It was an unforgettable birthday party. And probably the biggest Merriam Park Elementary School students will ever attend.
KC Wolf, a glittering tooth fairy and school mascots joined more than 500 students, teachers, school district and clinic staff and community members to celebrate Health Partnership Clinic’s (HPC) one year of providing medical, dental and behavioral health at Merriam Park Elementary in Merriam, Kan.
The school-based clinic is open to Shawnee Mission School District students and their siblings and provides medical, dental and behavioral health services on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the elementary school, 6100 Mastin St., Merriam, Kan.
To learn more, visit https://hpcks.org/school-based-clinic-at-merriam-park-elementary/.
The school birthday party included an Operations and Pin the Organ hybrid game, songs led by the school choir and special recognitions to a number of clinic, school and district staff who have been instrumental in creating the first school-based clinic in Johnson County a success. They received a small gift.
Those recognized included: Amy Simeonov, Merriam Park principal; Dr. Dustin Springer, Instructional Coach and Community Schools Liaison; John Harrington, school nurse; Rachel Fessenden, school social worker; Shelby Rebeck, Director for Health Services; Jacque Lindberg, school secretary; Steve McCord, custodian; Dr. Mike Fulton, Shawnee Mission School District superintendent; Dr. Kare Lyche, Health Partnership’s Family physician; Cynthia Rosales, medical assistant; Maribel Santa anna, PSR Manager; Elisa Storbeck, dental hygienist; Drs. Rhiannon Moore and Maria Padin, Behavioral Health; and Dr. Wael Mourad, Chief Health Officer.
“Thanks to these dedicated individuals, we can offer an additional access point to primary care, including behavioral health and dental care, and ultimately improve community health,” says Amy Falk, Health Partnership’s CEO. “We’ve made quite an impact over the last year. To date, more than 250 students have received medical, behavioral health and dental services. Sixty percent of all medical visits were well visits, the Behavioral Health staff have assessed everything from stress, anxiety and other issues, and we are providing a number of dental checkups.”
“We are grateful to the staff of Merriam Park Elementary and the Shawnee Mission School District for being such great community partners,” Amy adds. “Special thanks to the Merriam Park Bears and HPC Board of Directors and staff for their help to make our birthday bash a success!”
