming breakfast) to the homeless daily.
The facility also houses several agencies that provide various services to the homeless. One of the key roles is a central point of entry to the shelters for the city.
Each Friday, The Daily Planet goes there to provide Tuberculosis and Blood Pressure screening, as well as acute care assessments. However, on the first Friday of each month we have a “Health Fair” that also includes Vaccinations, Educational Sessions, and Special Theme Services- such as Prostate Cancer Screening, Skin Cancer Awareness Day, or Family Medical History Celebrations. Other agencies join us such as The Fan Free Clinic (conducting on-site HIV testing) and Alcoholics Anonymous. We give out snacks, prizes, bus tickets, and just try to bond with participants.
My favorite part of the event is that we have a great crew of graduate health professional students from Virginia Commonwealth University who come to gain experience, practice their skills, and learn about public health. We have representation from all schools including pharmacy, nursing, medical, public health, and research departments. They join forces and work together to make “First Fridays” a huge success.
I enjoy teaching, because I will forever be a student of medicine.
My patients keep me humble and appreciative, my students keep me abreast and fine tuned. I need them both to practice my craft. And to both I am forever indebted.
If you are interested in joining the fun at First Fridays, just blog me back. We would love to have you! You may also email me at lstevens@dailyplanetva.org
For more information on the Conrad Center-Freedom House
http://www.freedomhouserichmond.org/html/ConradCenter.htm
Great work being done by The Daily Planet at Conrad Center and other outreach sites throughout the area. For more information, visit: www.dailyplanetva.org
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