USC Student Health: Navigating Health and Well-being in a Dynamic Era
USC Student Health stands as a comprehensive pillar of support for the well-being of students across the University of Southern California's two main campuses: University Park and Health Sciences. More than just a medical facility, it functions as a vital public health organization, collaborating with external bodies like the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to foster a secure and healthy environment for all. This report delves into the multifaceted operations and strategic advancements of USC Student Health, particularly highlighting its pivotal role during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing commitment to student health and well-being.
A Passion for College Health: Leading Through Adversity
College health, as articulated by Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, FACHA, Chief Health Officer for USC Student Health, is not merely a profession but a profound passion and a lifelong avocation. This field, she asserts, is intrinsically linked to the most pressing issues of our time, centers on the welfare of a crucial demographic, and is ultimately indispensable to the success of both individual students and the academic institutions they inhabit. The past two years have underscored the paramount importance of college health with remarkable clarity. From the initial communication regarding the coronavirus to the USC community on January 23, 2020, to the milestone of administering the one millionth COVID-19 test in the spring of 2022, the university demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the health of its campus. Throughout this period, institutional leaders consistently prioritized health and well-being, while faculty and staff exhibited unwavering dedication, providing essential services amidst pervasive disruptions. The collective efforts enabled the surmounting of challenges previously unimaginable. This annual update offers a focused overview of the commitment and strategic direction of USC Student Health, encompassing its medical and mental health providers, nursing team, administrative staff, health promotion and prevention specialists, and colleagues across the broader health care system, health professions, and campus departments. The organization's ongoing mission is to serve students and offer guidance during the complex transition from pandemic to endemic phases of public health. Dr. Van Orman expresses deep inspiration from the endeavors of her team and the resilient response of the university community, viewing their collective work as a constant affirmation of core values: the mental health, physical health, and overall well-being of students.
Sarah Van Orman's distinguished career in college health is further evidenced by her roles as Associate Vice Provost and Division Chief of College Health within the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Her past presidency of the American College Health Association (ACHA) and her receipt of the ACHA Edward Hitchcock Award for Outstanding Contributions in College Health in 2020 attest to her significant impact on the field. In 2022, she was honored with the Presidential Medallion of the University of Southern California, one of the institution's most prestigious accolades. Board-certified in both pediatrics and internal medicine, Dr. Van Orman also actively contributes as a medical care provider at USC Student Health, typically seeing patients on Fridays.
COVID-19 Response: A Monumental Undertaking in Testing and Vaccination
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an unprecedented scale of response from USC Student Health. The organization played a critical role in safeguarding the campus community through extensive testing and vaccination programs. As of June 2022, USC Student Health had administered over 1.2 million COVID-19 tests to students, faculty, and staff. This testing was conducted continuously across both primary campuses and extended to additional USC facilities on Catalina Island and throughout Los Angeles County. To manage this immense logistical challenge, multiple operational sites were established on both the University Park Campus and the Health Sciences Campus. A dedicated, round-the-clock response team ensured that USC students, employees, and their families had continuous access to the most current information and essential services. During the peak of the Omicron surge in early 2022, the clinical teams within Student Health were actively engaged in testing, processing results, and providing care for more than 35,000 individuals each week.
The transformation of campus spaces into large-scale testing and immunization sites represented a significant undertaking, requiring close cooperation with numerous campus partners, most notably Auxiliary Services Operations. The campus vaccination program commenced in January 2021, initially prioritizing healthcare workers (Group 1A) in accordance with public health guidelines. Guadalupe Felix of USC Student Health is depicted administering one of the first COVID-19 vaccines on the USC University Park Campus to Avishai Sadan, Dean of the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, symbolizing the beginning of this critical initiative.
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Streamlining Health Services: From International Student Onboarding to Sensitive Care Protocols
USC Student Health has developed highly efficient processes to manage the health needs of its diverse student population, particularly during peak periods. Each fall, the arrival of over 5,000 new international students presents a unique set of health requirements. The Clinical Operations team expertly handles the verification of health records, insurance eligibility, titer checks, vaccinations, COVID-19 vaccination status, and tuberculosis screenings. This comprehensive onboarding process, often completed within a two-week window, has been colloquially nicknamed "Immuchella," reflecting its scale and efficiency.
Ensuring patient safety and comfort is a paramount concern. To this end, USC Student Health has formalized a standard for sensitive exam protocols. These protocols involve trained assistants to guarantee the highest quality of care and patient comfort during examinations. The established protocol and accompanying materials have been adopted as a model by other institutions of higher education. Detailed explanations of the trained assistant protocol for sensitive exams are available in patient education materials, such as the "Sensitive Health Exam" booklet, and in employee training resources, including instructional videos for trained assistants. This focus on specialized care extends to specific patient groups, such as male students undergoing sensitive exams or rectal exams, and also underscores the commitment to providing comprehensive care for student-athletes.
Elevating Care for Student-Athletes: Integration with Keck Medicine
USC Student Health has significantly enhanced the medical care provided to USC student-athletes through the full integration of athletic medicine services with Keck Medicine of USC. This collaborative effort ensures that student-athletes receive world-class healthcare, a cornerstone of the university's commitment to being the most student-athlete-centered program in the nation. The announcement of this integration was made jointly by Charles F. Zukoski, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs; Rod Hanners, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Keck Medicine of USC; and Mike Bohn, Director of USC Athletics. This strategic alignment leverages the expertise and resources of the USC Student Health and the nationally recognized, U.S. News & World Report-ranked academic medical center of Keck Medicine of USC, thereby enriching the overall student-athlete experience. Athletic trainers, such as Jon Yonamine, are integral to this care, as exemplified by his assistance to Boogie Ellis of Men's Basketball following an injury. Medical professionals like Alex Weber, MD, of Orthopedics/Sports Medicine at Keck Medicine of USC, are also key contributors to this integrated approach.
Proactive Prevention: Expanding Consent Education and Advocate Services
In its ongoing commitment to fostering a safe and respectful campus environment, USC Student Health has significantly invested in prevention strategies, particularly in the realm of consent education and support services. Over the past year, the organization substantially increased the number of dedicated staff positions focused on consent education, outreach, and 24/7 advocate services. This represents a five-fold increase in staffing over the preceding four years, enabling a more robust and widespread delivery of crucial educational content. With this expanded capacity, USC Student Health has been able to develop and disseminate a comprehensive curriculum for all undergraduate students. This curriculum aims to foster a deep understanding of healthy relationships, personal boundaries, the nuances of consent, and the importance of prosocial bystander behaviors.
The advocate services provide a critical lifeline, available 24/7 for survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and gender-based harm. Advocates operate with strict confidentiality and can offer invaluable support, including accompaniment to various services, arrangements for transportation, assistance with academic accommodations, and comprehensive information regarding reporting options. All client interactions are approached through a trauma-informed lens, and every subsequent decision regarding action is guided by the client's autonomy and direction.
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Addressing Campus Sexual Assault: A Cross-Collaborative Dialogue
In April 2022, coinciding with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, USC Student Health spearheaded a significant campus-wide initiative titled "Sexual Citizens: A Campus-wide Discussion." This day-long event brought together students, faculty, and university leadership for an in-depth exploration of the complex factors contributing to campus sexual assault, focusing on power, autonomy, and environmental influences. Drawing inspiration from the seminal work "Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus," USC welcomed authors Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan to the University Park Campus. Their presence facilitated profound discussions on critical issues such as the impact of socioeconomic status on control of spaces, the role of student housing infrastructure and policy, the creation of safe social spaces for student interactions, and other dynamics that shape power imbalances in social and sexual encounters among undergraduate students. This impactful program was a testament to interdepartmental collaboration, co-organized with the Office of the Provost, USC Academic Senate, USC Student Affairs, and the Office of the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer.
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