For Dr. Marnie Marlette, there was never any question about what she would be when she grew up. “I have wanted to be a doctor since I was 5 years old,” says Marlette, High Point University’s newest Student Health Services addi- tion. “It started with the proverbial “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question that grown-ups always ask.” It was her grandmother of all people that told her she was capable of whatever she wanted to achieve. “My grandmother was trying to take a Sunday afternoon nap at the time, and lucky for me she asked that question because I had never thought about it. She had worked at the hospital after she retired, and made it very clear that it was a great place to work, but that I should not limit myself to traditional roles. She told me that day that I could be or do anything as long as I was willing to work hard—including being the doctor, leading the health care team, helping people better their lives.” In the end, the meaningful work to be done for the health and wellness of others was what Marlette was drawn to about the profession. “I really wanted my choice to matter; a profession that contributed to the betterment of society and individuals was exactly what I wanted.,” she said. “I guess it stuck. I never changed my mind.”

Dr. Marlette is now HPU’s full-time MD, making her role a unique one in comparison with other schools across the country. She says the opportunity is one that more schools should take up. “Having an MD on campus is a great thing. It allows for more providers to see more patients, more manpower, being able to assist a full staff of providers on sight and offer a wide compliment of services. It makes back up consultation quick and local. But its more than that too.”

Marlette completed her undergraduate at Meredith College and completed her residency at Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Before becoming HPU’s full-time doctor, she was in private practice for 16 years prior to joining Cornerstone Health Care in High Point, N.C. as a family physician in 2011. This depth of understanding and experience in the field will now serve as an asset to the student of HPU.

“It also allows us to expand some on our potential for outreach to our students as well as into the community and to health service organizations-being the go-between, so to speak, between patients, insurance companies and billing, service opportunities and resources, education on health related issues,” explains Marlette.

With her new position on campus, Dr. Marlette will follow the precedent set by Dr. Danielle Mahaffey, who currently serves as the university’s medical director. At the time of Mahaffey’s addition to the HPU team, HPU was one of only three private universities in the state of North Carolina to have a full-time medical doctor as director of the student health center, along with Duke and Wake Forest.

“Dr. Mahaffey before me has developed an excellent health care team and system at your Student Health Services,” says Marlette. “Exceptional quality care is available right on campus, including for acute illness, STD screening and contraception, and allergy care. The new “schedule by appointment” is working well and cuts down on the wait time and allows us to triage severe issues effectively. I would like to continue to ensure and provide this same level of exceptional care, but I would like to reach out to the student body and find out what other things would be helpful for them. I would love to hear any thoughts or ideas you have.”

Dr. Marlette has already started to do just this – she has been “taking the temperature” of the student body’s needs and has come to several conclusions. “The first two things that have presented as needs since I started here in October are promoting and educating people on the need for flu shots and making them easily accessible, and setting up some question and answer sessions on STD’s to promote prevention and education.”

With this year’s flu season seemingly tougher than those in years past, Dr. Marlette says that bringing up the number of students who receive flu shots could really cut back on the number of sick cases. “We have seen very few individuals that actually received flu shots this year. Flu shots have the potential to really cut down on illness rate.” Dr. Marlette concedes that though
some issues, like STD prevention and pregnancy, may be difficult to talk about, she says student body awareness and informed decisions are key.

“College populations are sexually active and have other risk factors that may decrease inhibitions and increase risk. There needs to be accurate information to plan and prevent STD’s and unwanted pregnancy, as well as possibly u wanted advances or assault. This has become a hot topic on some campuses, but is quite complex and complicated. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter.”

Most importantly, Dr. Marnie Marlette wants the students of HPU to know that she is here for them. “I’d like to be more visible  make sure students know what we do here. Navigating cornerstonehealth.com the health care system is complicated. It’s not what students want to be spending their time doing.

Having a physician to help direct and guide some of the decisions that are impacted by the medical system, will hopefully allow us to develop and grow the wonderful services already in place and prevent some pitfalls along the way.”

Next time you’re feeling under the weather or even just have any questions about health related issues, Dr. Marnie Marlette is now just an appointment away. Call student health services at (336) 841-4683 or stop by the lower level of Wilson Residence Hall at 805 Panther Drive to schedule an appointment.