Community Outreach Committee (COC)
2003 Community Outreach Summary

2003 was a year of continued progress for the University Hospital Community Outreach Committee (COC).

The Power of Words
It happened more than once in 2003 . . . several times
actually. Someone attending one of our health fairs heard news that
they’d never heard before:

“Your glucose level is extremely elevated, and you should see a doctor immediately.”

Most definitely, these same words prevented that person from letting
another day pass before they realized that they had diabetes. And it was these words that prevented that person’s prognosis from becoming grim: stroke, blindness or even lost limbs.

Thanks to the University Hospital Community Outreach Committee (COC)--a team of physicians, nurses, technicians, health educators and other staff--success stories such as these are becoming more commonplace, and healthy living a reality.

Health Fairs and Screenings
Health fairs and screenings have become a signature of our outreach activities. Our commitment to bringing free lectures and classes to the community continues to grow as well. Whether the request comes from a church, school, business or community-based organization, the COC tries to participate in some way. In the month of June alone, COC members conducted over 1,000 health screenings in the Newark area--the highest single month screening total in the hospital’s outreach history. Our overall screening figures are just as impressive:

Health fairs: 85
Health screenings: 4,169
Information: 4,343

Illsa Curtis of UMDCare takes a blood pressure at a health
fair at the Newark YMCA.


Cynthia Paige, MD of the Dept. of Family Medicine at
a prostate cancer screening/health fair.

Vangie Kupyak discusses a diabetes screening result at the
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church health fair.

Susan Rodriguez-Bostock, MD (of the Dept. of Family Medicine)
at the St. Stephen's Lutheran Church health fair.

Joan Odom, RN takes a blood pressure at a Kwanzaa celebration. University Hospital was a co-sponsor of the event.

Partnerships
University Hospital continues to successfully partner with other institutions and groups. In 2003, we added Independence Community Bank, Society Hill Townhomes and Newark Screens Theater to our list of collaborators.

Our relationship with Independence Community Bank is allowing
us to bring free health screenings to Independence branches throughout the city, while our work with Newark Screens is putting health screenings on-site at this theater.

The Society Hill partnership, an initiative called “Health on the Hill,”
features monthly health lectures by hospital physicians at the complex’s clubhouse. Meanwhile, we continue to sponsor programs with our partners from previous years including the 100 Black Men of New Jersey, New Community Corporation and the American Stroke Association.

These happy faces reflect the success of the health fair at Independence Community Bank: (l) to (r) Pat Bower of the UMDNJ Foundation; Paula Matos and Nia Rock of
Independence Community Bank; and Tiffany L. Smith of UH.

Occupational Therapist Temekia Jordan-Donald (l) and
Speech Therapist Rosemary DeStephan (r) spoke with
guests about stroke rehabilitation options during the stroke program at Independence Community Bank.

Newark Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell, our own
Doreen Monks, APN, and Rev. Levin West, Senior Pastor
of Grace Reformed Baptist Church during a health fair at
Newark Screens Movie Theater.

Student activities
With eyes opened wide, students tour University Hospital on a weekly basis. The tour program allows students to get an up-close look at a hospital setting and helps students understand that a career in the health professions is within their grasp. This year, the hospital sponsored 28 high school/college tours, with 598 students participating, and six pre-school/elementary tours with 150 students participating.

In addition, staff members attended five career days where a total of 214 students benefited. Our speaker’s bureau program was just as busy. In this program, hospital representatives spoke at six community events before a total of 230 guests.

Introducing . . . University Center for Family Medicine
University Center for Family Medicine is our newest
community-based health center. The practice is sponsored by the New Jersey Medical School Department of Family Medicine and University Hospital. It is located at 88 Shipman Street (within the
St. James Preparatory School building) and is across the street from
St. James AME Church.

Doctors Francis (l) and Washington (c) greet
Rev. William D. Watley, Senior Pastor of St. James AME Church.

Special Events and Programs
Stroke Alert Week
For the second consecutive year, the hospital sponsored free stroke risk assessments as part of “Stroke Alert Week”— a national initiative spearheaded by the American Stroke Association. UH offered these assessments on-site as well the following off-campus sites: New Hope Baptist Church, Unified Vailsburg Services Organization (UVSO) and Masjid Al Haqq.

Chuck Loeber (NJ Cardiovascular Institute) helps a guest understand her blood pressure reading at the Stroke Alert
Week activities at Unified Vailsburg Services Organization.

Occupational therapist Michelle Hibbert discusses therapy options during Stroke Alert Week activities at at New Hope Baptist Church. Her guest is Clara M. Hunt of our National Tuberculosis Center and a member of the church.

Sharon Danquah, RN (Surgical Specialty Clinic) handled questions about nutrition and smoking cessation at the UVSO Stroke Alert Week screening.

Heart Education
Using the highly-successful stroke outreach campaign as a model, the hospital has started a heart attack education campaign that consists of advertising and community outreach. Dr. Merwin Richard, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, is the primary speaker for this campaign.

Germaine Berry (l) of Happy Days Adult Daycare joins
Dr. Merwin Richard (r) after his talk there for
Heart Education Day.

School-to-Career Program
University Hospital and the Newark Board of Education have created an exciting new project designed to educate high school students about career opportunities in the healthcare industry. The program, which is highly practical and educational, provides students with valuable career information, personal guidance and work-oriented experience.

Newark Health Renaissance
The Newark Health Renaissance was a three-day health initiative sponsored by the City of Newark. Highlights included workshops and screenings around the city, and a health conference sponsored by UMDNJ.

Walk-a-thons
University Hospital participated in several walk-a-thons in 2003. These included walks for the Donna T. Darrien Memorial Foundation for Sickle Cell, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the National Conference for Community Justice, which was chaired by UMDNJ President
Dr. Stuart Cook.

University Hospital was a major sponsor of the Donna T.
Darrien Memorial Foundation for Sickle Cell walk-a-thon.
The UH team raised more than $3,000!

2003 Outreach Statistics
85 health fairs
4,169 screenings
4,343 people given information
28 high school tours-598 students
6 pre-school tours-150 students
5 career days-214 students
9,474 people served!

The University Hospital Community Outreach Program is directed by the Dept. of Marketing & Media Relations:

Robin Preisler, Executive Director

Tiffany L. Smith, Community Marketing Coordinator

Rogers Ramsey, Chief Hospital Spokesperson

University Hospital thanks the following staff members for their commitment to community outreach excellence:

David Abkin, MD
Langirene Aguilh
Esther Aligmayo
Phoebe Aliparo
Carla Alves
Veronica Andaya
Valeria Andrews
Veronica Anokute
Leticia Apochie
Patricia Asherman
Migales Augustin
Hedy Axelrod
John Bailey
Irene Banares
Carl Barefoot
Carolyn Barker
Joanne Barkley
Theodore Barrett, MD
Robert Barricella, MD
Raju Bejjanki, MD
Nancy Berger
Mylka Biascochea
Stefanie Brown, MD
Cheryl Bellamy
Christine Boardingham
George Brennan
Marion Brown
Merle Brown, Ph.D., APN
Stefanie Brown, MD
Terry Brown
Yvonne Brown
Margarette Bryan, MD
Shirley Brydie, PhD
Ingrid Bruce
Praveen Buddiga
Joseph Burlew
Cheryl Cafone
Benny Cardona
Annette Chambers
Yu Feng Chan, MD
Carl Chase
Rosa Chaviano-Moran, DDS
Ruth Chiles
Gordon Chin
Vincent Cisternio
Denise Clarke-Bell
Mittie Clemons
April Coage
Jerome Coakieanos
Malik Cobb
Terri Coerts
Julio Colon
Michael Conte, DDS
Carl Corriere
Illsa Curtis
Cathy DaGraca
Sharon Danquah
Christine Davis
Diana DeCosimo, MD
Andrew de la Torre, MD
Carl Delery
Brad Delorme
Susan DeSantis
Rondalya DeShields
Kaylyn Dines
Shalon Dixon
Brian Dolan
Lee Dolan
Kathy Donnelly
Clinton Dozier
Denise Dudley
Kathyann Duncan, MD
Diane Echazarria
Paul Edema
Jason Emmel
Kathy Ennis
Evette Estwick
Roger Faison
Francelle Fanfan
Jeff Farkas, MD
Arezou Fatemi, MD
Traci Fauerbach
Robert Fechtner, MD
Termerra Flournoy
Marie Fortune
Saundra Foster
Guy Franis, MD
Luis Franco
Vita Franco
Lisa Furr-Gordon
Robyn Gantt, MD
Rosa Garcia
Sandra Garcia
Georgia Garner
Antonio Gary
Marcella Gentle
Lisa Goldrich
Debbie Goldsmith
Debra Goldson-Prophete
Elijah Green
Mable Griffin
George Hampton
Patricia Hardy
Susan Harley
Anna Haywood
Nadine Herran
Esperanza Herrera
Michelle Hibbert
Andrea Hidalgo, MD
Ernestine Hill
Ethel Hill
Terry Hoben
Yvonne Hogan
Vera Holmes
Bob Hoon
Barbara Hudson
Eloisa Hufalar
Donna Jackson
Alton James
George Jenkins, DMD
Kevin Jenkins
Edward Jimenez
Mark Johnson, MD
Simone L. Johnson
Hawah Karim
Michael Katz
Patricia Kelley
Patrick Kennedy
Sharon Kibwana
Noel Killen
Vangie Kupyak
Susan LaBagnara
Elaine Lakes
Paul Lama, MD
Paul Langenbach
Bobbie Lark
Melissa Larson
Mary Beth Lav
Bruno Lee
Tarangela Lee
Ollyn Lettman
Chuck Loeber
Santos Lopez
Pascale Jean Louise
Jesus Mabute
Marica Mack
Andrea Malone
Rosaline Manongdo
Tiffany Marino, MD
Donna Martemucci
Catherine Martinez
Melania Martinez
Mary Mathis-Ford
Shawn McCabe
Lynda McClendon
Vera McClendon
Karen McCombs
Loretta McConeghy
Linda McGinnis
Jack McLear
Amy McManus
Verla McMickle
Susan McVicker
Josefina Mercedes
Doreen Monks
Marc Monteith
Freddie Montero
Diane Moore
Dorothy Moore
Glenisha Moore
Guillermina Morales
Katy Morello
Fernando Morris
Shirley Myers-Dodson
Anna Natale-Pereira, MD
Stanley Newsome
Stacie Newton
John Norris, MD
William O’Brien
Joan Odom
Thomasina Oliver
Khadijah Olumbe
Marlon Osboune
William Padilla
Cynthia Paige, MD
Jack Palmaro
Elizabeth Parietti
Brenda Parks
Mary Ellen Pastore
Elizabeth Patterson-Pearson
Demus Paye
Ivis Pena, DDS
Xiomara Perez
Al Perrella
Lisa Perry
Robert Perry
Barbara Peterson
Darryl Phillips
Colleen Pickering
Sharon Pleasant, RN
Lisa Pompeo, MD
Karen Portee
Jessie Pressley
Minnie Pressley
David Price, M.Div., PhD
Teresa Prince
Patrick Pullicino, MD
Kathy Purcell
Julie Radice
John Rafols
Joan Randall
Brenda Rasbury
Khalil Rashidi
Janet Reid-Hector
Joseph Rella, MD
Eligia Reyes
Joseph Ricciardi
Carolyn Ricks
Joan Ridarick
Gwendolyn Riley
Shirley Rivera
Miguel Rodriguez, MD
Susan Rodriguez-Bostock, MD
Lee Rosado
Judith Rosen
Lisa Rouson
Sheila Royster
Gary Sabino-Benowitz
Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD
Renee Scott
Marion Shabazz
Terrence Shenfield
Harriet Sidoti
Mittie Simmons
Alan Simms
Acquanetta Slater
Bernice Smith
Daniel Smith
Darlene Smith
Jessy Smith
Judith Smith
LeRoy Smith
Veronica Sobol
Mercy Solante
Marion Stephens
Marsha Stern
Eugene Stewart
Edyth Stroud
Sara Suarez
Nayata Sylvester
Irene Szczech
Wesley Tahsir-Rodriguez
Trevor Talbert, MD
Johnean Terry
Carolyn Thomas
Michelle Thomas
Kevin Thompson
Les Titus
Roxanne Tonic
Susana Torres
Maryann Trapp
Anthony Tremarco
Jacinta Ukah-Ogbonna
Molly Varghese
Sherine Varghese
Paolo Varricchio, MD
Michael Vives, MD
Judy Walker
George Wallace, MD
Judy Washington, MD
Sharon Washington
Sharon Waters
Deidre Watley, MD
Brian Weaver
Annie Webb
Peter Wenger, MD
Ennis White
Dorian Wilson, MD
Erica Williams
Jennifer Winter
Rick Witzel
Katrina Wooden
Fern Woodley
Naomi Yarra
Edward Younger
David Abkin, MD
Langirene Aguilh
Esther Aligmayo
Phoebe Aliparo
Carla Alves
Veronica Andaya
Valeria Andrews
Veronica Anokute
Leticia Apochie
Patricia Asherman
Migales Augustin
Hedy Axelrod
John Bailey
Irene Banares
Carl Barefoot
Carolyn Barker
Joanne Barkley
Theodore Barrett, MD
Robert Barricella, MD
Raju Bejjanki, MD
Nancy Berger
Mylka Biascochea
Stefanie Brown, MD
Cheryl Bellamy
Christine Boardingham
George Brennan
Marion Brown
Merle Brown, Ph.D., APN
Stefanie Brown, MD
Terry Brown
Yvonne Brown
Margarette Bryan, MD
Shirley Brydie, PhD
Ingrid Bruce
Praveen Buddiga
Joseph Burlew
Cheryl Cafone
Benny Cardona
Annette Chambers
Yu Feng Chan, MD
Carl Chase
Rosa Chaviano-Moran, DDS
Ruth Chiles
Gordon Chin
Vincent Cisternio
Denise Clarke-Bell
Mittie Clemons
April Coage
Jerome Coakieanos
Malik Cobb
Terri Coerts
Julio Colon
Michael Conte, DDS
Carl Corriere
Illsa Curtis
Cathy DaGraca
Sharon Danquah
Christine Davis
Diana DeCosimo, MD
Andrew de la Torre, MD
Carl Delery
Brad Delorme
Susan DeSantis
Rondalya DeShields
Kaylyn Dines
Shalon Dixon
Brian Dolan
Lee Dolan
Kathy Donnelly
Clinton Dozier
Denise Dudley
Kathyann Duncan, MD
Diane Echazarria
Paul Edema
Jason Emmel
Kathy Ennis
Evette Estwick
Roger Faison
Francelle Fanfan
Jeff Farkas, MD
Arezou Fatemi, MD
Traci Fauerbach
Robert Fechtner, MD
Termerra Flournoy
Marie Fortune
Saundra Foster
Guy Franis, MD
Luis Franco
Vita Franco
Lisa Furr-Gordon
Robyn Gantt, MD
Rosa Garcia
Sandra Garcia
Georgia Garner
Antonio Gary
Marcella Gentle
Lisa Goldrich
Debbie Goldsmith
Debra Goldson-Prophete
Elijah Green
Mable Griffin
George Hampton
Patricia Hardy
Susan Harley
Anna Haywood
Nadine Herran
Esperanza Herrera
Michelle Hibbert
Andrea Hidalgo, MD
Ernestine Hill
Ethel Hill
Terry Hoben
Yvonne Hogan
Vera Holmes
Bob Hoon
Barbara Hudson
Eloisa Hufalar
Donna Jackson
Alton James
George Jenkins, DMD
Kevin Jenkins
Edward Jimenez
Mark Johnson, MD
Simone L. Johnson
Hawah Karim
Michael Katz
Patricia Kelley
Patrick Kennedy
Sharon Kibwana
Noel Killen
Vangie Kupyak
Susan LaBagnara
Elaine Lakes
Paul Lama, MD
Paul Langenbach
Bobbie Lark
Melissa Larson
Mary Beth Lav
Bruno Lee
Tarangela Lee
Ollyn Lettman
Chuck Loeber
Santos Lopez
Pascale Jean Louise
Jesus Mabute
Marica Mack
Andrea Malone
Rosaline Manongdo
Tiffany Marino, MD
Donna Martemucci
Catherine Martinez
Melania Martinez
Mary Mathis-Ford
Shawn McCabe
Lynda McClendon
Vera McClendon
Karen McCombs
Loretta McConeghy
Linda McGinnis
Jack McLear
Amy McManus
Verla McMickle
Susan McVicker
Josefina Mercedes
Doreen Monks
Marc Monteith
Freddie Montero
Diane Moore
Dorothy Moore
Glenisha Moore
Guillermina Morales
Katy Morello
Fernando Morris
Shirley Myers-Dodson
Anna Natale-Pereira, MD
Stanley Newsome
Stacie Newton
John Norris, MD
William O’Brien
Joan Odom
Thomasina Oliver
Khadijah Olumbe
Marlon Osboune
William Padilla
Cynthia Paige, MD
Jack Palmaro
Elizabeth Parietti
Brenda Parks
Mary Ellen Pastore
Elizabeth Patterson-Pearson
Demus Paye
Ivis Pena, DDS
Xiomara Perez
Al Perrella
Lisa Perry
Robert Perry
Barbara Peterson
Darryl Phillips
Colleen Pickering
Sharon Pleasant, RN
Lisa Pompeo, MD
Karen Portee
Jessie Pressley
Minnie Pressley
David Price, M.Div., PhD
Teresa Prince
Patrick Pullicino, MD
Kathy Purcell
Julie Radice
John Rafols
Joan Randall
Brenda Rasbury
Khalil Rashidi
Janet Reid-Hector
Joseph Rella, MD
Eligia Reyes
Joseph Ricciardi
Carolyn Ricks
Joan Ridarick
Gwendolyn Riley
Shirley Rivera
Miguel Rodriguez, MD
Susan Rodriguez-Bostock, MD
Lee Rosado
Judith Rosen
Lisa Rouson
Sheila Royster
Gary Sabino-Benowitz
Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD
Renee Scott
Marion Shabazz
Terrence Shenfield
Harriet Sidoti
Mittie Simmons
Alan Simms
Acquanetta Slater
Bernice Smith
Daniel Smith
Darlene Smith
Jessy Smith
Judith Smith
LeRoy Smith
Veronica Sobol
Mercy Solante
Marion Stephens
Marsha Stern
Eugene Stewart
Edyth Stroud
Sara Suarez
Nayata Sylvester
Irene Szczech
Wesley Tahsir-Rodriguez
Trevor Talbert, MD
Johnean Terry
Carolyn Thomas
Michelle Thomas
Kevin Thompson
Les Titus
Roxanne Tonic
Susana Torres
Maryann Trapp
Anthony Tremarco
Jacinta Ukah-Ogbonna
Molly Varghese
Sherine Varghese
Paolo Varricchio, MD
Michael Vives, MD
Judy Walker
George Wallace, MD
Judy Washington, MD
Sharon Washington
Sharon Waters
Deidre Watley, MD
Brian Weaver
Annie Webb
Peter Wenger, MD
Ennis White
Dorian Wilson, MD
Erica Williams
Jennifer Winter
Rick Witzel
Katrina Wooden
Fern Woodley
Naomi Yarra
Edward Younger