UNC Family Medicine Patient Newsletter Summer 2024

Topics

Let’s Talk Health with Dr. Dana Neutze
Lifestyle Medicine
Clinic Updates
UNC Family Medicine’s Impact
Meet Our Team
In the Community

Feel free to email us at familymedicine@med.unc.edu with any suggestions or concerns!

Let’s Talk Health with Dr. Dana Neutze – Childhood Vaccinations

We have many longstanding, highly effective vaccines to fight illnesses that has resulted in the dramatic decreases in deaths and disabilities from diseases such as measles, polio, tetanus, whooping cough and more for over a century. We give most vaccines to children under the age of two to protect them against these diseases early in life. Many are due before children start school, so make sure your child is up to date!

We understand that families may still have questions about various vaccines. Some of the common questions and concerns we hear are:

Why does my child need so many vaccines? The body slowly builds immunity to diseases with vaccines. Some of the vaccines work best when given repeated doses every couple of months. The American Association of Pediatrics has carefully designed a vaccine schedule that will protect your child the best. Read their Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule recommendations here.
Some diseases don’t even exist anymore—why do I need to vaccinate my child? It’s easy to feel like polio and measles are yesterday’s problems. But these diseases are not gone—they are only under control because of vaccinations. Even today, there are measles outbreaks that happen when vaccination levels fall within a community.
I’ve heard vaccines cause autism in children. No scientific study or data has been able to support this connection—period. For more information, visit the Autism Science Foundation, here.
Are these vaccines safe? Vaccines in the US are tested on a large number of subjects for safety before they are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After approval, vaccines are monitored by the CDC and the FDA through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Most vaccine-associated adverse events are minor and self-limited (e.g., local skin reactions, transient low-grade fever). Serious adverse events are rare, but if there are safety concerns with a specific vaccine, the FDA will temporarily or permanently suspend its use.
Is there a vaccine that can protect against cancer? Yes! There are actually two. Both the hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines can prevent certain cancers. Even though the risk of cancer doesn’t develop until later in life, we recommend getting these vaccines as a child when they can have the most protective effect.

Here’s a handy pocket guide:

Lifestyle Medicine – Fire Safety

With the Labor Day holiday coming up and fall approaching, many of us will be celebrating using fire – cookouts, campfires, and even fireworks. Here are some tips to keep safe!

More fire safety and burn prevention tips can be found at the UNC Jaycee Burn Center website.

Clinic Update – Welcome UNC Family Medicine Residency Class of 2027!

We are excited to announce our newest class of UNC Family Medicine Residents! This talented, diverse group of upcoming residents join us from across the United States and started seeing patients in July. Residents are assigned to either the “University Track” and see patients at the Family Medicine Clinic or are part of the “Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Track” and see patients at Piedmont Health’s Prospect Hill and Siler City Health Centers. All residents also rotate on our Family Medicine Inpatient Service (FMIS) at the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough campus, as well as our Family Centered Perinatal Care (FCPC) service at our UNC Hospitals Chapel Hill campus, taking care of pregnant patients and delivering babies!

We can’t wait for you to get to know these future leaders in medicine! We look forward to working with and learning from them.

UNC Family Medicine’s Impact: Medical Education

What does it mean to be a patient at The UNC Family Medicine Center at Chapel Hill?

From Dawn Morriston, MPH, Associate Director of Educational Programs

Did you ever hear the expression, “dance like nobody is watching?” Being a patient at UNC Family Medicine means getting cared for like everyone is watching. UNC was ranked #5 in the nation as one of the best medical schools for Primary Care, with UNC Family Medicine ranked #3 in the nation, according to the 2023 US News and World Report rankings! The physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and administrative staff who work at The UNC Family Medicine Centers at Chapel Hill, Durham and Carraway Village regularly contribute to the body of knowledge that other medical facilities and healthcare professionals look to for guidance and best practices. Our physicians write medical textbooks and journal articles based on the rich experience and insights gained from taking care of our unique patient population. The doctor who saw you in the clinic on Monday may have spoken at a national conference on Tuesday, published a clinical review for the benefit of all practicing physicians on Wednesday, and been interviewed by the NY Times on Thursday. These are just a few of the ways UNC Family Medicine shares its expertise on a national and international scale.

UNC Family Medicine Resident Samantha Glotfelty, MD, with baby and Preceptor Rana Alkhaldi, MD

UNC Family Medicine is a teaching practice that is held to high accreditation standards and is constantly evaluated by students, residents, fellows, and university and health system leaders. Patients may encounter learners during a visit or through follow-up My UNC Chart messages and patient education. This benefits patients and learners by expanding the team focused on patient success and contributing to the development of future providers.

Being a patient at UNC Family Medicine means being the true north star and driving force for all the innovative and renowned clinical, research, and teaching activities. Being a patient at UNC Family Medicine means being part of the educational journey for the future healthcare workforce and part of the team building the future healthcare system.

Meet Our Team – Care Managers

From Meghan Chewning LCSW, CCM, and Katie Cavagnini, MSW, LCSWA
Care Managers at The UNC Family Medicine Center at Chapel Hill

We believe that fostering a supportive environment for all individuals is essential, and that includes providing comprehensive care that addresses both your physical and mental well-being. We understand that mental health is a vital aspect of overall health and strive to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone feels valued and supported.

UNC Family Medicine Behavioral Health Collaborative Care Management Program: Brief mental health counseling is offered for anxiety, depression, or life stressors with ongoing consultation from your primary care provider and a psychiatrist. The behavioral health professional works with you and other members of the care team to provide comprehensive mental health care.

If you are interested in being referred to the program or need more information, contact your care team in My UNC Chart!

In the Community: Coming Up – Durham Pride!

We’re excited to have a table again at the upcoming Durham Pride on September 28th! Come by and see us on Duke’s East Campus. More info HERE.

Pride exists in response to a history of violence and discrimination against our LGBTQ+ friends and family, and began to help foster courage and feelings of dignity and self-worth for marginalized people. According to the 2019 Southern LGBTQ Health Survey:

Black and Trans LGBTQ+ North Carolinians experience significant barriers to ACCESSING QUALITY HEALTH CARE.
Being LGBTQ in the South uniquely informs LGBTQ+ North Carolinians’ COMFORT SEEKING HEALTH CARE in their local communities.
LGBTQ+ North Carolinians experience high rates of poor MENTAL HEALTH outcomes, with alarming rates of SUICIDAL IDEATION, DEPRESSION, and ANXIETY.
LGBTQ+ North Carolinians fear and experience HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE due to their LGBTQ identity at alarming rates, especially trans respondents and respondents of color.
LGBTQ+ North Carolinians report high rates of not knowing their HIV STATUS and INFREQUENT HIV TESTING.

*UNC Family Medicine with UNC Health Colleagues at 2022 Durham Pride*

We proudly serve our LGBTQ+ communities and strive to ensure that The UNC Family Medicine Centers at Chapel Hill, Durham, Carraway Village, and South Durham are welcoming spaces where all people feel embraced and validated! Please reach out to us at familymedicine@med.unc.edu if you or a loved one is looking for affirming care.