Christmas in July Event Serves Over 1,200 Citizens
It was a sweltering summer day in Miami, but it did not discourage the 1,200 – plus attendees from enjoying live entertainment, warm food and free health services provided by the Miami Rescue Mission (MRM) and Miami Dade College’s Medical Center Campus (MCC). Local high school students, church groups, as well as other community groups contributed to this very special event as “Giving” was the theme of the day.
Each year, the Christmas in July event creates opportunities that help make a difference in the community and in an individual’s health and well being. On the day of the event and before the event officially opened, lines of men and women waited patiently for free blood pressure readings, glucose tests, and general health counseling provided by MDC’s Physician Assistant and Nursing students. A hot lunch was served by local high school students while live entertainment filled the air.
To accommodate the large number of citizens and participants that provided care for this event, tents were erected to create additional space. Since the clinic opened its doors to the community on May 14, 2009, local citizens have received full medical services from the Miami Rescue Mission clinic where Medical Center Campus students routinely serve and provide care.
The Miami Dade College Medical Center Campus (MCC) and the Miami Rescue Mission (MRM) have a long history of collaboration. Located less than one mile apart, hundreds of MCC Nursing and Health Sciences’ students and faculty have provided services to the men, women, and children served by the Mission over the years; and many Mission graduates have enrolled and earned degrees from MCC. As part of this partnership, the MCC School of Nursing and the leaders of the MRM created “The Mission Project” in 2000 with the goals of improving student achievement and clinical skills, cultivating civic responsibility, expanding awareness of health needs, and especially, improving the health of the community’s homeless. A long-term goal of The Mission Project had been to establish an on-site clinic at the Miami Rescue Mission which will serve the primary needs of those at the Mission and in the surrounding neighborhoods and be partly staffed by students and faculty from MCC Nursing and Health Sciences programs.
The area of the MRM is designated as a “Medically Underserved Area/Population” and as a “Health Professional Shortage Area” by the Department of Health and Human Services and 
serves approximately 1,000 men, women, and children a month. Many of these individuals have little or no access to health care. The new clinic serves the clients of the MRM and residents of the surrounding community.
serves approximately 1,000 men, women, and children a month. Many of these individuals have little or no access to health care. The new clinic serves the clients of the MRM and residents of the surrounding community.MRM is the host agency and site of the clinic. Dr. Peter Gutierrez, MD, MMS, PA-C, serves as the Dean of MCC’s School of Health Sciences, and provides medical direction for the clinic. Annette Gibson, MSN, MEd, RN, Professor, School of Nursing, coordinates education and outreach service-learning programs involving MCC Nursing and Health Sciences students and faculty. The clinic serves as a clinical site for Physician Assistant students. MCC students and faculty from Nursing and Health Sciences support the clinic, as well as students from other South Florida colleges.
