Press Release

February 10, 2006
Contact: Jerry Carey
Phone: 856-566-6171
careyge@umdnj.edu

Free Diabetes and Blood Pressure Screenings Offered in February
At UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine

STRATFORD—In observance of African-American History Month, the University of Medicine and Dentistry’s School of Osteopathic Medicine is also supporting diabetes awareness by offering free diabetes and blood pressure screenings on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and again on Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. until noon, in the lobby of the University Doctor's Pavilion, 42 East Laurel Road, in Stratford. No appointment is needed for these screenings.

"Although diabetes disproportionately affects African Americans and other minorities, screening is important for everyone," said Dr. Allen Clowers, a family physician at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine. "One-third of those with diabetes don’t realize they have this disease. Those with diabetes also need to keep their blood pressure under control because as many as 75 percent of all diabetic complications can be traced to the combination of high blood pressure and diabetes."

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (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 its only school of public health, on five campuses. Last year, there were more than two million patient visits to 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.