In Antigua and Barbuda, rates of severe illnesses like breast cancer and prostate cancer have increased significantly, with the breast cancer rate reported as 42.1 per 100,000 people and the prostate cancer rate reported at 52.9 per 100,000 men.

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In these communities, outreach services and programs at medical schools not only provide critical healthcare, but also help students, under the guidance of exceptional faculty, see real world applications of their studies. American University of Antigua College of Medicine’s (AUACOM) Community Outreach Committee brings these initiatives to life with local clinics where students conduct medical screenings for Antiguans as part of the country’s broader healthcare plan and initiatives. 

“We receive requests ranging from general examinations like blood pressure and respiratory screenings to specific exams like the prostate screenings we do with Lions Club or the HPV screenings we do with the Ministry of Health,” shares Dr. Andrea Vaughans, Committee Chair. “Often, many of these requests become annual, such as the breast screenings we do every October with the General Hospital.”

Dr. Vaughans then conducts a site visit to plan the layout of the various stations like BMI, heart and respiratory rate examinations, history examinations, and physical examinations, which will vary depending on the space that is available.

After analyzing both the request and the site, she evaluates which students are best suited for and capable of conducting the requested support and services. For example, MED1 and MED2 students can conduct examinations for vitals, and more senior students can gather medical histories and perform physical examinations, so they all receive appropriate hands-on experience. If there is time and space after all of the screenings, students can observe different stations and even participate in more advanced examinations as part of their learning.  

“I’ve had students do prostate exams and other advanced screenings because the crowd slowed down and the administering physician was willing to teach,” Dr. Vaughans says. “These cases expand the education scenario, and the physician gets a chance to teach that student how to approach another system or service.” 

These outreach programs create a balance that provides AUA students the space to learn how to conduct medical examinations in a practical and applied way, while also helping people in the community, who need essential services. 

“We want the community to benefit from us being here,” Vaughans says. “We go predominantly to rural areas and communities for this reason. But these visits must also benefit the students’ educational growth – it’s about working to cultivate a community outreach department that is both effective for recipients and allows students to enhance their learning.”

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