The visit to the local medical center was part of the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Class held during Winter Term.
Assistant Professor of Public Health Studies Sandra Darfour-Oduro teaches the Chronic Disease Epidemiology class in the Department of Public Health Studies during Winter Term. In her class, she talks about the different chronic conditions including cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes. Risk factors for these chronic conditions are discussed as well as individual and population-level prevention strategies.
Darfour-Oduro had her students explore resources in the community and the state that help with chronic disease prevention and management. She contacted the Cone Health Nutrition & Diabetes Education Services at Alamance Regional Medical Center and arranged for a class visit on Jan. 12 to learn about diabetes prevention and management.
During the visit, students met Diabetes Educator Sheila Shotwell, who gave an informative presentation on diabetes management at the Center. She talked about the different types of Diabetes. Sheila showed students the serving sizes for a variety of foods. She also gave out leaflets with lots of information on diabetes prevention and management.
After the class visit, students in the Chronic Disease Epidemiology class submitted a reflection on their visit. One student wrote, “I found this trip to the Cone Health Diabetes Clinic very informative and eye-opening.”
Overall, Darfour-Oduro thinks it was good to connect Elon students with the community to know about resources available in the community for diabetes prevention and Management.