12/2 -- Newark Museum Health Fair
Newark Museum employees were educated by our own Yvonne Brown during their annual health fair. Ms. Brown is a health educator in University OB/GYN Associates and helped women at the fair get a better understanding of various women's health issues including family planning and STDs.

Great job, Yvonne!

Attendance: 70

12/3 -- "Stroke: Minutes Do Matter" lecture at Independence Community Bank
Our latest community outreach partner is Independence Community Bank. As part of that partnership, UH will host health screenings at various Independence branches throughout the year. The first consisted of a stroke screening/lecture and was held at the 905 Broad Street branch. The event was tremendously successful.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 75
Glucose -- 75
Stroke risk assessments: 62

UH Advanced Practice Nurse Doreen Monks (l) advises a
participant at the Independence Community Bank stroke screening, while Chuck Loeber (rear, left) does the same.

These happy faces reflect the success of the health fair:
(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.

12/10 -- Rehabilitation Department Outreach to Sussex Avenue Shelter

Michelle Hibbert, OT, Rosemary DeStephan, ST, and nearly a dozen other members of the Rehabilitation Department fed residents of the Sussex Avenue Shelter. Each staff member brought a dish, as well as their festive holiday spirits, to serve these residents. What a wonderful way to help the less fortunate!

Attendance: 100

12/10 -- "Verizon Still Cares"--Verizon 5th Annual Health/Fire/Safety Fair
"Verizon still cares about its employees!"

That was the sentiment at their 5th Annual Health Fair. Employees were treated to a number of free health services including the services of a massage therapist.

Way to go,Verizon! (And way to go to our own Chuck Loeber of the New Jersey Cardiovascular Center--he provided the blood pressure screenings.)

Screening statistics
Blood pressure: 70

12/13 -- Positive Communities Kwanzaa Celebration
UH helped the community recognize Kwanzaa at a
pre-Kwanzaa celebration held at St. Matthew AME Church in Orange. This program was actually coordinated by Positive Communities magazine-- a monthly magazine that focuses on sharing positive, uplifting information about the
African-American community in the tri-state area.

Highlights of the program featured health screenings, gospel choirs, art vendors and healthy refreshments. UH was the largest exhibitor: Joan Odom (UMDCare) provided blood pressure screenings; Colleen Pickering (UMDCare) administered diabetes screenings; and one of our own liver transplant surgeons, Dr. Andrew de la Torre, was on hand to provide hepatitis information.

Collen Pickering of UMDCare explains a glucose
screening result.

Joan Odom provides a sense of comfort while
taking a blood pressure.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 36
Glucose -- 36

12/14 -- Open House at University Center for Family Medicine
UMDNJ’s New Jersey Medical School Department of Family Medicine and University Hospital have opened a new healthcare facility in the heart of Newark’s Central Ward. Located at 88-108 Shipman Street (on the campus of St. James Preparatory School), University Center for Family Medicine welcomed their first patients in November 2003 and has quickly become an integral part of the Central Ward community.

The physicians at the practice, Doctors Guy Francis and Judy Washington, and their staff held an Open House for the members of St. James AME Church, which is located across the street from the practice. Not only were guests able to tour the practice, but the 150+ guests also munched on delicious refreshments and received Christmas gifts.

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

Joseph Comly (second from left), Administrator for the Department of Family Medicine, joins University Center for Family Medicine staff members Roana Ruby Gonzalez,
Dr. Judy Washington, Shela Van Valen and Dr. Guy Francis.

Dr. Francis, who will serve as the medical doctor of University Center for Family Medicine, is already making new friends!

Doctor Washington (l) discusses health issues with
an Open House guest.

Doctor Francis chats with guests at the Open House.

November 2003 summary

October 2003 summary

September 2003 summary

August 2003 summary

July 2003 summary

June 2003 summary

May 2003 summary

April 2003 summary

March 2003 summary

February 2003 summary

January 2003 summary