Yolanda Hill, M.D., Southern University’s only woman doctor who started the Woman’s Clinic to educate female students, is resigning December 31, because the University cannot afford her as a full time physician.
Hill has been a part-time physician at Southern for two years, but is now relocating to Houston.
“I’m saddened by my leaving, but I promise I will have something in place for the Woman’s Clinic when I leave. Right now I am booked through November,” said Hill.
According to Chancellor Edward Jackson, the university doesn’t have the revenue to afford Hill.
“We have a position for one full time doctor and two part-time physicians, which is based on the need of the students. If the need is greater we will service it. I am very sad to hear she is going,” said Jackson.
The Women’s Clinic gives annual pap smears, breast exams, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and counseling.
It will affect me because I don’t like talking to male doctors at all about female problems. I am going to see Dr. Hill on the 16th of October because that is the closest date I could get because she’s packed,” said sophomore Kelly Hall, an elementary education major from Opelousas.
Full-time students pay a health service fee of $40 for health insurance; it provides exams, physician visits and medication from the pharmacy at the Baranco-Hill Student Health Center each semester.
” It is very expensive to have five physicians in the center. Students pay for this coverage, we’ve always tried to keep down student fee,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Raymond Downs.
Statistics from 2001 show that 61 percent of women, and 39 percent for males attend SU.
Nurse Manager Pam Meteyor said Hill instituted the Women’s Clinic.
“She came here and found the need. Our job here is to continue it,” said Meteyor.
The student Health Center Baranco-Hill has eight nurses and three doctors, including Dr. Hill.
