To the Penn State community,
When we reflect on the vast and intricate world of modern health care, it encompasses a formidable network of medical offices, hospitals, clinics, and a diverse team of personnel, including dedicated primary care physicians, compassionate nurses, highly skilled specialists, and supportive staff. This extensive infrastructure plays a crucial role in maintaining public health; however, the unfortunate reality is that this level of health care is not uniformly available across every community, which can lead to profoundly serious health repercussions for those affected by this accessibility gap.
Aligned with our goal to transform health care accessibility, and as the only land-grant university situated definitively within a rural region of Pennsylvania, Penn State is uniquely positioned to forge impactful partnerships with communities, aiming for significant positive change that can enhance the quality of life for countless individuals.
As you’ll see in the video above, the LION Mobile Clinic, driven by the unwavering determination of Penn Staters, is actively working to bridge this health care accessibility gap by enhancing health care availability and food security for residents in rural areas, while simultaneously training the next generation of health care professionals, scholars, and educators who are passionate about serving these communities. This innovative initiative not only fulfills a critical need but also serves as a dynamic learning model for students, empowering them to cultivate meaningful connections and acquire invaluable real-world experience within the communities of Pennsylvania.
The concept for the clinic’s establishment was initially inspired by the needs of a local community—Snow Shoe, the home to 1,700 residents, located just 30 minutes away from the bustling center of State College. A series of unfortunate setbacks over the past few years resulted in the rapid loss of essential medical services, including the closure of both a medical center and a pharmacy, creating significant difficulty in accessing vital preventative health care.
In response to these pressing needs, Penn State College of Medicine faculty, staff, and students, under the guidance of physician Dr. Michael McShane, came together to launch the mobile clinic in 2022. This initiative employs a nimble model of health care delivery, tailored to adapt to the specific needs of each community it serves. Typically, the mobile clinic’s camper vans are equipped with the necessary tools and facilities one would expect to find in a traditional medical clinic, allowing students to provide their expertise and care wherever demand is highest—whether at vibrant community events or through personalized home visits in Snow Shoe and surrounding areas across Centre County.
Over the course of the last two years, the clinic has made a significant impact, successfully treating over 3,300 community members and administering more than 800 vaccinations, thereby enhancing public health in the region. Their events are open to the public and do not require appointments or health insurance, making their no-cost services, which include vaccinations, blood pressure screenings, and medication counseling, widely accessible.
But their services don’t stop there. In my conversation with Hannah Wilding, a dedicated medical student pursuing her degree at University Park, she emphasized how the clinic aims to address not just the symptoms of health issues or diseases, but to provide holistic care that considers the needs of the entire person and the community as a whole.
During a recent community health event in Snow Shoe, Hannah encountered a concerning issue while performing a wellness check on resident Betty Walker. Betty’s blood pressure was alarmingly high, prompting Hannah to inquire further about the cause. It turned out that Betty had recently spread 40 bags of mulch in her yard and had another 50 waiting to be completed, which posed a significant health risk given her condition.
Recognizing the potential danger Betty faced, Hannah sprang into action. Together with her fellow medical students, they dedicated their weekend to assist her in finishing the yardwork, endearingly earning the nickname “Betty’s Angels” for their selfless efforts.
This unwavering commitment to serving the community is evident among all participants in the LION Mobile Clinic, which currently boasts an enthusiastic team of 80 students representing six different colleges at Penn State: the College of Agricultural Sciences, the Nese College of Nursing, the College of Health and Human Development, the College of the Liberal Arts, the College of Arts and Architecture, and, of course, the College of Medicine.
Looking to the horizon, the LION Mobile Clinic team envisions continued expansion throughout Penn State’s Commonwealth Campus communities, with hopes of extending its invaluable services and outreach to even more counties across Pennsylvania. I am keenly excited to witness the growth of this initiative, as well as the proliferation of other mobile health clinics associated with the University.
Inspired by this exemplary initiative, Dr. Karen Kim, the esteemed dean of the College of Medicine, and I are fervently united in our aspiration to elevate health care quality and accessibility throughout Pennsylvania’s rural communities.
Thus, the narrative of the LION Mobile Clinic transcends being merely an outstanding example of our commitment to public impact and student success. It resonates as a powerful call to action for our entire University to dedicate ourselves to serving our local communities and neighbors, foundational to our mission.
Neeli
