Whitney Bryant '07, Mary Piscitello '07

CoSMO is a student run, free of charge, primary care center at the 21 Audubon UrgiCare Center. Every Saturday from 8:30am to 12:30pm students from the schools of medicine, public health, social work and nursing work together to provide uninsured residents of Washington Heights with comprehensive health care services that address the physical, social and behavioral aspects of health.

CoSMO is a unique learning environment for students at all levels with a focus on service learning, a piece of education that we do not obtain through the formal curriculums. The resident free learning environment allows senior medical student to have direct access to the attendings and to begin to teach each other, as well as the first and second years. The senior clinicians are able to coach junior clinicians in taking histories and physicals, including the vitals, drawing blood, presenting to the attendings, and completing a note. For many junior clinicians this is the first time they have such an active role in patient care. For many senior clinicians, this is their introduction to teaching in a clinical setting and to the impact of limited finances on the provision of medical care.

Through grants, donations and dedication of personal time, CoSMO is able to provide patients with complete histories and physicals, health education, social work services including screening for government and private assistance programs, prescription drugs, laboratory testing, PPDs, diabetes equipment, x-rays, cancer screening (prostate, colorectal, breast, and cervical), HIV testing, and a 24 hour call service in the event of an emergency. At a nominal cost, we also provide the patients with referral to specialists and advanced imaging (CT, MRI, and ultrasound).

For further information, please see our website, www.cosmoprimarycare.org. If you are interested in volunteering, please email hr@cosmoprimarycare.org.