Shane Sergent
Shane Sergent Awarded 2011 SDN Scholarship in Community and Preventative Medicine
By Juliet Farmer
The 2011 winner of the annual Student Doctor Network (SDN) Scholarship in Community and Preventive Medicine is Shane R. Sergent, a student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. SDN, in coordination with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), granted the third annual scholarship to provide support for students that plan to enter the field of community and preventive medicine.
Sergent has served as a lecturer and lab instructor at Washtenaw Community College, taught the lab portion of Eastern Michigan University’s biology department courses, and been published in Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Working with the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Peru Medical Mission, Sergent was co-principal investigator of the water microbiology study and project leader/principal investigator assessing pediatric anthropometry of Peru. Anthropometry is defined as “the measurement of the human individual for the purposes of understanding human physical variation.”(1)
His work in Peru included providing healthcare to areas with fragmented access due to financial and physical barriers, which involved traveling to Huamachuco, located 11,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains. As co-coordinator, executive committee treasurer and research project leader, Sergent was very involved in the planning and coordination of this trip.
While there, Sergent started three research projects, two still in effect that were published and presented as posters at the AOA and BIOMEA poster presentations in October 2010. “Assessing Pediatric Anthropometry of Peru” was created to analyze the deviation of simple anthropometry in pediatric patients from two regions within Peru. “Our results between the sites and national Peruvian averages will be used to investigate how care can best be provided to those most in need,” Sergent explains of the primary project.
The ongoing “Water Microbiology Study” targets long-term preventative efforts concentrated on identifying the cause of parasitic infestation and refining the quality of water. In 2010, Sergent also served as a sub-investigator for an environmental study regarding blood lead levels, which involved identifying concentrated lead levels in the soil and investigating how to best eliminate and control the source.
MSU Peru Medical Mission
According to Sergent, the 2010 Peru Medical Mission trip gave him the opportunity to see how medical facilities operate in the developing world and assist those with the least amount of resources. “I was able to gain hands-on experience and observe conditions that are uncommon in our medical facilities,” he adds.
In addition to his work in Peru, Sergent has presented preventative health initiatives at both Eastern Michigan University and The University of Michigan, as well as been part of a continuing local program in Washtenaw County where he helps provide health screenings to local residents and students. He has also served as the SOMA Preventative Medicine Committee Leader at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), as well as been active in community-integrated medicine projects, such as Foster Grandparent Physicals, Health Fairs, free community clinics, Boys and Girls Club of America physicals, and American Red Cross blood drives. Plus, in an effort to promote a better understanding about Osteopathic Medicine in Michigan, Sergent co-coordinated five statewide events covering the history, principles, and practices of osteopathic medicine.
When presented with the opportunity to apply for the SDN scholarship, Sergent says, “I felt that the criteria of the scholarship and the mission statement of SDN reflected what I have been doing the last few years in regards to preventive medicine, particularly this last year with the osteopathic principles and practice workshops, which provided public education about osteopathic medicine and demonstrated the overall preventive benefits of osteopathic foundations.”
He will soon head back to Peru, and, as the 2011 Research Project Leader, will be identifying and eliminating health stressors while implementing preventative health strategies in the region, as well as investigating cardiovascular health parameters by instituting PACER testing for the pediatric population.
As for his plans for the scholarship money, Sergent explains, “Since I have been asked to return to Peru to help run the program as a student adviser, I will run the trip, lead OMS I students on rotations, and implement some preventive health strategies I designed this past year. Until now, I didn’t have the money to fund my trip. This scholarship will directly help me to enhance my medical knowledge while pursuing research that will directly benefit the residents of these areas of Peru.”
Sergent says it is an honor to be awarded the SDN scholarship, “especially knowing how many of my colleagues are doing so many great projects in regards to community and preventive medicine health initiatives.”
“I view it as an opportunity to further develop health care in a region of the world that has little to no means for improving care,” Sergent concludes of his plans.
He seems to be on course to do just that.
References
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropometry, accessed June 15, 2011.
I’m just curious, are there any such programs for bringing better healthcare to poorer regions here in the U.S., such as the Appalachians? It may not be as exciting as traveling to another country, but you’re doing this to help others, not for yourself.
The Peru mission, as well as the dozens of other missions across the globe, are admirable; however charity begins at home.
There are many organizations that supply aid to the American needy. I know it is rarely enough. While I agree that charity does begin at home, there is so much more that we in our comfortable lives can do to aid people in these countries, whose only crime is to not have been born in a developed country. I am always glad to see someone willing to leave their comfortable lives in the US or other such comparable society, take the initiative and provide assistance. they not only provide hands-on care but assist in spreading the word. As I embark on my journey of becoming a physician, I hope I can one day show a fraction of the humanitarianism that this recipient. Bravo to him and the countless unnamed and faceless others like him.
Im from Peru, and really there are alot of poor people, we dont ve education free, alot of children here ve 2 work. so dont be like this…. i study dentistry in Peru and sometimes we ve to travel to very poor areas and the people dont ve nothing to eat, dont ve tv, electricity, water.. adn in 2 times i traveled to Usa in a program and its very diferent in Usa poor people ve a place to sleep, or meals, education , scolarship but here is really diferent
thank you 4 come and help my country
i love doing medical mission.. is there any scholarship offer, i really want to be a doctor to help the poor as i know its not esy to be poor.. I am also a poor girl who lived in the urban area. Can u suggest me, where can i apply sholarship for medicine student..pls.. I am a PILIPINA..thanx GODbless..