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MONDAY, AUGUST 18,2008
AROUND CAMPUS
Get sick much? Go to Watkins for the cure
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Watkins Memorial Health Center has many options for students to take advantage of when feeling under the weather or need a routine checkup. The center offers a pharmacy, lab, Wellness Resource Center and counseling services for students.
The campus health center features pharmacy, lab, the Wellness Resource Center, counseling and other amenities.
BY BRIEUN SCOTT bscott@kansan.com
Watkins Memorial Health Center offers students services to help get through the school year.
Watkins has 13 departments where students can get information and services.
Student Health Services is comprehensive within the student college life, offering various services such as general medicine, pharmacy physical therapy and lab. There are 10 state board certified physicians on staff to assist students with any health concerns.
Heidi Garica, manager of the Wellness Resource Center, said that the location of the services was convenient for students because it was located under one roof. Watkins, 1200 Schwegler Dr., is north of the Student Recreation Fitness Center.
Amanda Steffan, Lawrence sophomore, said that she often went to Watkins for its resources. She said
she went this summer for counseling and liked how convenient it was to get in and see someone.
"It was nice to go somewhere where you can get an unbiased opinion" Steffan said. "The staff was very
helpful."
The Wellness Resource Center is another part of student services offered at Watkins. The resource center offers assistance to students in areas from on where to go to get help on a paper to helping resident assistance with their bulletin boards.
Garcia said that aside from those things, they did have five priorities, which were alcohol and drugs, tobacco, nutrition, sexual health and stress reduction.
Throughout the school year, Garica said student services did different events and programs to give students information and make them aware of the resources. She said one of the most popular was the Health Hut, which would be located throughout campus.
"We're here for the students," Garcia said. "We want students to realize it's the student health center."
Other resources offered within Student Health Services are dietician counseling, which requires an additional fee, and the tobacco program called KanUquit, implemented last December by Ken Sarber, administrator at Watkins.
The Watkins Memorial Health Center welcomes back students with health events and resources on how to have a productive school year.
Health Fair
Sept. 10
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Student Health Services will have a booth set up in front of Strong Hall. Students get to experience all of what Student Health Services has to offer. The student services will talk about how to stay healthy.Watkins will be joined by other student services such as Student Recreation Fitness Center and The Emily Taylor Resource Center.
KU Smoke-out Week Sept. 17 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During this event, a booth will be set up in front of Wescoe Hall and the Student Health Services will encourage students to give up tobacco and enjoy a smoke-free life. They will give information on additional smoke-free programs.
15 minutes of Freedom
Sept. 24
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
On the first floor of Watkins, Student Health Services invites Pinnacle Career Institute to give free massages to students and talk about the campus resources on how to relieve stress. Carole Guillaume, physician at Wakins, specializes in sleep disorder and will inform students on how to handle sleep disorders. The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will also be in attendance.
Garcia said that Student Health Services was always available for students.
"Students should be proactive in there health care," she said. "Somebody is always here to help."
- Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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