ACOFP Newsletter – August 2015

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS
MONTH
August 2015
ACOFP National:
Upcoming Events
As the back-to-school season starts up
again, immunizations are an important
part of checking what students need for
the upcoming year. However, students
and children aren’t the only ones who
should keep up with immunizations.
People of all ages are recommended to
take this month to organize their
immunization records.
August
is
National
Immunization
Awareness month.
Immunization
requirements differ for each age group
and one should consult with his/her
physician
for
the
upkeep
of
immunizations.
The National Public
Health Information Coalition (NPHIC)
has separated age groups into: Preteens
and Teens, Pregnant Women, Adults,
and Infants and Children (1).
By
checking the requirements for your age
group, you can see if you meet the
immunization
requirements
recommended for you.
As future
healthcare
providers,
familiarizing
yourself with required immunizations
and booster shots can help you and
your
future
patients
with
the
prevention of common or easily
avoidable diseases.
The Center for Disease Control also
gives recommendations specifically for
healthcare providers. As someone who
sees patients, you should be particularly
aware if you are up-to-date with your
vaccinations for the welfare of both you
and the patients you come into contact
with (1).
Some examples of major vaccines are :
Influenza:
A
flu
vaccination
is
recommended every year for healthcare
personnel. Receiving this vaccine every
year can prevent transmission to patients,
co-workers, and family (1).
Hepatitis B: This vaccine is particularly
important for healthcare providers as
healthcare providers are often exposed to
bodily fluids, blood, and used needles (1).
Hepatitus is a major and global health
issue. It is an issue particularly important
for healthcare providers, yet it can be
prevented easily by this vaccine (2).
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis:
A booster vaccination is required every 10
years.
This is another vaccination
important
for
healthcare
providers,
especially if one has direct contact with
patients with tetanus, diphtheria, and
pertussis or if one is injured with the any
possibility of bacterial infection (1,3).
Varicella (Chickenpox): Varicella is a virus
that can be easily spread in the healthcare
environment, such as hospitals and clinics.
If not already vaccinated, you should
consider getting this vaccination as a
healthcare provider (1).
Touro
Nevada
University
requires
immunizations for all students. Students
are recommended to take this month to
check their immunization records and
make sure all immunizations are up to
date.
Written by: Fleurette Chong
OCTOBER 17-21, 2015
OMED 2015
Orlando, Florida
APRIL 6-9, 2016
ACOFP Annual Convetion
San Juan, Puerto Rico
For references & more
information about National
Immunization Awareness
Month, please visit the
following resources:
1.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines
/events/niam.html
2.
http://www.who.int/mediace
ntre/factsheets/fs204_Jul201
4/en/
3.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines
/vpd-vac/default.htm
Event Highlights
Volunteer & Fundraising Events
The last month of the 2014-2015 school year
ended on a great note with events such as the
Pizza Party for the Pop Tab Wars Event and the
White Coat & Clipboard Fundraising Event.
Please look forward to more exciting events
and fundraising opportunities in the new
2015-2016 school year!
LAS VEGAS RESCUE MISSION HEALTH SCREENING
MAY 1ST, 2015
Under the supervision of Lee Rosacci, D.O., a
PGY-2 at Valley Hospital, eight ACOFP members
provided health screenings for 25 patients.
WHITE COAT & CLIPBOARD FUNDRAISER
APRIL 27TH - MAY 3RD, 2015
The TUN Chapter of ACOFP sold white coats
and clipboards for white coats during one
school week at each lunch hour. In addition, we
extended this fundraiser throughout the
weekend, accepting orders online as well.
In all, over 60 orders were placed and we made
a huge success with fundraising by raising over
$900! Co-directors of Fundraising Marinor
Concepcion and Catherine Nguyen are
incredibly proud and more inspired than ever
to keep this success going as the new school
year starts.
Orders arrived in about 3 to 4 weeks and were
available for pick-up during the last few weeks
of the 2014-2015 school year. After the
2014-2015 school year, any remaining orders
are available for pick-up at the Matthews
school bookstore.
POP TAB WARS PIZZA PARTY
MAY 5TH, 2015
This is a monthly community service
opportunity which continues to be very
popular for students as it includes patient
interaction. It is also a valuable service for
people at the Rescue Mission. Volunteers were
also joined by a representative from CareMore,
who spoke about Medicare supplemental
benefits, and a representative from Open
Enrollment, who helped with health insurance
registration.
ACOFP hosted a pizza party during lunch to
congratulate the first year DO18 students for
collecting more pop tabs than the second year
DO19 students. This was a very welcome break
as students recovered from the previous exam
and geared up for finals.
Nearly all 135 first years attended. Students are
already starting to collect more pop tabs in
preparation for this upcoming school year’s
Pop Tab Wars!
August :
Upcoming Events
ACOFP Social for
DO19s
Club Day
ACOFP General
Meeting
Pop Tab Wars :
Ronald McDonald
House
Soup Kitchen :
Las Vegas Rescue
Mission
Health Screening :
Las Vegas Rescue
Mission
Event Highlights
Additional Events
BOARD DINNER WITH FACULTY ADVISOR
MAY 8TH, 2015
Dr. David Park, our former faculty advisor,
invited the entire board to his home for an
informal dinner party with a few of his first
year residents.
Thirteen out of sixteen board members were
in attendance. We discussed various topics
including goals for our chapter this upcoming
year and future community service events
with Operation Hope Clinic.
September :
Upcoming Events
White Coat
Embroidery
Fundraiser
Soup Kitchen :
Las Vegas Rescue
Mission
Health Screening :
Las Vegas Rescue
Mission
We also had the opportunity to speak with the
residents and Dr. Park about the road ahead of
us as student doctors and future D.O.s. This
was Dr. Park’s last event as our faculty advisor.
He will be greatly missed!
We are honored to have Dr. Matthew Martin as
our new faculty adviser !
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following
individuals to who contributed to the
ACOFP newsletter:
> Mailia Dadsten, former Editor in
Chief
> Charleen Pham, ACOFP President
> Bitika Kohli, ACOFP Vice President
> Shravya Nagurla, Historian
Newsletter Sub-Committee
> Fleurette Chong, Editor in Chief
*If you would like to join the Newsletter
Sub-Committee, please email
do18.fleurette.chong@nv.touro.edu .