July - August 2009
Pair Travels from Netherlands to Learn about Public Health
Two medical students from the Netherlands needing to complete their final year of clinical rotations chose San Antonio for some hands-on learning about public health. Margreet van Ginkel and Ralf Harskamp, who are both studying at the University Medical Centre of Groningen (UMCG), are currently getting a good overview of all the different services Metro Health provides to the community.
The pair has visited local schools with Metro Health's Project WORTH team to talk about sexual education; made some onsite visits with the STD team; received hands-on experience with the WIC program; learned about Vector control; and visited the relatively new Emergency Operations Center. Along with those opportunities, the students have attended presentations with the Director of Health, Dr. Fernando Guerra, sat in on staff meetings, and received updates on multiple subjects, including the regional impact of the worldwide H1N1 pandemic.
Although their rotation is happening during one of the hottest times of the year in San Antonio when the temperature at home averages 60 to 70 degrees, Margreet and Ralf say they are thankful for being here. They are especially appreciative of "all the time the (Metro Health) team members took to explain us their work."
As a matter of fact, this is not Margreet's and Ralf's first visit to the Alamo City. The Dutch natives spent some time here two years ago and enjoyed their time so much they wanted to return. The clinical rotation in San Antonio is a result of UMCG's affiliation with the University of Texas Health Science Center. UMCG is one of the largest hospitals in the world, offering care to the northern part of the Netherlands.
These students from abroad are not the first Metro Health has hosted. The local public health department has contributed to the learning process of students and researchers from a variety of locations, including Nigeria, Hong Kong, and Ghana. Plenty of students have gone on to become doctors. Some professionals have had even more unique experiences from working as a member of the White House staff to running for president in an African country.
Return to Health e-News home
In the Community
Metro Health team members joined other members of the City Volunteer Corp for the 2nd Annual Pet Spa Day at Animal Care Services this spring. The volunteers bathed dogs and prepared pets for adoption. They also planted trees, painted, and performed other 'home improvement' tasks for ACS' one-year old facility. Thanks team for your
time and concern for our
four-legged friends!
Featured Employee
Erica Haller Stevenson is a
Senior Management Analyst with the Steps to a Healthier San Antonio program and the braintrust behind our new newsletter name. Meet Erica...
Did you know...?
Metro Health produced its inaugural annual report for fiscal year
2007-2008. The publication highlights the department's programs, services and accomplishments.
Metro Health has an Advisory Board of Health which advises and makes recommendations on the health functions of the department to the Director of Health and the governing bodies of the City and County.
Current ABOH members include...
Metro Health routinely hosts medical students for public health clinical rotations. Meet the current visitors from the Netherlands.
In the News
New food handler rules take effect in January 2010.
Read more or watch the KENS 5 video
New weight gain guidelines for pregnant women. Read more...
Snapshot of Health
Congratulations to
Executive
Secretary Theresa (Tessie) Medina, a role model for a healthy pregnancy and weight gain. Tessie gave birth to her second child, Madeleine Nicole, on June 9.
20-inch long Madeleine weighed
8 lbs. and 4 oz.
Healthy Link
Join Metro Health for a two-day comprehensive conference.
The Changing Face of STIs, HIV & TB:
Issues from a Clinical, Behavioral and Partner Services viewpoint.
September 17-18
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn, 318 W. Durango
More info here...
The Health Collaborative, in
partnership with the San Antonio Zoo, will host a Fitness Safari on
Friday, July 17 from
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All children visiting the zoo during the safari can participate in nine fitness activities that relate to fitness attributes of certain animals.
Children receive a token after completing each activity. Youngsters with five or more tokens can redeem them for a fitness-related toy.
Dedication on Display
Assistant Social Services Manager Yolanda Alvarado retired after three decades of service to the WIC program. She and several of Metro Health's team members are living proof that public health is
not just a job, it's a commitment.
Read more...
The Artwork
In 2007, the Steps to a Healthier San Antonio Program (Steps-SA), in collaboration with San Antonio ISD and the Southwest School of Art and Craft, presented "A Healthy Community Through the Eyes of a Child" in which children from local schools expressed their creative vision of health
concerns and issues affecting their community through the use of art.