Dear Colleagues,
Each August, the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia gives us a wonderful opportunity to connect with Missourians and showcase the many ways the University of Missouri School of Medicine is saving and improving lives across our state. This year, our team once again made an impact as part of Mizzou’s larger presence at the fair.
Throughout the week, School of Medicine faculty and staff representing the Department of Emergency Medicine, the MU Surgical Center for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness (MUSCORE), the Research Office, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, Rural Scholars Program and the Office of Health Outreach, Policy & Education (HOPE), interacted with fair-goers inside “Mizzou Central.”
A popular booth activity was the Department of Emergency Medicine’s hands-on CPR demonstrations, offering visitors the chance to practice lifesaving skills.
We also put health knowledge to the test with our interactive quiz game, while physicians conducted head and neck screenings for those who stopped by. At the same time, we highlighted our Rural Scholars program, which is designed to address the critical need for more primary care physicians in rural Missouri. And, in true Mizzou fashion, we helped spread Tiger spirit by applying dozens of tiger paw tattoos to delighted fairgoers.
This kind of outreach is so important to our mission. By stepping outside the walls of our clinics, classrooms and labs, we are able to meet people where they are, share valuable health information and demonstrate how the School of Medicine is working to ensure a healthier future for all Missourians. Our presence at the fair reminds the public that we are not only a medical school, but an essential partner in the well-being and growth of our communities.
I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and energy to help make this year’s Missouri State Fair a success. Your engagement with fellow Missourians embodies Mizzou’s land-grant mission to give back to the citizens of our state.
Sincerely,
Rick Barohn, MD
Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Hugh E. and Sarah D. Stephenson Dean, School of Medicine
rbarohn@health.missouri.edu
