One of the most valuable benefits offered at Greensboro Day School is not always found in the classroom, on the stage, or the athletic field. Without this service, GDS students might not be in any of those places. As illness, allergies, and injuries affect our lives, GDS is fortunate to have a Health Services team in place who work to ensure that each student stays healthy and is cared for in the appropriate way. From early in the morning to late in the evening, the Health Services team does it all. Their care includes scraped knees to broken bones, illnesses, managing prescriptions, preparing for potential emergencies, and even education. The History In the early years of the school, Health Services were provided by volunteer parents. 30 years ago, then Head of School, Dr. Ralph Davison recognized the need to have a Registered Nurse on campus, someone who could support students’ health. In 1987, Denese Roseborough, RN, was hired as the school’s first nurse. Denese held this position until 1995, when GDS Alumna, Linda Knox Sudnik Register ’79, MSN, RN, NCSN, was hired as the school’s first full-time nurse. As Director of Health Services, “Nurse Linda” as she is affectionately known, has expanded our health room’s services and staffing to what it is today. Health room services are provided during the academic portion of the school day with the support of three part-time nurses, Kris Moss, RN, Sue Maxwell, RN, and Pauline Kurtz, RN. GDS is one of the few schools in the Triad with a full-time nurse.   When it comes time for dismissal from the academic day, the Health Services team is still available, offering excellent continuity of care. Two athletic trainers provide health care after school to our entire campus, from Bengal Cub Club (after-school care), to athletic practices and games.  With 18 sports and 46 teams, after-school is a busy time for our Health Services team.   Jon Schner, LAT, ATC, Head of Sports Medicine and Assistant Athletic Director, has supervised the Sports Medicine program since 1991 and aided in the growth of additional teams and sports offered over the years.  In 1997, Coach Schner joined the faculty and developed Upper School courses to provide our students with elective course options in the areas of Fitness, Health, Sports Medicine, Human Performance and Biomechanics. Meg Sumner, LAT, ATC, Assistant Athletic Trainer and Assistant to the Athletic Director, joined the Health Services team in 2012. Meg oversees our ImPact pre- concussion screening and Return-to-Play and Return-to-Learn protocols for post- concussion students. Meg also serves our Summer Programs as the on-duty health provider during summer camps. The after-school Health Services team also provides care and is available to the theatrical performance rehearsals as needed. GDS is the only school in the Triad to have 2 full time Athletic Trainers on campus throughout the day. Health Service at GDS: Behind the scenes, but always present Proactive Care Nurse Linda says, “When I started, much of my time was spent on patient care and establishing school-health policies. Over the years, I have developed and implemented educational programs to promote student safety and wellness. Greensboro Day School was the first in the Triad to require a CPR training program for faculty and staff, while also requiring CPR certification for graduation.” In 2000, the school purchased an Automated External Defibrillator. Always striving to incorporate best practices for life-saving equipment, GDS was the first school in the area to train students, faculty, and staff in the use of the AED. Prevention is the key to care both during the academic day as well as after-school extracurricular activities. Every year, only about 4% of people in the United States are trained in CPR, and that percentage is lower in many rural areas. Nearly anyone can learn CPR – and everyone should! Sadly, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed. These stats are why GDS finds it important to train both faculty and students. By the Spring of each year, nearly 100% of the Upper School student body has been trained in First Aid, CPR and AED use.  Because of this training, GDS graduates are often the best trained individuals in the greater community to know what to do in an emergency situation. Linda Register with Mac Murphy ’32 Jon Schner teaches a sports medicine class. 16 | Winter 2017