CA - THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
FRIDAY,MARCH 7,2003
Profiting from plasma
Students use funds for bills, pets, trips
by Kevin Wiggs
kwigs@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Joseph Proffitt always seems to be scrounging up change to make ends meet.
scroungling up change to mast
But the Lawrence senior's weekly visits to ZLB Plasma Services, 816 W.24th St., where he earns $20 for letting a nurse separate
plasma from his blood cells, gets him some of the money he needs to feed his dog and pay his bills.
"I don't make much at my job, and he'd probably starve if I didn't give plasma," Pruffit said.
Proffitt is one of many students who donate plasma to earn quick cash.
Students can donate plasma at centers, such as ZLB Plasma Services. Proffitt said donating plasma was one of the easiest ways to earn money. It takes two hours on the first visit, and about 90 minutes for each successive visit.
Now that spring break is approaching, students may need to find ways to earn some extra money for travel expenses.
Alex Binci, Naples, Italy, senior, is financing his spring break trip to Breckenridge. Colo., in part with his biweekly trips to ZLB.
"Giving plasma feels kind of awkward," he said. "But that 20 bucks makes it worth it."
Michael Kanter, ZLB Plasma Services assistant manager, said there were a few facts to know before donating.
" Donors should hydrate themselves the day before and avoid alcohol and caffeine." Kanter said. "They should eat a healthy diet, and
we recommend they eat salty foods before they come in because salt helps retain water."
Plasma donation also requires a photo ID and a Social Security card.
Donors are given a physical, which includes drug testing, a blood pressure check and an online medical history questionnaire.
During the first two visits, donors earn $25. After that, donors who are less than 150 pounds receive $15 per donation. Those who weigh more than 150 pounds get $20 for the first donation of the week and $25 for the second visit during the same week.
Once the plasma is extracted from the blood, the blood is returned to the body and the plasma is replaced by a saline solution.
Wes Wedman/Kansan
Kanter says students play an important role in his business.
"Permanent residents make up 75 to 80 percent of our donors," Kanter said. "Students make up the other 20 to 25 percent, and they are a significant part of our business because they need the money, so they come in more often."
Giving plasma not only helps students earn money, but it also benefits those who receive the plasma and its related products, Kanter said. Some plasma is made into albumin, which helps burn and trauma victims. Albumin is a protein found in plasma. Plasma can also be made into clotting agents, which helps save hemophiliacs' lives. Certain vaccines can also be made from some plasma, depending on the antibodies present in the donor.
Though most students give plasma to earn money,some give it to help others.
"Giving plasma makes me feel good." Proffitt said. "It makes me feel like I'm helping other people, while helping myself at the same time."
Students interested in giving plasma can call ZLB Plasma Services at 749-5750.
Edited by Amber Byarlay
Research institute affects University
By JJ Hensley
jhensley@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
It might be located more than 40 miles away from Lawrence, but local officials still expect the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Mo., to have an impact on Lawrence and the University of Kansas by attracting top-notch graduate students and research scientists.
Its impact has already been seen at KU. The institute has written commitments to conduct research with scientists like Paul Kelly, chairman of molecular biosciences. One of the most important aspects of the relationship was collaborating on the recruitment and training of graduate students, he said.
Though the relationship was still in its early stages, Kelly said both KU and the institute have started to see the benefits.
"There are a number of very fantastic scientists in the world who'll only be attracted to Stowers if they can have an academic appointment with a University," Kelly said.
"They love interacting with students." Kelly said. "It's what they've done all their careers and they aren't going to just give that part up."
The Stowers Institute was founded to research the roles of genes and proteins in disease in 1994, based on an initial gift of $50 million from Kansas City mutual fund executive and cancer survivor Jim Stowers, and his wife, Virginia.
One such scientist, Scott Hawley, taught an undergraduate course last fall and is helping with a graduate course this semester.
Today the endowment sits at almost $1.5 billion, and the Institute employs nearly 200 people, said Stowers Institute representative Laurie Wimberly.
When the campus is completed in a few years, the Institute should employ 400 to 500 people.
In addition to those jobs, Stowers and other area research institutions could expand the biotech industry in the Kansas City metro area, including Lawrence.
In some respects, with companies like the Serologicals Corporation and Deciphera Pharmaceuticals deciding to locate plants in Lawrence, the impact has already begun, said Lynn Parman, economic development director for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
Before Serologicals chose to build a site in the East Hills Business Park on Kansas Highway 10. Lawrence was not on the radar screen for biotech companies, Parman told city commissioners. Lawrence's proximity to materials the company needed, like bovine blood, and to Kansas City's burgeoning biotech industry attracted the company to Lawrence.
"Serologicals is going to be tremendous for this community and hopefully it will be the beginning of many more of these companies," Parman said.
Wimberly said breakthroughs in research don't benefit humanity unless business partners can commercialize new technology. The Stowers wanted the area economy to benefit from commercialization, she said.
"They envision the Institute as a first step in a 25-year effort to transform Kansas City into Biomed Valley, the best place anywhere for biomedical research and for the commercialization of the results of that research," Wimberly said.
Students have multiple medical options in addition to Watkins
- Edited by Todd Rapp
By Nikki Overfelt
overfelt@kansan.com
Kensan staff writer
KU students with health insurance have plenty of options when it comes to health care in Lawrence.
Other than Watkins Memorial Health Center, there are several family practice facilities in Lawrence that accept most major insurances.
Mt. Oread Family Practice, 3510 Clinton Parkway Place, sees quite a few students who are too far from home to go to their doctor,
said Courtney Fulk, receptionist at the office. It also continues to see students who already had an established doctor with Mt. Oread Family Practice before they came to the University, Fulk said.
Myra Strother, director and chief of staff of Watkins, said if students already had an established doctor in Lawrence who was on their insurance plan, it was easier for them continue going there.
ting tests done, Strother said.
Some health maintenance organization insurance plans may require that students go to a doctor who is on their plan, especially when get-
If a students needed to see a specialist, she said, Watkins was usually able to help them find the right specialist and get an appointment.
But most of the time, Strother said, it was cheaper and quicker for students to come and see the doctors at Watkins.
Katie Bean, Palm Beach, Fla., junior, said she hadn't had to go to the doctor in Lawrence yet but when she needed to, she would choose a doctor who was not at Watkins.
"I would rather go to a regular
doctor who can tell me what I have, what I need to do and what medications I need to take," she said.
Family Medicine Associates, 3511 Clinton Place, also sees many students who are far from home and still on their parents' insurance plans, said Paula Reed, office manager of the facility.
Ryan Stites, Buffalo Grove, Ill. senior, goes to the emergency room at Lawrence Memorial Hospital when he gets sick. His parents told him that it's easier for their health insurance to cover the cost when he goes to the hospital, he said.
Rachel Trible, Russell junior chooses to go to Lawrence Internal Medicine, 3310 Clinton Parkway Court, because she feels more comfortable seeing a doctor who knew more about her condition, she said.
Another reason students choose to go somewhere other than Watkins is the need for a specialist.
"The issue is somewhat serious," she said. "I wanted to go to someone that had a specialization in that area."
Edited by Todd Rapp
Health care alternatives
Family Medicine Associates, P.A.
3511 Clinton Place; 830-0100
Appointments
First M.D. P.A.
2323 Ridge Court; 856-5300
Walk-in or appointments
Lawrence Family Care
1311 Wakarausa Drive; 331-1700
Appointments
Appointments
Mt. Dread Family Practice
3510 Clinton Place, Suite 210; 842-5070
Appointments
Promptcare
3511 Clinton Place; 838-1500
Walk-in
Lawrence.com and Sunflower Broadband are bringing KU students the coolest Spring Break contest ever!
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