Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun are the main cause of skin cancer and UV damage can cause wrinkles and blotchy skin.
Skin cancer is preventable and communities, health professionals and families can work together toward prevention. Wear sunscreen, hats, UV blocking sunglasses and learn the most dangerous times for UV exposure.
Skin cancer affects people of all ages, including older adults.
Dr. Anna Lovett is a second year resident at the University of Virginia’s Medical School and following are some of her impressions and thoughts she gained while in rural Southwest Virginia.
Spending time working with family medicine physicians in Lebanon and Honaker, VA, through the GMEC Rural Rotation has provided a realistic and refreshing perspective on what it means to practice medicine through serving rural communities and patients in an environment based upon love for God and one another. From seeing coal miners or welders after small accidents that result from their occupational hazards to COPD patients with pneumonia who refuse hospitalization until the family is forced to call 911 to interesting rashes of all kinds on patients of all ages, there have been countless opportunities to expand my understanding of medicine and what it means to practice whole person care in a beautiful setting with down to earth patients with a variety of health care needs.
Thank you, again, for everything. This has been a wonderful and refreshing month! I am grateful I had the opportunity to come to SW VA and have been blessed in so many ways.
Thank you,
Anna
Anna Leigh Lovett, MD
UVA Family Medicine
A leading cause of disability is injury which is the number one cause of death for Americans between the ages of 1 and 44. Practicing safe behavior can prevent many injuries. Points of interest are:
Behavioral Health in Rural Areas of Virginia – Ralph Northam’s article from the Richmond Times Dispatch
May is the month when we focus on Behavioral Health. In Southwest Virginia, we are designated as federally underserved in Behavioral Healthcare. We especially seek pediatric behavioral health specialists, but we’re always happy to talk to anyone interested in doing a residency rotation or being recruited to the area in this underserved field.
It’s Autism Awareness month – let’s light it up blue, Virginia!
1 in 68 children in the SW VA schools is diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Let’s shine a light on autism awareness and research!
GMEC creates and supports multiple medical residency preceptor sites in rural and underserved communities in Southwest Virginia, and provides expense-paid or low-cost opportunities for regional medical professionals to earn onsite, culturally appropriate credits in Continuing Medical Education.
Our program covers the cost of bringing residents from Virginia and other states into Southwest Virginia for rotations with local doctors, and also links local residents–those being trained in our region–with the preceptors they need to complete training.
GMEC will work with residents who are interested in a rural practice and recruiters to find a match that will gratify both parties. Clinics, hospitals and private practices are matched with health care providers for our rural area.
GMEC is a non-profit corporation funded by the Virginia Legislature, governed by a volunteer board of directors and managed by the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Our mission is to improve access to high quality primary care by forging links between local doctors, communities and graduate medical education programs.
If you would like to talk to a member of GMEC’s staff about rotation opportunities in the region, please call 276-328-0289, or email wow6n@uvawise.edu.
