There is more room to breathe in the University of Nevada, Reno's recently renovated and expanded medical clinic due to a donation by the Neil J. Redfield Foundation, who were formally thanked at the Student Health Center Renovation Event, July 8.

"Our health directly impacts our capacity to learn and thrive," Caden Fabbi, Associated Students of the Universit of Nevada President, said. "We students are grateful for the contributions and hard work of all involved in making the health center renovation possible."

Anyone who has visited the SHC before the remodel will immediately notice the massively overhauled waiting room, which has doubled in size. The old reception counter has been replaced with a much larger and open counter, providing a more hospitable atmosphere.

Adding 1,900 square feet of space, the renovation has created six new exam rooms, four new offices, a new lab, a second waiting room for appointments, as well as a new conference room and kitchen to accommodate the growing staff necessary to meet the needs of a booming population.

Every year more students are enrolling. According to a 2013 study by the University, cumulative growth is projected to be17 percent in new freshmen enrollment by 2020, and freshman retention rates are steadily rising with an annual average increase of 0.4 percentage points. The renovation and expansion at the health center is necessary to prepare for a student population that is projected to continually grow.

"With our campus growing at the rate it has been, we have simply outgrown our space," Student Health Medical Director Cheryl Hug-English said. "We were not able to adequately keep pace with the increased number of patient visits we were seeing. With over 26,000 patient visits last year, we simply did not have enough exam rooms or waiting room space to adequately and efficiently take care of our patients. The renovation has really made this a much more welcoming place for students as well as making it possible for us to continue to provide the highest quality health care services for our students."

The SHC strives to meet students' health care needs by providing a wide variety of services.

"I think students are often surprised that we can be a one-stop shop for their medical care," Hug-English said.

She explained how students can get laboratory tests drawn, prescriptions filled, and x-rays done, all on-site and at minimal cost for students.

The SHC also has other services available such as an eating disorders treatment team, a registered dietician, dermatology services, as well as psychiatrists to help with mental health conditions.

Hug-English said that students may visit the health center as often as they want with no office visit charges. The Student Health Center is open Monday through Friday with evening clinics Monday through Thursday, and implements a walk-in, same-day appointment system that she described as being very popular with students.

According to the medical director, the renovation will improve their ability to meet students' needs in a more efficient and thorough manner.

"I really want to give credit and much gratitude to the Redfield Foundation for making all of this possible," Hug-English said. "Their donation allowed us to make all these wonderful changes, allowing us to grow with the campus and continue to meet our students' health care needs."

The Redfield Foundation has supported the University since its inception 40 years ago, when it gave the School of Medicine $1,000 to assist medical students with their health care expenses. Since then the Foundation has been a steadfast partner and given or pledged more than $34 Million to the University. Their proposed goal is to provide better health services and better education in the community, and improving the Student Health Center encapsulates both aspects of this mission.