There is a whirlwind of changes at the Student Health Center at the start of this semester. Leading this change is the addition of two new clinicians to the center’s staff.
Maggie Cunning, the Director of the Health Center, is excited by the changes at the office. “They’re both lovely and both good clinicians. College health is a specialty. They bring a fresh approach! They’re very young and enjoying this population of students.” One of the clinicians is a physician; the other is a physician’s assistant. Their addition adds support to the nurse-directed care on campus.
The new model fits the college environment perfectly. The center adapts to individual needs and provides excellent communications without failing to offer strong, immediate medical care. On weekdays, a registered nurse is always on duty from 9 to 4. Wednesdays and Fridays, the clinicians come on duty to consult the concerns of students. On Thursdays, the Center offers extended hours from 9 to 7 to accommodate any scheduling conflicts. Cunning states that these hours are to “accommodate anyone – especially students who are on job assignments or graduate students – who tend to have extended schedules. We see all enrolled Stevens students, whether they’re full time, part-time, graduate, undergraduate, domestic, international — anyone who is enrolled can use the Student Health Center.” Visits are not submitted to insurance. This way, the Center is accessible to any student in need.
Similar to an at-home care setting, the Health Center runs as an acute practice. Injuries and initial visits are covered; however, for chronic care, the Health Center runs a referral program to the trusted medical community in Hoboken and other nearby areas. This ensures the health and safety of the students. “We understand our students are busy! If one of our clinicians feels someone has to be evaluated, and the work up might take some time, we prefer to have them referred down to specialists, or primary care physicians,” shared Cunning. “And we have a very comprehensive referral list! The most important thing is to get them back to class and on their feet as fast as possible.”
“I’ve been here for 16 years,” shared Cunning. “It’s challenging. It’s a challenging field of medicine because when students are diagnosed here, they’re sent back to dormitories or leased residences. They’re not being sent back to the loving arms of their parents or guardians, where someone can keep an eye on them. It demands a very conservative approach of the clinicians.” For Maggie Cunning, mother of four, this was the first year no one has left for college. “My last number, number four, graduated in May. So, after lots of years, I empathize with college students, because I have two sons and two daughters. I just want you to know, I know what’s going on!” Daniel Cunning, Fire Safety Coordinator at Stevens, is Maggie Cunning’s husband. Together, the dynamic duo makes a favorable impact at the Stevens Campus.
With a series of renovations scheduled for the future, the Health Center may move to a new location in a future semester. “Back when I started in 2000, the counseling center was right here,” stated Cunnings. “Since then, it’s grown. We’re hoping to become more of a wellness center, and to partner– well, we’ve already partnered with the counseling center, but we would love to be physically together!”
“We try to do our best here,” concluded Cunning. “We want them to walk in, we want them to talk to us. We want to get to know our students!”
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