The Lighthouse Totally free Medical Clinic’s (LFMC) once-a-year gala fundraiser returned to an in-particular person party this 12 months and raised $20,000 to assist fund the student-operate absolutely free clinic.
For nearly two many years, the LFMC has supplied no cost medical and preventive treatment to uninsured and underinsured citizens of Buffalo.
Established and managed by health-related pupils from the Jacobs College of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, the non-earnings clinic is situated at the Neighborhood Health and fitness Middle of Buffalo, 34 Benwood Ave.
The LFMC offers all of its providers for free, which includes ill visits, dermatology and women’s overall health products and services, once-a-year do the job or faculty physicals, and sexually-transmitted disorder screening/other labs.
Any supplies essential for these are paid out for by donations.
A lot more than 300 people attended this year’s Lighthouse Gala fundraiser Feb. 12 at the Foundry Suites on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo.
“It is heartwarming to see group associates and space firms support the mission of the Lighthouse Cost-free Professional medical Clinic,” says Allison Brashear, MD, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs College.
“Delivering totally free health-related providers to vulnerable populations, whilst giving beneficial coaching practical experience for our healthcare students, is genuinely a win-acquire predicament.”
Among the basket auction things that created the optimum bids have been: a clinical spa donation from the Aesthetic Associates Centre a grand jacuzzi package from Russell’s Steaks, Chops & Far more and a $100 gift certification from the Taste of Siam restaurant, according to Jamie Hagerty, a 1st-calendar year healthcare university student who is the incoming fundraising and outreach supervisor for the LFMC.
Dwell auction favorites ended up: a BBQ in the yard of David A. Freedman, PhD a boat tour and lunch with Michael E. Cain, MD and a trip to Hatchets and Hops for 6 people today with Nicolas J. Silvestri, MD Hagerty claims.
Tessa Alianell, a 2nd-year health care scholar who is the outgoing fundraising and outreach supervisor for the LFMC, says it was great to be equipped to have the fundraiser be an in-human being celebration after 2021’s celebration was held as a digital auction because of to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are normally so honored and humbled by the guidance the Buffalo community extends each individual yr to the Lighthouse Clinic and for the gala,” she claims.
“Even inspite of the trials the compact company community has confronted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had an overpowering sum of guidance in both monetary and product donations for our occasion.”
“There was definitely a ton of pleasure for the gala as it was an prospect for individuals to appear alongside one another in man or woman yet again and for Buffalo firms to display off what they have to provide to a reside viewers,” Alianell provides.
In addition to supplying free medical providers to assist battle well being disparities in Buffalo, the Lighthouse Clinic offers precious teaching knowledge for clinical students.
“Over the past 12 months, I have uncovered so significantly in and out of the classroom listed here in Buffalo, but lots of of my most impactful classes have been figured out as a manager and volunteer at Lighthouse,” Alianell claims. “After investing numerous hours learning and mastering, I go to the clinic on Fridays and am reminded about why I came to health care faculty — to provide some others.”
Alianell claims medical learners have the opportunity to apply fingers-on skills this sort of as drawing blood and coordinating a patient’s take a look at from start out to finish.
“We get to do this all alongside our fantastic allied wellbeing associates and discover firsthand how an interprofessional staff gives treatment for some of our most vulnerable populations,” she states.
“I have noticed pupils, volunteers and advisers alike function alongside one another to go previously mentioned and outside of to serve sufferers and the local community — whether or not it be paying for a patient’s Uber, calling midweek to check out up on anyone, or starting a wholly new initiative to meet up with the needs of our community — there is often an individual going the excess mile.”
“Seeing college students, medical professionals, and allied health and fitness gurus from the local local community arrive together and volunteer their time to offer care for our community has been these kinds of a humbling and enriching expertise,” Alianell adds.
The clinic will take appointments and wander-ins are also welcome. Each individual individual is screened for COVID-19 indications and exposure. If they display screen beneficial, they are referred outside of the clinic so they can be examined and acquire treatment in a protected environment.
The clinic’s hrs are from 5 to 10 p.m. each Friday. New stroll-ins are recognized right until 8 p.m.