A distinguished physician researcher has been named director of a new program at WSU Spokane to improve community health in underserved populations and geographic regions.
Abrom is enthusiastic about corn. “I had so much fun shucking it,” said the Orchard Center elementary student in the West Valley School District, “and it was so good that my taste buds did backflips!”
Abrom is one of hundreds of local school children who are the recipients of obesity prevention and nutrition education, among the largest community projects worked on by the faculty and staff of the Youth and Family division of WSU Extension, which is headquartered on the WSU Spokane campus.
Screening for hepatitis C could someday be available in pharmacies thanks in part to a research study under way by the WSU College of Pharmacy and funded by the national Community Pharmacy Foundation.
Tirsit Asfaw was born in Ethiopia and as a child, moved with her family to Seattle. She attended WSU after high school, graduating in 1997 in microbiology.
With plans to develop the Jensen Byrd property on the southwest end of campus, construct the Spokane Teaching Health Clinic on the southeast end, and host the north landing of the gateway bridge that will cross over the railroad tracks on the south side of campus, expansion at WSU Spokane continues.
The pace has been brisk since the first public pronouncement in mid-2014 that WSU would be pursuing its own medical school. Now, with the first class anticipated to begin less than two years from now, the development process has accelerated.
Students in the health sciences programs at WSU Spokane will enter into professions that serve the community.
But instead of waiting until graduation, they can go into the community during the school year and serve through Cougs in the Community, an initiative that began in August.