Health Services Hires Physician

Health Services Hires Physician

BY LISA NUTTING

Rice News Staff
Dec. 3, 1998

Working to make Health Services more accessible to students by expanding clinic hours and accommodating more walk-ins are two of Dr. Stacy Ware’s goals as a new Rice physician.

Ware, who began her new position on Nov. 4, was hired after Dr. Amanda Schnee, the former director of Student Health Services, died in July. Mark Jenkins, director of Health Services and Rice team physician, gained a first-hand view of Ware’s abilities when the two worked together for a year at Kelsey-Seybold in the early ’90s.

“In just the short two weeks since Dr. Ware started full time she has already been a wonderful addition to our clinic,” Jenkins said.

Ware’s nine years of practical experience include serving as director of the emergency department at Polly Ryon Memorial Hospital, Kelsey Seybold outpatient attending physician, and director of the emergency department at Park Plaza Hospital. Ware comes to Rice from her most recent position with MacGregor Medical Association, where she worked in the urgent care clinic at the Greenbriar facility.

“She is energetic, enthusiastic and compassionate,” Jenkins added. “Students feel at ease with her and the staff members love her fun-loving attitude. I am very happy she is here.”

So far, Ware said, she finds working with students refreshing and believes the students are appreciative. “In the real world, people are less polite and more absorbed.”

Ware has also found that because Rice students are so bright, she is able to educate her patients. “It’s rewarding for a doctor to see their knowledge be used and improve someone’s life,” she said.

Ware said she feels fortunate to have been selected for the Health Services position because university physician appointments are coveted. Openings for university physicians generally are not advertised, she said, and often are only heard of through word of mouth, usually when someone is planning to retire.

Common ailments treated by Health Services physicians include upper respiratory tract infections, stomach bugs or food poisoning, and mononucleosis, Ware said. Twisted ankles and other small emergencies are also treated at the clinic. Serious ailments or emergencies should be directed to Rice Emergency Medical Services at (713) 527-6000.

Fall and spring clinic hours recently have been expanded as follows: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (walk-ins are accepted 3:30-5:30 p.m.). Summer hours will also be expanded as such: Monday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Ware is handling the majority of the walk-ins, while Jenkins works on an appointment basis, focusing on sports medicine and general health. Ware explained that while walk-ins are welcome, students should know there could be a wait. “We’ll try to tell them how long they’ll have to wait,” Ware said.

Health Services reminds Ware of the doctor’s office environment from the ’60s TV show “Marcus Welby, M.D.” and is one reason she was lured to the position.

“I feel like we’re practicing the way medicine used to be–the good part of treating patients the way they used to be [treated],” Ware said. “[At Rice] you can really be Dr. Welby.”

Jenkins is currently working to raise money for the funding of a new building to house all of the health-relatedoffices–the counseling center, health education and health services. The building is projected to cost $1-2 million. A memorial fund established in Schnee’s honor may be used toward the funding of a new building.