“It’s like fast-food medicine,” said Mark Freeman, a U of T English major, when asked about Health Services.
It’s true that Health Services must accommodate the busy schedules of students, but they still pride themselves on the quality of the service they offer.
Health Services, located in the Koffler Student Centre, is more than just the clinic that many U of T students expect it to be. A team of 24 part-time physicians and two to three full-time nurses, they are actively involved in community health, health education and health promotion. They don’t just treat sick students, they strive to prevent student illness.
“Basically, we function as if we were family doctors to students.” Dr. Sara Taman, physician-in-chief, explained.
Health Services caters to students’ needs and interests, Taman explained.
“We sell some products at reduced rates for students,” said Taman. “Birth control pills are only $7 a pack and we keep the price of travel vaccines as low as possible for those travelling.”
Health Services doesn’t shy away from some of the more difficult issues for students. They encourage dialogue on everything from eating disorders to HIV.
Their largest event, Health Fair, took place on February 6 and sought to educate students about personal health.
But if you missed that event, Health Services has continuous campaigns, such as “Leave the Pack Behind,” which encourages students to quit smoking. They also host an Alcoholics Anonymous group.
The services are only open to U of T students and their partners. Interested students, Taman explained, “should phone us (416-978-8030) and book an appointment, but they can also drop in and be seen for more urgent issues.”
Health Services has been accommodating students’ needs for almost a century. Established in 1906, they were first located “in an old house on Huron St. that was torn down,” Taman said. “That was an interesting set-up, as the men’s division was downstairs and the female division was upstairs and they were very separate entities.”
Health Services moved to the Koffler Centre in 1985, and they are considering another yet another move.
They need to expand because of the onslaught of new students and, with their numbers always growing, Health Services seeks to modernize again.
