The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine community came together at Ann Morrison Park in Boise on Saturday, Oct. 3 for the college’s first-ever Outside with Pride 5K, an event organized by ICOM’s LGBTQ student club to promote community, wellness and access to health care.
The inaugural 5K brought together ICOM student physicians, faculty, staff and community members for a morning of movement and connection while raising $3,456.94 for Terry Reilly Health Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center serving communities throughout the region.
“Supporting our community was at the heart of creating this event. We know that certain populations have historically been underserved in healthcare,” said Student Physician Nicholas Roussel. “I wanted Outside with Pride to be a way of saying that we see you, your health matters, and you deserve access to quality care. Terry Reilly embodies that mission, which made them a natural partner for this event. Given that exercise is one of the most powerful forms of medicine at our disposal, bringing people together to move, connect, and support one another felt like a natural way to put that message into action.”
In addition to supporting a local healthcare organization, the event reflected the LGBTQ student club’s commitment to creating opportunities for connection and community engagement beyond ICOM’s campus.
“Standing up for vulnerable people matters most when staying quiet would cost you nothing. We’ve watched civic leaders here in the Treasure Valley do exactly that, and we wanted to create an event that welcomed and celebrated that sense of community,” said Student Physician Daniel Valley. “It was amazing to see ICOM students and faculty, along with so many people with no connection to ICOM at all, spend a Saturday morning in the park together and reaffirm that these spaces belong to everyone, alongside a partner like Terry Reilly that shares that commitment.”
Terry Reilly provides healthcare services to people throughout the Treasure Valley, with care designed to be accessible regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. Services are provided on a sliding-scale basis and include:
- Primary care
- Behavioral health
- Dental care
- Pharmacy services
- HIV testing and PrEP navigation
- Hepatitis testing
- Case management
For ICOM student physicians, Outside with Pride offered another opportunity to put the principles of osteopathic medicine into action by supporting the health and well-being of the broader community.
The success of the inaugural event also highlights the impact students can make when they bring the ICOM community together around a shared commitment to service, inclusion and healthcare access.
