Grant leads to new aid program

Touro University plans to open a clinic to deal with health issues of the homeless

Henderson's Touro University was awarded a grant recently to open a clinic designed to focus on the health of the valley's homeless population and pets owned by those community members.

Dr. Mitchell Forman, dean of Touro University, said the school recently received a two-year grant from the Schutz Engel purpose trust, worth a total of $366,100.

Forman said because the trust's namesake was interested in helping both the homeless and animals, his grant proposal included an innovative idea.

"Many of the homeless have pets for both companionship and protection," he said. "So I put together the proposal for the creation of a clinic focusing on special health care designed to meet the unique needs of the homeless. As a secondary focus, we are also trying to work with pet and animal care groups in the valley."

Forman is currently in the process of looking into the special needs of the homeless in the valley and talking to the many groups that already work with that specific population of people. He said his group doesn't want to simply duplicate the efforts of other groups, but to find the best approach to benefit both the school and the homeless.

The clinic would create teams of students involved with the medical, nursing and physician's assistant programs to provide medical care to homeless patients under the supervision of Touro's faculty.

"The grant will allow us to sensitize students to the specific needs of the homeless community," Forman said. "This also will allow Touro to connect with the community, and to collect information and data regarding the homeless here."

Forman hopes that information will help determine if the needs of the homeless population in the valley are the same as in other areas, as well as what keeps the homeless in certain areas and what they need.

He also hopes to find out what happens to pets of the homeless when they become ill, incapacitated or unable to care for themselves.

"Some of this is known, but there is a lot we still don't understand about the homeless population," he said. "Why they are homeless and what prevents them from moving on? They are not going away. We need to help."

Forman said he hopes to get the clinic started by late spring or early summer, though he has not yet established whether the clinic will be set up with an existing homeless services program or if it will be independent.

However, he is hoping to eventually set up a program to allow Touro students to work with homeless children in the Clark County School District, although such a program would not be a part of this grant.

Forman said he hopes the school will be able to continue to offer the clinic's services after the grant runs out.

"The model is a very good one," he said.

In August 2004, Touro University opened its 874 American Pacific Drive campus, offering a degree in osteopathic medicine. In October of that year, the school added a master's degree in physician's assistant studies.

This year, the school added a new college of health and human services, offering master's degrees in nursing and occupational therapy and three education degrees.

As the college continues to grow and expand its programs, Forman said it's important to serve the school's students and the community.

"We are making a difference in the health of Nevada," he said.