Mayor鈥檚 Racial Equity Initiative component supports student health and well-being
CHARLOTTE,听N.C.,听Aug.听18,听2022听鈥撎For decades,听students,听faculty and听staff听at听Johnson听C.听Smith听University have had convenient access听to听its on-campus health center. Thanks to a partnership with Atrium Health, JCSU听officially opened an improved Health Center during an event听on Thursday.听
鈥淣ot only has Atrium Health been a faithful partner, but its continued interest in 星空无限传媒 shows its dedication to helping us fulfill our mission of attracting, matriculating and graduating the brightest leaders of tomorrow, who will shine the JCSU light in their communities and in their professions around the world,鈥 said JCSU President Clarence D. Armbrister.
The opening event featured comments from Armbrister as well as CEO and President of Atrium Health, Gene Woods; City Councilman for District 2, Malcolm Graham 鈥85; and Dr. Davida Haywood 鈥98, JCSU鈥檚 vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
The partnership is a part of Atrium Health鈥檚 commitment to the Mayor鈥檚 Racial Equity Initiative. Half of the $3 million Atrium Health committed to JCSU will be used to staff and support the Health Center as part of a multi-year-agreement coordinated through Atrium Health Employer Services.
Graham said the partnership was more than two years in the making, but making sure the health of JCSU鈥檚 campus community was of utmost importance.
鈥淗ealthcare is a human right,鈥 he said.听
鈥淗ere at Atrium Health, we fundamentally believe that health, education and access to opportunity are the essential building听blocks of听a bright future听for听our听community,鈥 added Woods.听鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are proud to partner with JCSU to provide top-notch health care to the University鈥檚 students, faculty and staff, as well as invest in a talent pipeline to educate and train students who dream of becoming health care professionals.鈥
Through Atrium Health the health center is expected to improve access to on-campus health care providers, lab services, chronic condition management听and听other听services听for the听students,听faculty听and听staff. It听also aims听to enhance听the听health听literacy听of everyone on campus, providing the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complexities of the health care system, especially for those students who are living independently for the first time.
The听center听is staffed by a听nurse practitioner, registered nurse,听certified medical assistant,听dedicated听client听lead听and a center operations manager.听Nineteen-year听JCSU听Health听Center听leader Marian听Jones,听who听holds听a听doctorate听in听public health, will remain the University鈥檚 director of health and wellness.
There will also be a new, limited, on-site pharmacy and over-the-counter medications offered, along with health coaching and education programming; health听literacy resources听for students, faculty听and听staff;听health听care听navigation听to听appropriate off-site care and additional on-campus services when needed; and integrated electronic medical records to improve the continuity of care when on- or off-campus.
The听center听will听be听open听Monday听through听Friday听from听8听a.m.听鈥撎5听p.m.
