Story Published:
Jan 16, 2009 at 5:41 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jan 16, 2009 at 5:41 PM CST
Dr. Mark Pierce, Infectious Diseases specialist with The Physician Associates at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, has opened a travel clinic.
Located at 406 North Whitney Avenue, this new clinic is designed to provide travel advice and vaccinations for those planning overseas trips.
“Anytime you travel overseas, particularly to developing countries, it is always a good idea to take a look at your routine vaccinations,” states Dr. Pierce. “There are many countries that require certain vaccinations before you are allowed to enter them.”
The first of its kind in the Upper Cumberland region, The Travel Clinic at Cookeville Regional Medical Center will be open on Thursdays from 8:00am until 1:00pm.
Patients will receive one-on-one, site specific travel advice and health tips in addition to vaccines and prescriptions recommended for the areas to which they are traveling.
Available vaccines include Tetanus/Diptheria, Polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia, Meningitis, Typhoid, H Influenza type B, Rubella, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, and Flu vaccine.
“Two of the biggest health dangers to international travelers are diarrhea and malaria,” states Dr. Pierce. “We try to make patients aware of the ways that they can avoid these and other illnesses so that they can make the most of their trip.”
Dr. Pierce has extensive experience in tropical diseases and travel medicine.
He founded and directed the Vanderbilt International Travel Medicine Clinic earlier in his career and spent many years doing mission work as a physician in remote areas of Africa.
Dr. Pierce also worked with the National Institutes of Health as the Clinical Head of the Malaria Vaccine Development Branch.
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the clinic will provide patients with the resources to stay healthy during their trip and provide post-travel follow up care if necessary.
Special arrangements can be made for larger groups. For more information or to schedule an appointment with The Travel Clinic at Cookeville Regional, call 931-520-8320.
