Physicians' Group Honors Mayo Clinic for Community Health Projects

Friday, October 20, 2000

ROCHESTER, MINN. — The foundation of the American College of Chest Physicians today recognized Mayo Clinic for two ongoing community health projects.

One program provides counseling and medications to help smokers stop smoking. Coordinated through the Rochester Salvation Army, the patients do not have access to other resources to help end their tobacco addictions. In the second program, called Mayo Outreach to Students and Teachers (MOST), medical professionals teach school-age children about making healthy choices on tobacco use, body image, pregnancy prevention and other topics.

The Chest Foundation Governors Awards were presented today in San Francisco. Mayo Clinic received $2,500 to help support the two projects.

Rochester Salvation Army Smoking Cessation Clinic

The Rochester Salvation Army Smoking Cessation Clinic, staffed by Mayo Medical School students, offers counseling and medications to help people stop smoking. Started in 1997 by a Mayo Medical School student, the program provides information and medications such as nicotine patches, nicotine gum and Zyban (bupropion).

"This clinic provides much needed help for people who usually don't have insurance or access to consistent medical care," says Robert Stroebel, M.D., a Mayo Clinic internal medicine specialist and volunteer medical director of the program. The medical students, who have been trained by the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center staff, work with patients for up to 12 weeks to help them achieve their goals of becoming tobacco-free.

The clinic is offered every Monday evening at the Rochester Salvation Army, 20 First Avenue N.E. in Rochester. Medical students volunteer their time. Donations to the Salvation Army cover the cost of medical supplies.

Mayo Clinic Outreach to Students and Teachers

Since 1996, more than 13,000 Rochester area students have learned about the importance of making healthy choices from a team of Mayo Clinic physicians and allied health staff.

Physicians, residents, medical students and other allied health staff work with classroom teachers to provide compelling, interactive lessons on making healthy choices. Tobacco education is geared for students in elementary, middle school and high school. Classes on body image are offered for junior high classes. Pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted diseases are offered for grades 6 through 12. The brain and chemical awareness is offered for sixth graders.

"The lessons are compelling," says Deborah Bowen, program outreach coordinator. "Students can get very involved and see first hand the health effects."

The two Mayo Clinic community health projects were among 23 funded by the Chest Foundation. "We're thrilled with the recognition," says Bowen. "But more importantly, we know we are helping both youngsters and adults make better choices about their health."

Shelly Plutowski 507-284-2417 (days) 507-284-2511 (evenings) e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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