Dozens of teens turn out for health conference, learn about Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Source:By LACHLAN MACLEAN/Times Herald correspondent
Vallejo Times Herald

Touro University medical students reached out Wednesday to help dozens of local teens on a host of health issues from drug use to eating disorders.
In their first Teen Life Conference, 150 students from Touro's schools of osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and health sciences used lectures and one-on-one discussions to highlight more than 15 prominent health issues. Among the issues were allergies and teen pregnancy.

The conference also offered a number of health screenings, including blood pressure checks, skin and eye examinations and body mass index evaluations.

About 70 students from Vallejo's Jesse Bethel, Hogan and Vallejo high schools and Mare Island Technical Academy milled around the booths and lecture hall, hands full of informational pamphlets and handouts.

Aaron Aquino, 17, a Jesse Bethel High School senior, said the conference was very informative.

"They taught us important stuff about staying healthy, especially about STDs and drugs," Aquino said. "More students should come next time, because they don't focus too much on these subjects in high school."

Event organizers Samantha Pecson and Melody Padilla had been working on the conference idea since last summer.

"I think it was a good turnout for our first event," Pecson said. "We're very excited, students are coming and getting involved, and you can really feel the volunteers' enthusiasm. We hope they will come again next year and bring even more people."

John Glover, chairman of Touro's school of osteopathic manipulative medicine, said that in addition helping the teens, the medical students were able to get valuable experience diagnosing and discussing maladies.

"The (Touro students) are getting experience treating real people with real problems, and getting a chance to apply what they've learned in class," Glover said. "It's a good contrast to the lectures and lab work."

Richard Hassel, Touro's vice president of administration, said the event was "awesome," and he was "thoroughly impressed" with the event's organization.

"Part of our curriculum is community involvement, and it is important that Vallejoans take advantage of the benefits of having a medical school in their community," Hassel said. "I'm so proud of these future doctors; they did this on their own initiative."

David Swedler, 25, a student doctor of osteopathic medicine, said it was "very rewarding" to participate in the first Teen Life Conference, and hopes the event will grow in the future.

"It was great to be able to pull together as a school and do something good for the education and wellness of the Vallejo community," Swedler said. "I think everyone involved got something valuable out of this experience."