Sharewood News
By Sarah Barber
On January 8th, 2004, the 2004 Sharewood Project Board was announced, and responsibility for the student run healthcare service officially transferred from the Board of 2003 to the Board of 2004 the following week. The new Board is looking forward to moving forward with new initiatives that build on the strong foundation established through the efforts of the 2003 Board and its predecessors. New Administrative Coordinator Wendy Pavlovich commented, "The 2003 Board raised Sharewood to a new level. I am encouraged by the skills and enthusiasm of the 2004 Board and am confident that we can continue improving the quality and scope of services provided to the Boston community."
Since the hand over, the Board has been managing Sharewood and meeting regularly in order to set its agenda for the year. Some initiatives already in development include the Women"s Health Service and the re-introduction of dental services by Tufts Dental students. The Women"s Health Service will be available in early to mid February, offering gynecological exams and pregnancy testing, in addition to the current general medical and HIV/STD testing services. Dental services had been offered in the past, but not in recent years. In upcoming weeks, Tufts Dental students will again provide oral screenings and referrals as necessary to the Tufts Dental Clinic on the Health Sciences campus in Boston.
Additional considerations for the 2004 Board include expansion of current services (currently Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 9 PM) to offer a second night each week as well as the addition of a second location in collaboration with another medical school. Plans for both aspects of expansion are still under discussion.
The Sharewood Project, located in the Center United Methodist Church in Malden Center, provides free healthcare services and is run by first and second year students of Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) and physician volunteers. The Sharewood Project is managed under the guidance of Dr. Brian Lisse, the Medical Director of Sharewood and an Associate Professor at TUSM. Sharewood offers unscheduled urgent care services to 10-15 patients per week from the medically underserved populations of Malden and surrounding communities. All services are provided free of charge and are open to everyone, especially the uninsured. Sharewood also acts as a gateway for people without health insurance to enter the healthcare system by directing them towards primary care services available within the community. A non-profit organization, Sharewood secures all the money for its operations through fundraising, grants, and donations.
The seeds for the Sharewood Project were planted by students of the TUSM Class of 1999, who laid the groundwork for Sharewood during their first year of medical school. During this time, they made contracts within the community and began raising funds. The United Methodist Church of All Nations in Boston"s Chinatown graciously donated space where medical students and attending physicians could see patients while many Tufts alumni and area physicians donated necessary equipment and medical supplies. After much planning and hard work, Sharewood finally opened its doors on February 18, 1997.
Since then, Sharewood has grown in size and services. Other medical schools have become involved at Sharewood, and medical students from nearby Harvard and Boston University now come to help on a regular basis. Undergraduate students from Brandeis, Harvard, Boston University, and Tufts also volunteer in various capacities.
The Sharewood Project moved from its original Chinatown location to its current home at the Center United Methodist Church in Malden on January 15, 2002. Sharewood is now based out of the second floor of the church on Tuesday nights, and, with help from Tufts University Family Practice Residency, serves those in Malden who seek healthcare services.
Sharewood has established a special bond with the Malden community. Most of the attending physicians practice in the surrounding areas, and through its weekly service, Sharewood has established a stable and growing patient base from in and around Malden. For medical students, it provides a unique experience to gain clinic experience in the early years of medical school. In addition to being a great resource for the community, Sharewood is an invaluable resource for medical students and Tufts University.
Today, through cooperative efforts, the Sharewood Project is able to provide a multitude of services, including:
- General medical services
- Physical exams
- Women's health services
- Diagnostic laboratory tests
- Blood pressure screenings
- Oral screenings and dental referrals to Tufts Dental Clinic
- Confidential HIV/STD testing
- Hepatitis B testing and screening
- Annual flu shots
- Referrals to other health care providers
Student volunteers are always welcome at Sharewood. Volunteer services and additional information about the Sharewood Project is available at www.Sharewood.info.
- 2004 Sharewood Board:
- Administrative Coordinator: Wendy Pavlovich
- Clinic Coordinators: Julia Tzeng / Rebecca Rhee
- Operations Manager: Jon Snyder
- 2nd Site Coordinator: Dave Tsai
- Case Management Coordinators: Anna Cervantes / Candice Barnes
- Women's Health: Joleen Weissert
- Pharmacy Coordinator: Debbie Rin
- Equipment Coordinator: Lauren Grossman
- Physician Liaison: Dan Lam
- HIV/STD Clinic Coordinators: Kathleen Chen / Jill Gluskin
- Publicity/Outreach Coordinators: Elizabeth Harausz / Sarah Barber / Tuan Tran
- Finance/Fundraising Coordinators: Matt Kruger / Arthur Yan / Chien Chow
- Malden Expansion: Bill Miele
- Dental/HepB Liaison: Wendy Pavlovich
- Selectives Coordinator: Jon Snyder
- Translation Coordinator: Anna Cervantes
- IT Coordinator/Webmaster: To Be Filled