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Contact: Media Relations Officer
AAMC Press Room
Oct. 28-31, 2000, Hyatt Regency Chicago
312-565-4270, Skyway 261

Embargoed for Release
7:00 p.m., EST, Oct. 28, 2000

University of Colorado School of Medicine Receives AAMC Outstanding Community Service Award

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Washington, D.C., October 28, 2000 -- As the only medical school within 500 miles, the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine has the unique sense of duty to serve all citizens, not only in Denver, but the entire region. Whether caring for the medically indigent, increasing the participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the health professions, providing patient care to disadvantaged or isolated communities or addressing social needs in a medical context, CU is creating a positive impact on the vast region the school serves. In recognition of the school's commitment, CU received the 2000 AAMC Outstanding Community Service Award today at the Association's 111th annual meeting in Chicago.

"The purpose of this award is to recognize the vitally important services medical schools and teaching hospitals provide to communities across the country," said AAMC President Jordan J. Cohen, M.D. "The University of Colorado has established itself as an invaluable resource to the state of Colorado and an example of the difference a medical school can make."

For the medical school, community service is a core mission-CU is committed to "community service through sharing the School's expertise and knowledge to enhance the broader community, including their affiliated institutions, health care professionals, alumni and other colleagues, and citizens of the state."

An example of CU's community service activities is the Colorado Rural Health Scholars Program. Formed in 1994, it is an intense summer program which brings minority, rural, and economically disadvantaged high school students to the CU School of Medicine for exposure to the full range of options associated with a career in the health professions. Initiated and run by medical students, this program provides high school students a laboratory experience as well as volunteer clinical experience within the university hospital.

Other examples of Colorado's efforts to provide highly valued health care services in Denver and its surrounding areas include:

· CU's Area Health Education Center Health Institute accepts 100 high school juniors and seniors from across Colorado to focus on community-based, primary health care career options. In addition to a two-week summer learning experience, the students are also given the opportunity to gain work experience in a local health care facility within their own community.

· Medical school employees team with those from University of Colorado Hospital and other schools on campus to host a student "shadow" day as part of CU's Day on Campus program. Students from a neighboring middle school pair up with a faculty or staff member and experience a day in the life of a doctor. The tutoring program goes hand in hand with the Students for Students tutoring program. This program pairs medical students with the local middle school students to help the younger students improve their reading skills and develop organized learning habits.

· The CU Center for Human Nutrition partners with Denver public schools student services and the city's school-based health centers in the development of a Comprehensive Health Initiative. In partnership with the CU Cancer Center and other community funders, the medical school's nutrition center manages the Seeds for Health program, which targets Colorado third graders for its "5 a Day" program. Other major outreach initiatives include community nutrition education programs in metropolitan Denver and collaborative programs to develop the Colorado Nutrition Network, the goal of which is to provide nutrition education for Medicaid recipients.

· The Buff Buddy program has been active in pairing medical students with children with sickle cell anemia. Working in concert with the Denver sickle cell community and the Rod Smith Foundation, this program allows medical students to learn more about chronic illness while providing children with some added attention and positive mentoring.

· The Healthy Nations Initiative, launched with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides financial support, programmatic supervision and technical assistance to 14 American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. The purpose of this program is to facilitate the American Indian and Alaskan Native communities' efforts to reduce the prevalence of substance abuse.

· Providing prenatal and infancy home visitation for low-income women bearing their first child is another program offered by the medical school. Aimed at improving the outcomes of pregnancy through prenatal education and nutrition, this program has served over 1,000 families since its inception in 1985.

Colorado is the eighth recipient of the AAMC's Outstanding Community Service Award. Previous winners include the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1993, University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School in 1994, Boston University School of Medicine in 1995, Montefiore Medical Center in 1996, Wright State University School of Medicine in 1997, UCLA with Drew University in 1998, and Morehouse School of Medicine in 1999.

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The Association of American Medical Colleges represents the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools; the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools; some 400 major teaching hospitals, including 74 Veterans Administration medical centers; 91 academic and professional societies representing nearly 88,000 faculty members; and the nation's 67,000 medical students and 102,000 residents.

Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals available at www.aamc.org/newsroom