University of Kentucky Students Volunteer at Free Clinic for Homeless

Medical students providing care at a free clinic for homeless individuals

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News Summary

Emma Fitzgerald and Bryan McLellan, third-year medical students at the University of Kentucky, lead volunteer efforts at the CCRU Clinic, a student-run free clinic serving the homeless at the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky. The clinic aims to enhance healthcare access while providing medical students with essential clinical experience. Supported by St. Elizabeth Healthcare, it operates with a strong community partnership, engaging local physicians and volunteers to provide various medical services and outreach initiatives for underprivileged individuals.

Walton, Kentucky – Emma Fitzgerald and Bryan McLellan, third-year medical students at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine – Northern Kentucky campus, are leading volunteer efforts at the student-run free clinic designed for homeless individuals. The clinic, known as CCRU (Compassionate Care Reaching yoU), serves the homeless population residing at the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky (ESNKY) and operates with the aim of offering accessible medical care to underserved communities.

The mission of CCRU is to enhance the health and well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness while simultaneously providing medical students with valuable clinical experience and insight into the social determinants affecting health. Currently, the clinic is bolstered by the support of St. Elizabeth Healthcare, which facilitates the expansion of CCRU’s outreach initiatives.

Fitzgerald is currently serving as a Physician Liaison with CCRU Outreach in a volunteer capacity. Together with McLellan, they have been proactive in raising awareness about the clinic, even publishing an article in the Kentucky Association of Family Physicians detailing their ongoing efforts. The clinic currently engages about 40-50 local physicians and has around 20 regular volunteers who assist in its operations.

Operating directly onsite at ESNKY, the CCRU Clinic has ample resources thanks to donations from community partners and the outreach of CCRU itself. Recently, a new extension of the clinic was inaugurated at the Florence Christian Church, which operates monthly on the third Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM. This new site aims to further address the healthcare needs of individuals in underprivileged communities in Northern Kentucky, particularly those lacking insurance or reliable transportation.

The clinic’s offerings include a range of medical services facilitated by medical students and physician volunteers who serve various roles such as triagers, floor managers, and attending physicians. Each clinic night, the CCRU Clinic treats 5-10 adult patients, providing them with care in two available patient exam spaces. Patients benefit from access to various over-the-counter medications and supplies, donated by local supporters and ESNKY. Furthermore, the clinic can provide limited supplies of common antibiotics for free, established through partnerships with local pharmacies. Also, prescriptions for free medications can be issued through Faith Community Pharmacy, and bus passes are available as transportation assistance to help patients pick up their prescriptions at no cost.

CCRU Clinic operates on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9 PM from September to May and continues on Mondays from 6-9 PM during the summer months. Services are exclusively available to individuals who are overnight guests at the ESNKY shelter and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. This organized approach ensures that vulnerable populations receive the care they need without unnecessary delay.

Through their work at the clinic, Fitzgerald and McLellan describe their efforts as a “labor of love,” finding the experience both fulfilling and enriching for their medical education. They express a strong desire to motivate more local physicians to step forward and participate in the clinic’s volunteer initiatives, ultimately increasing the support available to those in need.

As CCRU continues its significant impact in Northern Kentucky, the collaborative efforts of students like Fitzgerald and McLellan highlight the importance of medical outreach not only in enhancing clinical skills but also in fostering compassion and community support for the homeless population in their region.