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                       JeffNEWS, September 13, 1994
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JMC Students Observe National Primary Care Day, September 29
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Jefferson students will join their colleagues throughout the country in
observing National Primary Care Day, Thursday, September 29, starting at
11 a.m., mezzanine auditorium, Jefferson Alumni Hall, by hosting and
participating in an event that will allow them to explore the
opportunities and challenges of primary care.

What is primary care? In general, it's what "family doctors" used to do
and what is currently practiced by family physicians, general internists,
general pediatricians, and, in many instances, other physicians and
healthcare workers. Some would include obstetrics and gynecology here.

Primary care can be defined as first-contact, coordinated, comprehensive,
continuous and accessible care provided to people with a broad range of
health concerns.

Primary care is not limited by the source of the medical problem, gender,
organ system or diagnosis. It also includes the management of acute and
chronic illnesses, prevention, counseling and referrals.

At Jefferson, the event will kick off with a keynote address by University
president, Paul C. Brucker, MD, followed by a display of student and
faculty posters. Some of the student posters will demonstrate the results
of their work during the summer in community-based projects such as
Bridging the Gaps: Philadelphia Community Health Internship Program. 

There will also be a display of primary-care resources, coordinated by
Kristin Lengle, JMC '96; and a booth with information on financial
resources, student- and campus-wide activities and research related to
primary care, compiled by Susan Ratner, MD, director of special curricular
programs, Jefferson Medical College (JMC), and clinical assistant
professor of medicine, and Sylvia Fields, EdD, RN, senior research
associate in JMC's Center for Research in Medical Education and Health
Care.

From 12:30 to 2 p.m., there will be panel discussions on each of the
primary care disciplines. Panel coordinators are: James D. Plumb, MD,
assistant professor of family medicine; Kenneth R. Epstein, MD, clinical
assistant professor of medicine/internal medicine; Charles A. Pohl, MD,
clinical assistant professor of pediatrics; and Thomas A. Klein, MD,
clinical professor and director of the division of general
obstetrics/gynecology. Each panelist will give a presentation and then
take questions from the students.

Kim Beukema, JMC '96, is the Jefferson representative to the Association
of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) Organization of Student
Representatives, one of the sponsors of National Primary Care Day, along
with AAMC's Office of Generalist Physician Programs. Ms. Beukema brought
news of the observance from the AAMC to Jefferson.

Other sponsors include the American Medical Student Association, the
American Medical Women's Association and The Medical Student Section of
the American Medical Association.


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Information provided by:  Editor, JeffNEWS
                          (215) 955-6204
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