Dear colleagues,
Late last month, Vice Dean Dr. Ross Zafonte and I joined medical students, resident physicians and physician faculty at our MedZou Community Health Clinic, located at the MU Family Impact Center in Columbia.
MedZou is one of the most inspiring examples of our mission in action. This faculty-sponsored, student-run clinic provides free, high-quality, patient-centered primary and specialty care to the uninsured, while giving our students invaluable experience working with underserved populations. Since opening its doors in 2008, MedZou has combined education, advocacy and community partnership to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Every Thursday evening from 5 to 9 p.m., our students and faculty provide primary care to those who might otherwise go without. On most Monday evenings, specialty clinics offer services such as dermatology, ophthalmology, diabetes care, gynecology, musculoskeletal care, neurology, and mental health.
During the Thursday evening I observed, Dr. Natalie Long, associate professor of Family and Community Medicine served as the attending physician. Dr. Long takes turns supervising the clinic with our other faculty advisors, Dr. Erik Lindbloom, Dr. Whitney LeFevre and Dr. Krystal Foster. Several other faculty members donate their time when they can, and new volunteers are always welcome!
During my visit, I was able to observe how doctors in training learn to think like a doctor. MedZou is often one of the first clinical experiences our medical students encounter. By January of their first year, more than 90% of MU medical students commit to a volunteer position at MedZou, which allows them to gain critical thinking skills and exposure to underserved populations while learning in a real-world clinical environment. Taking their classroom study and applying it to patient care allows them to begin thinking about patients' problems the way a doctor needs to think early in their training.
The learning cycle happens repeatedly – and it works. This is how we train doctors. And at the same time, we are helping patients in need. As it has in the past, observing this happen in real time sent chills of satisfaction and gratitude up my spine.
The scope of services MedZou offers is impressive and includes free medical visits, dietetics consultations, pharmacy guidance, laboratory services, case management for chronic diseases and more. MedZou’s reach extends beyond the clinic walls, with outreach to homeless shelters, interpreter services for non-English speakers, and patient advocacy to navigate the health care system.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our faculty mentors, student volunteers, and community partners. They are living proof that health care is not only about treating illness, it’s about building trust, restoring dignity and addressing barriers to care.
Please join me in thanking everyone who makes MedZou possible. Your work reflects the very best of our academic health system advancing knowledge, serving the public, and training the next generation of compassionate physicians to save and improve lives.
Sincerely,
Rick Barohn, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson Dean, School of Medicine
rbarohn@health.missouri.edu
