OISSE and Clarkson College Partner Native American Health Screenings

Omaha, Nebraska (September 15, 2005) --- On September 14 and 15, 2005, Creighton staff and students from Clarkson College’s Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) Program participated in screenings of over 550 Native American youth.

Acanthosis Nigricans is a darkening of the skin on the back of the neck often seen in Native Americans which indicates high levels of insulin, a sign of Type II Diabetes. Annually, children of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska attending the Omaha Nation School in Macy, Nebraska and Walthill Public School in Walthill, Nebraska receive checks for Acanthosis Nigricans. The screenings are done as part of the Omaha Tribe Diabetes Program in partnership with the Office of Interprofessional Scholarship, Service and Education (OISSE). During these screenings, height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, vision, and teeth are also checked.

During the 2 days, Creighton staff and the Clarkson PTA students took the blood pressure of 550 youth from kindergarten to high school. Clarkson students also assisted in vision checks and the weighing of the children.

After reviewing all the health information gathered from the children, those youth at high risk will be identified for further testing for Type II Diabetes.

To volunteer or for more information regarding activities sponsored by OISSE in partnership with the Omaha Tribe, visit http://oisse.creigthon.edu.

Photos: (left) Clarkson PTA Student Healther Kulanek documents the blood pressure and heart rate of a second grader from Omaha Nation School.

(right) Debra Johansen, Clarkson PTA Student, takes a weight measurement from a student at Omaha Nation School.