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</v:background></xml><![endif]--><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Response to a Letter to the Editor in the Thursday 8 November 2012 <i>East Texan</i> (page 2)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By a “Frustrated Female”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debby Heitholt, BSN, RN: SHS Health Educator<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>903-886-5829 or <a href="mailto:Debby.Heitholt@tamuc.edu">Debby.Heitholt@tamuc.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>