Public health services are essential to the well being of our society, said Ann Rathbun, Ph.D., assistant professor of health sciences, Ohio University College of Health and Human Services. Community Service Programs (CSP) plays an integral and important role in promoting and providing access to public health services for Southeastern Ohioans, said Rathbun. “And does a fabulous job of doing this.”

Rathbun was the keynote speaker at CSP’s 2005 Recognition Breakfast, which took place Dec. 2 at the Ohio University Inn. CSP holds the annual breakfast to honor and thank its employees and community partners.

“It’s a real honor to be here,” said Dean Jack Brose, D.O.. Brose reviewed some of CSP’s accomplishments, including starting the Free Clinical Services program in May. Brose serves on the medical staff of the clinic.

Brose said that just as OU-COM rests on a three-legged stool — teaching, research and community service, CSP rests upon three legs of support.

“University support has been key,” citing one leg. Legislative support is another, he said, naming Rep. Jimmy Stewart and Sen. Joy Padgett, U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland and Gov. Bob Taft as among those state officials who have supported CSP’s efforts. The third leg, said Brose, was “our community partners, without which CSP or the medicals school could not function. Thank you for all you do for the community of Southeastern Ohio.” 

“As usual, it’s been a very busy year for CSP,” said Kathy Trace, R.N., director of CSP. “This year we were singled out as one of the Ohio Heroes by Ohio magazine. That would not have been possible without the help of all of you.”

Trace said CSP had worked especially closely with OU-COM medical students this year and thanked Ed Gotfried, D.O., medical director of CSP, and Chris Simpson, D.O.; Martha Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.; and Gerald Rubin, D.O., for providing physician support for the Free Clinic program.

Receiving employee recognition awards were Ann Pearch, prenatal nurse coordinator, and Jane Crace, administrative assistant. Le Ann Matvey, Southeastern Ohio Breast and Cervical Cancer Project coordinator, received an appreciation award.

CSP staff members offered some of the program’s vital statistics for the year: the Free Clinic saw 68 clients, making 61 referrals to local care providers; 42 educational presentations were made that reached 1,900 people; 34 breast and cervical cancer clinics were held, during which 240 clients were seen. The Health Adult Project held 55 clinics, reaching 1,440 clients, an increase of 219 from the previous year; the project also provides screening for diabetes and blood pressure at Athens’ Wal-Mart.

CSP instigates or is involved in a variety of community projects, including supporting Hocking.Athens.Perry Community Action’s food distribution, giving out American Medical Student Association food boxes and providing immunizations for local businesses. Its perinatal program, started in 2000, serves the social, emotional and physical needs of women, helping Athens County achieve one of the lowest premature birth rates in the region. CSP partners with Women, Infants and Children, Help Me Grow and River Rose OB-GYN to help provide better health-care access for area women and children. The Childhood Immunization Program, through its collaboration with school nurses and other community partners, provides free immunizations and other services to area children. CSP’s car seat program installed 24 child car seats, targeting eight more to be furnished by the end of the year. The Well Child Program helps screen children for various health issues. Through Healthy Child Care Ohio, CSP delivers valuable resources to area child-care providers. Through Hudson Health Center, CSP helps to monitor the health status of students who have been exposed to tuberculosis.

Providing some early morning humor at the event, CSP’s AmeriCorps members sang a spirited, if modified, version of “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog” that echoed the virtues of service in ComCorps, CSP’s AmeriCorps’ program.

“Wonderful things go on in the basement of Grosvenor,” where CSP is located, said Rathbun, “because they (CSP staff) are never there — they’re out in the community doing.”

“I’m glad to see the people of Community Service Programs get this well deserved recognition,” said Rep. Stewart. “Community Service Programs helps heighten Ohio University’s reputation as a service provider. Its programs impact thousands and thousands of people for the better. There is a great need for these programs.”