The Faiuan November 9, 1998 The Voice of Florida A&M University-Tallahassee, Fla. Vol. 88 - No. 14 LWIIITU IFilITI I- 1 LU = I- U =LU IrALLIH hLAL'i INIE 'I ISSUE i How much sleep Heather Davis Sabrina Moore Find out how need to can donate tells how she talks about life do you you stay healthy? bone marrow. dealt with bulim- after a car acci- PAGE 3 ia. PAGE 10 dent. PAGE 8 PAGE 4 Health 2 The Famuan/November 9, 1998 Finding doctor a takes research, planniricang, Getting references from other students can be a good starting point in choosing a personal physlican BY JOVANA DIGGS skills. Contributing Editor "Family practitioners are the best bet for the student age group. They are If a student does not have a family doc- trained in a huge variety of conditions and tor in Tallahassee and is searching for a problems," Burke said.- physician, "you don't just open a phone They are also less expensive than spe- book and pick a name," said Gigi Beard, a cialists. Burke said that a general office health worker at Feminist Women's visit to a specialist can cost between $80 Health Center of Tallahassee. and $120, while a family practitioner There are many things to consider costs $50 to $100. when looking for a good physician, such To find a good doctor, a reference does as good references. not necessarily have to be a person. "When I first came to Tallahassee, that "I read one of his books," said Jelani is how I found my doctor," Beard said Alimayu, a junior agronomy student from She said a friend referred her to Dr. Columbia, S.C., of how he found Dr. A.D. Brickler, an obstetrician/gynecolo- Llaila O. Afrika, a naturopathic medical gist in Tallahassee. doctor and author of "African Holistic Brickler encourages more people to do Health." what Beard did. Mollie Hill, executive director of the "(Get) references from people who Capital Medical Society, said the health have had experience with a particular center at the university can refer a student physician. Health care providers and nurs- with special medical needs to a local doc- es are good references because of their tor. familiarity with how a physician works Doctors should be board-certified in and operates," Dr. Brickler said. their areas of expertise, according to Hill. The Famuan/ SHAUN WATSON Dr. Veta Mobley-Johnson, a family Board-certified means the doctor has they are looking for a doctor. conflicts. practice physician for Tallahassee taken and passed a national certification "Many physicians are quite dismissive "You want someone who's familiar Memorial Health Care, said patients are exam correspondent to the doctor's field of what students have to say,"Burke said. with your history and able to work with the best references because of their first- and level of training. Mitchell feels it is essential that doctors you before you have an emergency," Dr. hand experiences with a doctor. Renee Mitchell, director of North spend time talking to and answering Mobley-Johnson said. She also added that Kasey White, a sophomore criminal Florida Women's Health and Counseling patients' questions. the physician should have a friendly, justice student, said she agrees. Services Inc. and Dr. Mobley-Johnson "The physician (must be) willing to lis- helpful staff that includes nurses and "I was referred y my cousin," White agree a doctor's accessibility is important. ten. You want to be able to feel free to physician assistants. said about her doctor, Dr. Janet Johnson, Mitchell associates accessibility with how talk about your needs," said Melba Hill said the Capital Medical Society a family practitioner. easily a doctor can be reached by phone. Jacobs, marketing director of all four can help students check a doctor's qualifi- Lauralyn Burke, instructor and clinical Dr. Mobley-Johnson added that students Patients First facilities in Tallahassee. cations. Mobley-Johnson recommends coordinator in the health information should look at a doctor's office hours. Brickler also advises students to make calling the Board of Professional management division at FAMU, said the Good communication is another aspect sure a physician is a member of the local Regulations, a state agency, if students physician must be capable of a variety of Burke said students should consider when medical society and is on students' partic- want to know about a particular doctor. ular insurance plans to avoid financial Discrimination can be root of poor health, study firids Name-calling, harassment, and other acts of racial prejudice takes its toll on African-Americ ns. BY COLEEN DeBAISE African-Americans were still more likely discrimination: "major discrimindtory Americans said they were treated less College Press Service to report poorer health than whites," said experiences," such as abusive encounters courteously than others compared with 3.2 David R. Williams, a sociology professor with police and unfair treatment regarding percent of whites. ANN ARBOR, Mich.- For black at Michigan. hiring or job promotions; and "everyday Also, 17 percent of African-Americans Americans, ill health may be a symptom Nearly twice as many blacks reported discrimination," such as poorer service, said they were treated as if they were not of discrimination. having "fair" or "poor" health as whites insults and harassment. smart compared with just 3.9 percent of A new study says that name-calling, (23.3 percent vs. 12.8 percent) and fewer The study found that more blacks than whites, and 24.6 percent of blacks said harassment, poor service and other acts of blacks than whites (48.4 percent vs. 59.8 whites said they had dealt with major they were treated as if they were inferior racial prejudice take a toll on African- percent) reported having "very good" or racist acts. But researchers said smaller compared with 9 percent of whites. Americans' physical and mental health. "excellent" health, according to the study. acts of discrimination, which are more The researchers noted that certain bio- Researchers from the University of "We also found that their experience of common, could cause more long-term logical differences exist between blacks Michigan questioned 586 blacks, 520 discrimination was considerably greater health problems. and whites. However, other studies indi- whites and 33 other minorities iii the than the experience of whites," Williams "Day-to-day hassles and irritations have cate that those factors do not account for Detroit area on their health, jobs, educa- said. "Feeling discriminated against, par- a more negative impact than major stress- the differences between the health of tion and experiences with discrimination. ticularly when it is combined with the ful life experiences," Williams said. black and whites, researchers said. "In essence, we found that powerful effect of low income, seems to According to the study, more blacks The study appears in the July issue of after...accounting for important health fac- tip the health scale for African- than whites also said they had dealt with the Journal of Health and Psychology. tors such as income and education, Americans." smaller acts of discrimination. For The researchers looked at two types of instance, 10.4 percent of African Health The Famuan/November 9, 1998 Thousands who are facing death Love sickness find hope in bone marrow donors can be afatal BY JOVAN CONTE tion. The testing is done to keep a person "Besides good c ommunity serici.e. it Is and uncurable Staff Writer in the computer to knows if somedax sou'll nix duty to tirx and help Afri can Americean's be a match." because thex are least likelx to find a When one thinks, ot the agonix o1 match." said Shuflord, a 2'I-year-old tirom disease for some cheniotherapy,. tne might consitler the Pen sacol a. patients' sickness and weakness. But xwhat Public relations student Terrance BY MEYLA HOOKER may not come to mind is the deterioratioti Birisbane.a Ifellows donoir. a~i ced. Staff Writer of bone nmarroxx that radiation treatment 'So mane people are sotffering causes. fiom vxariotis diseases, and 'm Loxve is of ten tdefinetd as the strut c There is hope f'or the 30.00(0 peo- usine this as a xxix to help afftection (it one person fotr another. pie diagnosed wxith leukemia antd \fri itn Americans." said .And "loxve sickness" is marketd often bx other life-threatening diseases each Brisbane. wxho is a 21-yxear-old loneliness, tdepression antl sotmettmes eveci year say's African Atmericanis I eksonx ille natixve. sui cide. U~niting for Life. sax's are diag- Foi one xvoluntteei. the Accor rig to 13r\an \Granitt. authoriof nosed with leukenmia and other stuation hit close to home. ''Reclaiing thet Dream.'' lixing in iii life-threatening diseases each I haxve an auint xx ii ensvironment of chrnic conflict can bt xear by their loss of bone mat- Lketlil and I think anmx po'tenti ally tlamaging. rowx. 'hudx should ti x and help. Of ten timties pleople become tdepiressed That hope lies in healthy peo- lie mote pe'optle xsho ire''.is tfrom re latinships tfir a x'ariety of rea son. ple wxho arexxwiling to be donor s. tethe more c hances to help One of the most harmiful could be larline "Manx tinmes. people shy ixx ay someone xxho needts treat- to actept the unconditiontal trtith-that fromi the registration proces mnent." said Paula Kil'ome. a there is no lose tcornring'fronm the other because of certain misconceptions." soplhoimore Ihistoryxsttidet.t side. said Dr. B. J. Free. National Martrox \lnmost anyone can ecistet to Carl Rogers. author oif "O n Becoming A Donor Program coordinator ftor donate bhone mat toxx.