New health director gears up for influx of students
Dr. Tom Ryan, the new
health center director, cites
tailoring services to different
groups as key to health care
By Ayisha Yahya
News Editor
As the new school year rolls
around, Dr. Tom Ryan will continue
his job as the new University health
center director, except now he'll have
thousands more students to keep
healthy. After using the summer to
observe the campus, attend meetings
and "imitate a sponge," Ryan will
have his hands full starting fall term.
Ryan has vast experience in uni
versity-based health centers and re
cently finished a 14-year tenure at
Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.
Apart from being attracted by the
opportunities at the University, Ryan
and his wife Kiva wanted to come
West, where oceans and mountains
are within easy reach.
"My wife and 1 like to hike and
birdwatch," Ryan said, adding that he
has a passion for biking.
While he enjoyed the relationships
he built with his patients as a family
practitioner in private practice, Ryan
said he never looked back once he
started working at schools, adding
that he loves students' inquisitive na
ture and willingness to consider dif
ferent options.
Ryan's responsibilities
Health directors have extensive
responsibilities. While Ryan will see
some patients, his main roles are to
provide leadership and support for
health center staff, to ensure
smooth communication between
different departments and with the
wider campus, and to be a
channel for ideas. He said he must
also work to maintain morale and
ensure that people are recognized
for their work.
"(My goal) is really setting a cli
mate and environment where peo
ple can enjoy coming to work and
realize we're here for the same pur
pose, which is to take care of stu
dents," he said.
Ryan has already met with campus
departments like the Office of Student
Affairs to discuss issues that affect stu
dents. He added that the practice of
medicine is a cooperative venture.
Saying he greatly believes in self
care, Ryan wants students to view the
health center as a place they can turn
to for health-related issues, even when
they are not sick.
"1 tend to be a big advocate, as I
think everyone here is, of health pro
motion and wellness," he said.
Future projects
Ryan said he hopes to continue
providing programs that educate stu
dents on wellness. One of his goals is
to improve the health center's Web
site to provide up-to-date information
and links to valuable resources.
The health center already offers
programs in collaboration with oth
er campus groups on safe sex, smok
ing cessation and alcohol abuse.
Ryan said the center could develop
other topical programs that target
specific groups.
"There are a lot of groups that have
different needs, and we need to re
spond to that," Ryan said, citing inter
national students as one example.
Ryan will also assist in preparing
for the new health center expansion,
a 10,000-square-foot addition to the
current space, although the details of
when the project will begin and
where it will go still need to be
worked out. When the construction
is underway, Ryan said he wants to
ensure that the health center is still
accessible and comfortable for its
staff and users.
Staff reactions
As for the health center staff, many
workers are happy so far with Ryan's
performance and demeanor.
Assistant Nursing Director Sharon
Harbert described Ryan as very profes
sional, accessible and self-assured.
"1 believe he will cany on with the
mission of the health center to im
prove the educational experience of
the students here," she said, adding
that she respected Ryan's efforts to
gather as much information as possi
ble about the University.
Medical Records Supervisor Pat Mc
Cormick has similar sentiments.
"I le's hearing what we have to say,"
McCormick said. "He's taking the
time to talk to everyone."
Ryan's ultimate goal is to serve
students.
"We're here for students and we
want to be sure that they understand
that and know we're here," he said.
"And we're not only here when
they're sick."
Contact the news editor
at ayishayahya@daiiyemerald.com.
Dr. Tom Ryan, the
new University
Health Director,
works to promote
wellness education,
and urges students
to practice self-care
and preventative
health.
Jessica Waters
Photo Editor
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