The Calgary Student Run Clinic (SRC) operates out of the downtown Mustard Seed Wellness Centre, with the main focus on providing accessible health services for the city’s underserved. The SRC is a true team effort, with University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine students working on the executive team and on the front lines as student clinicians.
The clinic is guided by family physicians and the leadership team at the Mustard Seed collaborating with students from various health disciplines such as counselling and occupational therapy. The SRC also runs health promotion workshops out of the Calgary Dream Centre and the Mustard Seed, hosts annual fundraisers (the Cumming School of Medicine’s Rich Man Poor Man banquet) and organizes community outreach events (Women’s Empowerment Night).
Led by chair Olivia Genereux and vice-chair Tess Loch (class of 2022), the SRC involves many medical students who fill various roles to coordinate finances, staffing, supplies, electronic medical records and interdisciplinary initiatives at the clinic. Although running a clinic while attending medical school can be a demanding balance, Olivia and Tess remain focused on the clinic’s mandate of “serving the underserved,” ensuring that patients are able to receive the care they require.
As it has with many other organizations this year, COVID-19 has decreased the ability for students to be involved hands-on at the clinic. However, the executive team remains hard at work behind the scenes. The SRC is proud to have their physician preceptors working in the clinic and building a client base at the Mustard Seed Wellness Centre. The team has also secured a large PPE donation for the centre thanks to SRC executive team member Samin Dolatabadi (class of 2022). Just recently, the team also established a foot care program, which will greatly benefit the patient population. The SRC team continues to adapt, collaborate and advocate for the clinic’s clientele during the pandemic.
An exciting aspect of the SRC is the limitless potential the clinic has to grow and to help Calgary’s underserved population. Even though this year’s students met the many challenges, Olivia, Tess and the rest of the team are excited to welcome the incoming Class of 2023. The future of the clinic will focus on expanding interdisciplinary services, building a steady client base and continuing to provide accessible, reliable health services to patients in Calgary’s downtown core.
Banner image credit: Dominik Karch, Pixabay.com