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You've Arrived, Now What?: Campus Resources: Health Services

There are many services to help you maintain your physical and mental health in tip-top shape while at Pitt. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers are some of the best in the nation and Pitt's own health services work closely with UPMC to assure you quality health care. If you need treatment, it's right here for you.

Student Health Service

The Student Health Service Clinic, operated by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, is located on the fifth floor of the Medical Arts Building on Fifth Avenue. The Student Health Fee, which you must pay if you are a full-time student, covers the cost of the visit. (Part-time students may elect to pay the fee.) Those not covered pay a fee-for-service at the time of the visit. Take your valid Panther Card with you!

Appointments can be made by calling (412) 383-1800 and are necessary if you're going to see a specialist. Services include general medicine, internal medicine, dermatology, gynecology, family planning, allergy shots, health education, lab work, radiology, pregnancy testing, psychiatry, orthopedics and a pharmacy. The pharmacy provides medical drugs at a discount.

For medical or emergency service when the Student Health Service is closed, students can call Campus Police at (412) 624-2121 for transportation to a local hospital. The cost of these services is the responsibility of the student and must be covered by the student's medical insurance.

Contraceptives are inexpensive at the Health Center's pharmacy. Birth control pills, condoms and other contraceptives are priced here for student budgets. HIV testing is one of the many lab tests available at the health center.

Counseling Services

Graduate school can be stressful, creating strains on all variety of academic and personal relationships. The University offers free, confidential counseling services to graduate (and undergraduate) students at the Counseling Center in 334 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7930. They estimate that typically about ten percent of the student body each year requires some sort of professional counseling for personal, academic, or career assistance.

Graduate students get counseling and short-term therapy for a number of reasons: problems with personal relationships (parents, peers, partners), emotional difficulties, stress, depression, anxiety, marital conflicts, concerns about academic progress or direction, career plans, and more. This counseling is confidential. No information is released to officers of the University, to parents, or to outside agencies without the student's explicit written authorization in advance, except to protect the student or others from imminent harm. Psychologists, career counselors, and doctoral interns are available for personal, academic and career counseling. Consulting psychiatrists are also on staff.

As TAs and TFs, graduate students work with undergraduates who might need counseling. You should be aware of the existence of the Counseling Center, should you have reason to think one of your undergraduate students or graduate student peers might benefit from its services. In the former case, seek advice from your department (such as the professor supervising your course, a faculty mentor, or the department chair) about how to proceed. The Counseling Center offers the following indications of a need for referral:

Behavior Patterns

• extreme social withdrawal or unwillingness to communicate
• excessive shyness, or lack of social skills
• inability to sleep or excessive sleeping
• loss of appetite or excessive appetite
• unexplained crying, bursts of anger, or unusual irritability
• thought disorder, i.e. conversation doesn't make sense
• suspiciousness or irrational feelings of persecution
• irrational worrying or unfounded expressions of fear
• traumatic changes in Personal Relationships
• death of family members or close friend
• marriage or relationship difficulties
• learning problems
• dramatic fall-off in academic performance
• incapacitating test or degree milestone anxiety

References to suicide, however oblique, should always be taken seriously. It is a mistake to brush off such remarks as simply a bid for attention. Mention of suicide plans (as opposed to feelings) should be considered grounds for immediate referral to a professional counselor.

How to Refer

• When a referral seems appropriate, speak directly to the person about your concern for him/her. People in distress are almost always receptive to an expression of genuine interest and concern and rarely take offense at the suggestion that they consider counseling.
• Be specific about the behaviors you have noted that have made you concerned.
• If the person refuses, don't push. Express acceptance of his/her feelings and suggest that you can talk about it at a later time.
• If the person seeks counseling, follow up later by asking how things went with the counseling session.

We all hope you have no need for such assistance, but be aware that it is available for you at the University if you should need some. Also, take note of the fact that it is not at all uncommon to seek some sort of professional counseling (personal, academic, or career assistance) during your University experience.

Dental Services

Students can take advantage of services available through the University's School of Dental Medicine. Located in Salk Hall, the School of Dental Medicine Clinic offers all the services available through your regular dentist, but at a large reduction in the price. Services range from semi-annual and annual teeth cleanings and tooth repairs (fillings and crowns), to the acquisition and maintenance of braces, bridges, and dentures. Prices vary, but usually savings range from 50% to 75% off regular dentist fees.

These savings are not without drawbacks. One of the major complaints from grad students who have used this service is the amount of time required to complete the work. Supervised first- and second-year students perform most of the services, depending on the complexity of the problem. Every step of the procedure performed by the dental students is supervised to ensure the quality of the work. These added precautions can increase the amount of time required for consultation and verification of the completed work.

If you need dental work and don't mind the time required, you can contact the dental school. For more on services, prices, or to schedule an appointment, call (412) 648-8616; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.