OREGON HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY'S PHYSICIANS AND STUDENTS HOLD VIGIL TO SUPPORT PORTLAND'S HOMELESS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES

Portland, Ore. The local chapter of the American Medical Students Association is holding a vigil tonight to raise awareness about Portland's medically underserved and uninsured. Medical students and physicians at Oregon Health Sciences University, advancing OHSU's mission of community outreach, hope to generate support for Portland's homeless and low-income families and individuals lacking access to medical services. Chapters of the American Medical Students Association across the nation have organized vigils this week to help generate awareness and aid for people in need.

The vigil begins at 6:30 p.m. in the OHSU auditorium and will last about an hour. Speakers include Bruce Goldberg, M.D., vice chair of academic affairs at OHSU, who will discuss national issues regarding the medically underserved. James Reuler, M.D., who is an internist at OHSU, will address local ramifications of this issue and the role of volunteers in the frontline care of the homeless and uninsured. Those attending are asked to bring donations of canned food, clothes, bedding and linens for the shelters of The Wallace Medical Concern and Snow-Cap Community Charities. Organizers also are hoping to recruit volunteers with medical training to staff clinics.

The Wallace Medical Concern, of which Reuler is the medical director, has three locations in Portland providing volunteer medical and social services. Snow-Cap Community Charities provides food and clothing to those in need in Gresham.

The OHSU's chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha is organizing tonight's vigil. AOA community service coordinator Janna Friedly can be reached at (503) 957-5459 for more information or to make donations.