TRI, Clinton School Aiding 12th Street Effort

By David Robinson

UAMS College of Pharmacy Dean Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., (far left) and TRI Executive Director Lisa Jackson, J.D., R.N., (far right), with Clinton School students working on the 12th Street community project.  They are (l-r), Alex Handfinger, Danae Halstead, Roger Norman and Angela Jimenez-Leon.UAMS College of Pharmacy Dean Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., (far left) and TRI Executive Director Lisa Jackson, J.D., R.N., (far right), with Clinton School students working on the 12th Street community project.  They are (l-r), Alex Handfinger, Danae Halstead, Roger Norman and Angela Jimenez-Leon.

Those attending the TRI-sponsored reception for the Clinton School included (l-r) Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., Clinton School Dean Skip Rutherford, TRI Director Curtis Lowery, M.D., and TRI Executive Director Lisa Jackson, J.D., R.N.

Oct. 12, 2012 | A UAMS College of Pharmacy effort to offer health care and wellness services for residents of Little Rock’s 12th Street community is getting some additional help from a partnership that involves the Translational Research Institute and the William J. Clinton School of Public Service.

Four students at the Clinton School will complete a project titled, “Assessing the Health Needs of Individuals Living in the Little Rock 12th Street Community,” in partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy during the 2012-2013 academic year.

The partnership was praised by UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., at a recent reception for the practicum students that was hosted by the Translational Research Institute’s Community Engagement program. The students are Danae Halstead, Alex Handfinger, Angela Jimenez-Leon and Roger Norman.

The College of Pharmacy is leading the development of the UAMS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center in a donated building near 12th and Cedar streets, just five blocks south of the UAMS campus.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the Translational Research Institute and the Clinton School,” said Amy Franks, Pharm.D., who chairs the Department of Pharmacy Practice in the College of Pharmacy. “Their work will help us achieve our goals and ensure that we are providing the services the community needs most.”

The UAMS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center will open later this year after renovations, including construction of six examination and counseling rooms and a conference room. The center will offer a variety of student-provided health and wellness services, initially focusing on cardiovascular health.

Prior to co-sponsoring this project, the Translational Research Institute had forged a strong partnership with the Clinton School, where Todd Moore, program manager for the institute’s Community Engagement program, earned his master’s degree.

“We assisted the College of Pharmacy with development of the project proposal and its presentation to the Clinton School,” Moore said. “Our partnership with the Clinton School enables us to serve as a conduit for other UAMS projects that could benefit from partnerships with the Clinton School practicum teams.”

The Translational Research Institute is funded by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), with significant support from UAMS. As one of 60 CTSAs nationally, its purpose is to help UAMS researchers speed knowledge and discoveries toward improved health and health care for Arkansas and the nation. Community engagement is a key part of the institute’s mission, given the need for better understanding community health needs, especially communities that are most likely to experience disparities in health and health care.

The Translational Research Institute’s Community Engagement program also provides support for the College of Pharmacy faculty who are leading the Clinton School practicum team, meeting regularly with the Clinton School and practicum sponsors to review the team’s progress.

An array of partnerships has been established to make the UAMS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center an effective service for the community. The UAMS Colleges of Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health are also participating in the project. In addition to UAMS’ participation, a community advisory board has been formed to incorporate members of churches, citizens groups and business leaders to help guide and participate in the establishment of the center.

The building, formerly Finnegan’s Pharmacy and USA Drug, was donated by Vicki and Karrol Fowlkes, both College of Pharmacy graduates.