The Invitation Clinic, backed by Taylor University, serves two important roles: training students to become caring health educators and providing valuable services to residents of Grant County. Run entirely by university students from various majors, the clinic focuses on lifestyle medicine to help people prevent or manage chronic diseases.
The name “Invitation Clinic” highlights its mission—‘INspiring VITality And Transformation In Our Neighborhoods.’ The clinic responds to a significant health crisis in Grant County, which ranks 91 out of Indiana’s 92 counties for health outcomes according to the 2020 County Health Rankings Report. It struggles with high obesity and diabetes rates, highlighting the urgent need for effective health intervention.
Initially created as a Type 2 diabetes prevention program, the clinic has broadened its scope. Several chronic conditions can be addressed through changes in lifestyle, according to Scott Fenstermacher, an assistant professor of kinesiology at Taylor. This approach allows students to gain hands-on experience while impacting the community positively.
Co-founder and kinesiology professor Brian Hayes emphasized the importance of experiential learning. His own background included 1,500 hours working with an athletic trainer, which he felt was invaluable. He wanted to create a similar opportunity for Taylor students, aligning education with real-world application. Diane Dungan, an associate psychology professor and fellow supervisor, added that they aim to shape future health professionals equipped with lifestyle medicine principles for any career path, be it psychology, medicine, or dentistry.
Before joining the clinic, students complete a semester-long course titled Health Education for Behavior Change. This course prepares them for working with patients. Each semester, around 35 to 40 students are actively involved, spending two to four hours weekly at the clinic, depending on their schedules. This flexibility allows students to engage for just a few semesters or to stay for multiple years.
Patients can visit the clinic on recommendations from their doctors or come in on their own. The clinic’s first intake appointment is free. Follow-ups cost just five dollars, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. Patients fill out health information forms and set personal goals, then get matched with a student health educator to work on achieving them. Most participants meet with their educators twice a week for about 45 minutes.
While the program was designed to be year-long, individual needs mean there’s a wide range of patient retention. Attendance can vary from five months to several years. “Progress looks different for everyone,” Dungan notes, emphasizing that even small gains are essential in a patient’s journey.
Austin Layton, a 2023 graduate now studying medicine, recalls how working at the clinic helped him build essential patient communication skills. He felt that the experience made him confident and equipped to connect with patients—a vital aspect of healthcare. “If a patient doesn’t trust you, your advice can’t make an impact,” he said, highlighting the importance of relationship-building in medical practice.
Layton’s time at the clinic also introduced him to crucial principles of lifestyle and preventive medicine, areas often underrepresented in medical school curricula. This knowledge enhances his approach to patient care in his ongoing studies.
Overall, the clinic embodies a holistic view of health that aligns with Christian values. Hayes and Dungan see their work not just as health education but also as a way to share an inviting message of wholeness and well-being. “It’s about living out the gospel in a tangible way,” Dungan explains, emphasizing that true wellness encompasses both body and spirit.
