So begins an episode of “Let’s Ask Alice,” a television show I have been producing and hosting here at Gavilan College for the past year. Each episode explores a different health topic of interest to the community, and includes in-studio interviews with service providers and people who have direct experience with the topic, our community’s “resident experts.” “Let’s Ask Alice” airs several times each day on GavTV-18, “the Gavilan Channel,” and is broadcast through the cable system to thousands of homes in the Gavilan Joint Community College District. Since we started, tapes of “Let’s Ask Alice” have made their way into classrooms and medical offices in the community.
“Today we will be sharing information about Diabetes. We are fortunate to have Marcia Byrd, our resident expert with us. Marcia is a Clinical Health Educator at our local Kaiser Medical Clinics here in Gilroy. Welcome Marcia.”
Gavilan College’s district area encompasses 2,700 square miles in two counties. We are designated a Hispanic Serving Institution in a rapidly growing district. Nearly 7 out of 10 students are either underinsured or do not have any health insurance at all. As the Public Health Nurse for the College, (also known as the Student Health Nurse), I am involved on a daily basis with the early identification, prevention and education of conditions that could impede a student’s success. These health services assist the student in staying in school.
“Here at Gavilan College, we work with our students to understand what diabetes is and how one can live a full, healthy life with diabetes. Marcia, can you share with us-- What is diabetes? What causes it?”
Student Health Services at Gavilan College has been in operation since January 1994. In addition to clinical services (e.g. tuberculin skin testing, first aid services, blood pressure screenings), I provide individual, group and campus wide health information, and health education sessions. I also coordinate campus-wide health education events, which have been incorporated into the fabric of the college. One of these is the annual Health Faire which is attended by both students and community members. Faculty members incorporate the Health Faire into their syllabi; and community agencies make it a priority to participate each year. The Health Faire includes hands-on health and mental health activities, showcases services from 54 agencies and draws over 1,500 attendees. During the 2003 Health Faire, GavTV covered the event and recognized the strong audience interest. Thus was the idea born to have a health information and education segment as an ongoing programming component of GavTV.
Through the support of Fran Lozano, the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Marilyn Abad-Cardinalli, Executive Producer of GavTV, “Let’s Ask Alice” was developed. Under the leadership of the former Vice President of Student Services, Dr. John Baker, and the former Dean of Student Services, Dr. Margery Regalado-Rodriguez, and now the leadership of Sherrean Carr, Vice President of Student Services and Instruction, the program continues to flourish. This health education program not only serves the Public Health mission of Student Health Services, but the educational mission of the college, as students in the television classes serve as crew members and production teams for the show. They not only get the active experience of creating a television show, but are incidentally exposed to the health messages which are the show’s focus.
“As recently as 10 years ago, diabetes was a disease that someone else got. However, today more than 17 million Americans or more than 6.2% of our total population have diabetes. This is more than a 30% increase since 1990. Diabetes is the 5th deadliest disease in the United States. And this year alone, the American Diabetes Association, States that more than 210,000 will die from the disease and its related complications.”
The mission of Gavilan College Student Health is to provide health services using the Public Health model. The Public Health model informs, educates and empowers students about health issues and links students to needed personal health services. It mobilizes community partnerships to identify and solve health problems, and partners with local health departments to ensure early identification, and intervention for community wide public health issues.
Public Health has an important role in improving people’s lives. From clean and safe water supplies to the effective elimination of waste, to the active prevention of immunizable diseases such as measles, and polio, Public Health plays a role in the choices people make and the services they receive. Public Health is active not only in infectious disease prevention, but also in prevention of injuries and chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes. Public Health is also active in tobacco control and education as well as nutrition at every stage in our lives. HIV/AIDS, STDS, and family spacing and family planning have developed into important health education needs. Lately we have heard about Public Health in the news in relation to bioterrorism. By working together to bring health information into people’s homes we are creating a more healthy environment for our community.
“As Marcia shared, our best prevention for diabetes is making healthy lifestyle changes now. Take a moment to incorporate healthy eating, a walk a day, and talking to your family about healthy lifestyle changes.”
Nine programs have aired so far, roughly one per month while classes are in session. The pilot episode provided the framework for “Let’s Ask Alice.” Each show has an opening with feedback from the previous month, then establishment of the current program, introduction of the topic and speaker, questions and dialogue, and a wrap up which includes community resources and web resources with a sign off. A current community resource document is created for each show and displayed at the end of each show.
For World AIDS Day I interviewed a local Gilroy resident—a mother who lost her son to AIDS. This mother is very active with the organization PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). I also highlighted Gavilan College Student Health and the recognition of World AIDS Day on campus. One comment from a 70-year old adaptive physical education student stated that this program was the most touching look at the AIDS epidemic she had ever seen.
In Bioterrorism and the Role of County Health Departments I interviewed the Health Educator for Santa Clara County regarding these issues, and what our students and community can do in preparation for such events. We addressed peoples’ worries and concerns by focusing on developing a disaster plan for their family. An excellent health education tool in several languages was discussed and made available. Feedback on this specific show indicated that community members did pick up these emergency preparedness guides.
A show about Healthy Relationships highlighted the Student Health and Student Clubs activities on campus about relationships and their importance. We discussed Gavilan College’s working relationships with community agencies such as Community Solutions, which provides shelter, counseling, and other services to combat domestic violence.
A two-part series on Diabetes included the Kaiser Permanente Gilroy Clinical Health Educator joining me in the studio for a discussion about diabetes. There was a tremendous outpouring of responses in regards to this program. We followed up with : Diabetes-How one can become even healthier because of the diagnosis. I worked with Marcia Byrd, Clinical Health Educator, in a very hands-on practical setting using props for the audience to see. Marcia discussed how to incorporate these lifestyle changes to either prevent the onset of diabetes or to live healthily with it.
Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. This topic was presented because we had three young people in our service area (not our students) successfully commit suicide. I told the audience: “Today we are going to talk about a subject that is not easily understood nor is easy to really talk about. We do need to speak about it as it is a real and serious threat; it is one of leading causes of death among teens and young adults. There is a positive side to the problem: Most seriously depressed people can be helped and many suicides can and have been prevented”.
A show on West Nile Virus was produced after a student ran into my office concerned because she and other students had found a dead bird on campus. They wondered if they should they be worried about West Nile virus. Resident expert Kriss Costa of the Santa Clara Valley Vector Control district came to the studio to talk about the concerns about mosquito bites and the relationship with West Nile Virus.
In time for winter outbreaks, Flu provided information about healthy things one could do to prevent exposure to the flu. This was very timely and reflective of the worry occurring nationwide after one of the two major suppliers of flu vaccine in the United States was unable to provide the vaccine. Viewers learned that due to the limited supply of flu vaccine, the Health Departments would work with local physicians, hospitals and healthcare providers to make sure those at highest risk for complications from being sick with the flu would receive the vaccine.
More shows are now in the planning stage and will be produced this semester, including one about Exercise, with information on Do’s and Don’ts; exercise after injury or with severe health conditions addressing the classes and facilities available at Gavilan College. We’ll take a look at the equipment and programs used in the Adaptive Physical Education program that make it possible for people with differing abilities to be physically fit. Another show will explore the health implications of high tech in Computers and Eye Strain, interviewing a local optometrist about what can be done to prevent and relieve symptoms.
“Remember: The information you hear during our time together is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you have questions or concerns, please speak with your health care provider.”
The benefits to “Let’s Ask Alice” are many. In support of the Gavilan College mission, the health information and education programs have been delivered in a user-friendly format. There has been positive feedback from high school students, Gavilan College students, community members, and businesses. The show has encouraged strong and ongoing collaboration between Gavilan College and our community. By drawing on the knowledge of community experts, we have increased both the community agencies’ and Gavilan College’s visibility.
All involved in this process have experienced a wonderful personal development as we met the challenges of learning new skills and developing a process and a format that would make “Let’s Ask Alice” a success. An additional outcome has been invitations from numerous community members, businesses, and statewide organizations to present this information in business lobbies, and at a statewide conference. I believe that the model we have developed will be reproducible for community colleges statewide.
“Let’s Ask Alice” will continue to provide health information and education for our student population and communities by inviting college and community experts to communicate through the medium of television. We will continue to provide a learning experience for the students in the TV class, as they serve on filming and studio crews, and learn the process of interviewing. We hope that viewers will take an increased responsibility in the area of health and self-management of their health.
“So, this is your host of “Let’s Ask Alice” thanking each one of you for allowing us to spend this time together. Please join us next month. I do hope you decide to find joy in every day … Wishing you the best of health”
