[Students] Editorial response to Frustrated Female
Kelly A Daily
Kelly.Daily at tamuc.edu
Thu Nov 15 09:49:23 CST 2012
Response to a Letter to the Editor in the Thursday 8 November 2012 East
Texan (page 2)
By a "Frustrated Female"
After reading the letter to the editor about women's health in last
week's East Texan, Maxine Mendoza-Welch PA, Kelly Daily, and I (Debby
Heitholt, RN) decided a response was warranted and that I needed to
write that response. The letter had some valid points and indicated
that many female students may not be aware of what SHS offers.
Since being appointed to the newly created position of Health Educator
at Student Health Services, Maxine has been able to assign me wide range
of health education tasks for our students. The majority of my 30-year
career dealt with caring for premature and very-ill babies in neonatal
intensive care units throughout Texas. I did not know it at that time
but that experience prepared me for the college-student patients I
support now. Many times during a premature baby's stay at the NICU, I
was able to comfort and support very young parents who were overwhelmed
with their situation. I also volunteered for several years at pregnancy
center in north Dallas where young adults faced reproductive-health and
life-changing crossroads. Besides these professional experiences, I've
successfully dealt with my own daughter's and son's crossroads that
occurred when they were college age.
For many college students, this is the first time away from home. This
can be an exciting time but also a time of uncertainty and new
challenges. Their eating habits and sleep patterns may start to
deteriorate as their interpersonal relationships start to blossom. As
Frustrated Female clearly pointed out, young women have questions about
their body, contraceptive options, and STD/STI. Perhaps more
challenging, however, it appears SHS might be need to be more
conspicuous in serving as the University resource in women's
reproductive health but at the same time, deliver answers discreetly.
Maxine has agreed that I am the logical lead on strengthening our
women's reproductive health program within the clinic and making it more
visible. Many young women who attend the clinic have never had a well
woman exam. They can meet with me to learn more about taking care of
their bodies. Education is not for women alone. Young men need to be
informed about diseases that can be contracted from sexual encounters.
My passion is to help young adults learn about developing healthy habits
that they will maintain after they leave TAMU-C. Of course, as with any
educator, I am eager to learn about new concerns facing our female
students. Once we decide how to make the program more visible,
Frustrated Females will be better informed and have much healthier
lives. As for now, students can meet with me to learn more about
contraceptive options, protecting themselves from STD/STI's, women's
health, smoking cessation, healthy eating, hypertension and many more
topics. Format can be individual consultations or I can give
presentations and workshops to groups. I am excited that we can respond
to these women's issue and we look forward to your thoughts.
Starting in January, SHS with help from Dallas County Health Department
will be offering FREE STD TESTING at SHS. Appointments will be
available on Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30, 1:00-4:00pm and Thursdays
1:00-4:00pm. More details to follow.
Debby Heitholt, BSN, RN: SHS Health Educator
903-886-5829 or Debby.Heitholt at tamuc.edu
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