Press Release

August 4, 2006
Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
(973) 972-3000
dineskd@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ Celebrates National Health Center Week with Free, Public Programs
Health Activities for Families in the
Greater New Brunswick area (August 7 - 11)

NEW BRUNSWICK — In celebration of National Health Center Week (Aug. 7-11), health professionals at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Eric B. Chandler Health Center will host a week of free family-focused programs.

The theme for the National Health Center Week observance is America’s Health Centers “Celebrating Patient Voice and Community Choice." Administrators at the Eric B. Chandler Health Center, which is part of the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, are hosting a Grand Re-Opening Program on Wed., Aug. 9, at 11 a.m., at 277 George St., New Brunswick.

Racquel Benford, executive director of UMDNJ’s Eric B. Chandler Health Center, will launch a new customer-service program called Operation R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Remember Every Single Person Expects Courteous Treatment).

During the week, free screenings, workshops, and health information will be provided on a variety of topics including nutrition, obesity prevention, smoking cessation and diabetes. Media is invited to attend any or all of the events, and is encouraged to review the calendar of events - a link is provided in the subsequent paragraph.

The Eric B. Chandler Health Center, one of 21 Federally Qualified Health Centers statewide, is partnering with the New Jersey Primary Care Association and other community-based organizations to provide several health activities during National Health Center Week. For a list of activities or for more information, visit http://www2.umdnj.edu/chandweb/ or call (732) 235-6700.

UMDNJ is the nation’s largest free-standing public health sciences university with more than 5,500 students attending the state's three medical schools, its only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and a school of public health on five campuses. Annually, there are more than two million patient visits at UMDNJ facilities and faculty at campuses in Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway, Scotch Plains, Camden and Stratford. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, a mental health and addiction services network.