Author: cugomobile

As we met early on a hot and humid Saturday morning to hold the latest community event at Blue Ridge Community Center for HRSA, we realized the weather, although clear and beautiful, would be VERY hot as the day progressed!  We had 7 students (yes 7!) for the day, and it was exciting to have them all together!  We quickly got set up for the day with our NEW Go Mobile Tent (courtesy of Prisma) under a nice, shade tree and settled in to await our participants’ arrival.  We spent some time going over different topics related to HRSA Go Mobile community events and completing paperwork for those students who were attending their last clinical day before graduation!    

Ms. Anna, the matriarch of the Blue Ridge Community Center, graced us with her always present hospitality and even told us many stories about the evolution of the Blue Ridge Community Centers’s newly built basketball court that had been a vision of hers for many years!  Talk about dedication and drive… Ms. Anna has plenty!  She is simply amazing!

Although we didn’t have a record turn-out for this event, we still showed up, stayed present and let the community know we were available for them!   The temperature soared into the mid 90’s, and the humidity was ever high thanks to summers in the south.  We ended the day back at Edwards Hall for a post conference with fabulous air conditioning!  

On July 19^th 2025, Clemson’s HRSA Go Mobile health fair travelled to the F.A.R.M. center, a celebration of agriculture in Oconee County. A wide variety of visitors come to the F.A.R.M. center for a morning farmer’s market and various events like livestock and tractor shows and rodeos on weekend nights. Field Supervisor Dr. Lucia Gonzales made the rounds to the vendor tables, explained the purpose of Go Mobile and encouraged people to have a health screening performed. Clinical Supervisors Kelsey Elmore and Catherine Smith, along with the HRSA trainee, recruited from the passerby. Where at other sites the team would count waves and honks from passing cars, at the F.A.R.M. center there is a closer level of interaction. An estimated 60 people returned our greetings to them as they walked by our table in the middle of the farmer’s market during the clinic day. Sixteen people sat down for a screening, and all but 2 hailed from DRU zip codes. Prisma RN Preceptor Megyn Dawson provided immunization information. The team measured 11 blood pressures, took 10 blood glucose readings, and shared low glycemic diet handouts with 4 people. 

One clinical supervisor purchased 2 pounds of locally grown jalapeños to make pepper jelly. The vendor next to the HRSA table saw the same supervisor admiring the tomatoes and made a gift of two large tomatoes of the “mortgage lifter” variety. He told us the person who developed this type was so successful selling the seeds, plants and fruits that he was able to pay off his farm’s mortgage! 

It was a wonderful day on July 27, 2024, at The F.A.R.M. as usual. The day was sunny and fruitful. We worked with what we had on this day, as our driver needed to address an important personal matter. Catherine Smith was our clinical field coordinator and Nancy DeVol and I supervised the students. Haley Bryan with Prisma helped us get the day going as well.

Several statistics were obtained. Our day included 32 total participants. We had:

• 24 glucose readings
• 12 glycemic educations
• 31 blood pressure measurements
• No waves
• 2 clinical supervisors
• 1 RN preceptor
• 1 clinical field coordinator
• 2 trainees
• No driver

We missed our driver on this day, but as he was out, we wished him the best. Thankfully, he shared with as that all went well. We were received with a warm welcome. Several items were for sale, such as fresh, locally grown foods. Many interesting individuals were met, including a volunteer with Oconee’s Community Emergency Response Team. We were gifted fresh foods.

I deeply enjoy attending the HRSA Go Mobile Saturday events. I gain personal satisfaction when attending and knowing that we are helping our community. I always feel well received and the students are a joy to work with. The students are engaged and come from many different backgrounds and stages in life. I am excited about every group that comes.

HRSA Go Mobile returned to Our Daily Bread, an Oconee County feeding venue for the food insecure on March 8, 2025, to hold a health fair and vaccine event. Our location in the rear parking lot of Our Daily Bread precluded counting waves or honks from passing cars, but we did hear a loud train whistle from a passing engine. The five HRSA trainees enthusiastically greeted all of the shelter clients who walked our way. The Prisma RN Preceptor Megyn Dawson administered vaccines to three clients, including two who specifically came just to receive vaccines. We saw a total of 13 patients and measured 11 blood pressures, seven blood glucose levels, and 5 body mass indexes (BMI). The trainees’ efforts to interact with the population revealed a misconception that if we found abnormal blood pressure or blood glucose, the patient would be sent to the hospital. We clarified that no one was at risk of being transported to the hospital against their will, and soon more clients began to approach our tables. We were unable to fully gain the trust of the cats living under the parking lot shed, however. The trainees shared with Clinical Supervisors Kate Luckett and Catherine Smith that of all the HRSA Go Mobile sites, Our Daily Bread appeared to have the most need of our services. 

*did not mention Field coordinator as this was the DNP Translational research day.

Catherine Smith

It was a cold and windy day on October 24, 2024, at the Blue Ridge Community Center. It was fun as usual though. Our team consisted of Dr. Gonzales, our field coordinator, Kelsey Elmore and I as clinical supervisors, and Megyn Dawson and Jorge Restrepo from Prisma.

A variety of statistics were obtained. We attended 4 patients and had:

• 3 glucose readings
• 1 glycemic education
• 1 blood pressure measurement
• 0 BMI
• 1 covid booster shot
• 28 total waves, 2 of which were “two-finger waves”
• 2 clinical supervisors
• 1 RN preceptor
• 1 clinical field coordinator
• 4 trainees
• 1 driver

This may have been the day we established the addition of tracking the “waves” we received. Furthermore, on this day we were by a cemetery that had a tombstone with the birth date of 1808! This day was also interesting in that, we were being interviewed. Dr. Allison came and gave us some interviewing tips. It was very entertaining seeing how the camera brought the best in everyone and learning more about the students.

This group of students went through the birth of a baby and an engagement! Such a fun group. It is very fulfilling to see the students not just complete their studies but experience the beautiful stages of life. It is always such a joyful day working with the HRSA Go Mobile events!