Q&A with Brittany Lee
As the Community Engagement Coordinator for University Health Services (UHS) at OSU, Brittany Lee serves as a bridge between students, faculty, staff, and the healthcare resources available on campus.
Her role involves representing UHS at events, tabling sessions and presentations where she provides information about available services and help individuals navigate their healthcare options. In addition to external outreach, she also manages special projects, organizes internal events and trainings, and works closely with patients to connect them to the resources they need.
Q: Can you describe your role as a Community Engagement Coordinator and what a typical day looks like for you?
A: As Community Engagement Coordinator, I represent University Health Services to patients, campus partners, and outside groups. Most of my days involve events where I provide information about the services UHS provides, resources available to the OSU community, and help students, faculty and staff navigate healthcare on campus. When I'm not giving speeches or at tabling events, I work within UHS to lead special projects, connect patients to resources, and to host trainings and internal events.
Q: What are some of the biggest health and wellness challenges college students face today, and how does your team address them?
A: The biggest challenges I see students facing are access to care and learning how to be in charge of their own health. We do our best to make sure each person on campus knows that all full-time students and benefits-eligible employees are eligible to be seen at UHS. Obstacles to getting care can be lack of health insurance, inability to pay, or just not having knowledge of what resources are available to them. For most students, we are their first experience where they are in charge of their own health or have to handle health insurance and medical decisions, and that can be daunting. UHS prides itself on being a resource for health education for each student, and I'm glad I can help with some of that education. Even if we don't have what a student needs at UHS, we are able to make referrals and suggestions to help everyone get the care they need.
Q: What strategies have been most effective in engaging students and encouraging them to take advantage of health services on campus?
A: UHS has seen a lot of impact with our flyers and online options! At every event we hand out flyers that have all of the information needed to help guide students to our services and make it easy to get connected. The UHS Patient Portal is essential to this effort. Students can log on and schedule appointments, message staff, and view their records. The UHS website is also a valuable resource to find more information about all areas of care.
Q: Can you share a success story or a moment when you saw your outreach efforts make a real impact on students' well-being?
A: Sometimes I bring members of our medical team or business office to my events, and it is so rewarding to see students interact with staff, nurses and providers they know, because they are so essential to our mission! I have even had a mom hug me because our team took such good care of her student, and that really shows how much of an impact our team has on the OSU Family.
Q: What advice would you give to students who want to prioritize their health but feel overwhelmed by their busy schedules?
A: Make an appointment! With the Student Health Clinic team, UHS can see over 150 patients per day, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. If there aren't any times available on your Patient Portal, give us a call and our team will work with your schedule to get you taken care of! Our health plays such a big role in our ability to work and live and thrive, so it's worth making time for. UHS is here to help keep the Cowboy Family healthy!