EBCI Health & Medical staff pose with students from Scotland who recently visited Cherokee. Shown (left-right, bottom to top) Jessie Wildcat, Elizabeth Postlethwaite (student), Emily Blyth (student), Sarah Marshall (student), Gwen Thompson, Sheree Johnson, Sheila Cox, Cyndi Lambert, Becky Squirrell, Belinda Wilson, Michelle Raby, Jackie Raby, Megan Terrell, and Melanie Ashe. (EBCI Health & Medical photo)
Three nursing students from Scotland visited the EBCI Health and Medical Division on Wednesday, Feb. 6 as part of an international program, sponsored by Western Carolina University. The students spent a total of two weeks in western North Carolina participating in different areas of health care.
Their first week was spent at Mission Hospitals and the second week was spent on the Cherokee Indian reservation where the students were able to observe and participate in patient care at Cherokee Indian Hospital on Feb. 4-5. The students then spent the remainder of their time with the many programs of the EBCI Health and Medical Division. The students started their day on Feb. 6 by spending the morning with the team at Cherokee Community Health where they performed home visits and participated in a health screen at Tsali Manor. Later that same day, they assisted Catcuce Tiger and Tinker Jenks, both of Cherokee Choices, at Cherokee Central Schools, as part of the after school program.
February 7 and 8 were spent in different programs, one-on-one with providers, nurses and other team members. These programs included, Cherokee Diabetes Program, Wound Care, Healthy Heart, Women’s Wellness, and Cherokee Home Health.
While here the students learned how the Cherokee people are supported and served through their healthcare needs. The students were amazed at the number of resources available to each member of the Cherokee Community.
Elizabeth Postlethwaite, one of the visiting students, reported, “It is really brilliant how someone in the tribe can be cared for by the doctors, hospital and other health programs from before birth to the end of their live.”
Elizabeth has a personal appreciation for healthcare as she as struggled with Diabetes since she was 10 years old. She states she can truly relate to children who are faced with Diabetes every day.
The EBCI Health and Medical Division related they would like to thank Dr. Sharon Metcalf (WCU) for coordinating this international opportunity. The Health and Medical Division would also like to thank the members of the community for welcoming these students into the clinics as well as their homes.
– EBCI Health & Medical
