Student SPHere 2008-09

I am sure most of you on campus realize that the U smashed the word record for seasonal influenza shots in a single day, 11,538 (as of 5:30pm 10/28/08). I can think of few records more worthwhile to try to obtain. I was one of the 11,538 who go a shot or received flu mist. I don’t like influenza, nor does anyone I have met. I don’t want to get it this year, so I got a flu shot. I think its one of the best things I can do as a busy grad student to prevent influenza.

That being said, giving out 11,538 influenza shots in a single day is massive undertaking. I was fortunate enough to be able to be involved with this mass vaccination. I am a member of the U’s MRC (Medical Reserve Corp), which staffed one of the vaccination sites (the big tent in front of Northrop). This was a wonderful opportunity for the MRC to practice our training in a real life scenario, while helping the U break a world record and prevent illness. It was incredibly satisfying to see our training in action and observe how the incident command system works in live, dynamic event.

As a student, I spend a lot of time doing “book� learning. The MRC is a nice addition to the “book� learning I receive at the SPH. For one, I am part of a team of over 900 students, faculty and staff in the Academic Health Center. This allows me to meet new amazing people at the U at every MRC event. Secondly it allows me see public health in practice. Its one think to understand the theory behind a mass dispensing site for an antibiotic in response to a bioterrorist attack but you don’t really understand until you participate in drill for one of these, how theory meets practice. Lastly, it provides a place to become a better leader. During drills or events like the mass vaccination clinic, you are able observe some of best and brightest the U has making leadership decision and finding way to carry out their defined tasks in a dynamic situation.

The bottom line for me, though with the MRC is that it is designed to help people when they need it the most. That dovetails well with my vocation to public health.

If you at the U and not involved with the MRC, I would check it out. Don’t let the medical part scare you off; many of us in the MRC are not in the medical field. It takes people from a variety of backgrounds to make the MRC function. Here is a little more background on what MRC are all about.