9/9--The University Hospital/Islamic Community Health Collaborative Unified
Pre-Ramadan Health Fair
The University Hospital and the Islamic Community Health Collaborative sponsored a free, Unified
Pre-Ramadan Health Fair on the Newark campus. This marked the the groups' second time hosting the event and is part of The University Hospital's on-going Muslim community outreach initiative.

The health fair, which was open to Muslims of all backgrounds and beliefs as well as non-Muslims, attracted nearly 150 people and focused on good health, particularly as it pertained to Islam and preparing for Ramadan.

Imam Hamad Chebli, Religious Director for the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, gave the keynote address entitled, " Caring for the Body in the Islamic Framework."

Other event highlights included:

•Hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, oral health and eye disease screenings

•Stroke risk assessments

•Body Mass Index (BMI)

•A panel discussion featuring speakers on heart disease, diabetes, oral health, alternative medicine, hepatitis C and stroke

•Family fun and children's activities

•A visit from Batman

•Information from community-based organizations and local colleges

Kudos to the following staff members and students for their participation: Maryam Chebli, Rogers Ramsey, Dr. Laura Hargro, Ilsa Curtis, Tina Jalloh, Joan Odom, RN, Dr. Haitham Hussein, Dr. Asha Samant, Dr. Ben Szirth, Khadijah Shahid, Barbara Ortiz, Zelia DeSouza, Minnie Presley, Tamara Coley, Simone Johnson, Pat Hardy, Dr. Susan Gould-Fogerite, Dr. Andre de la Torre, Dr. Jawad Kirmani, C. Alan Simms, Molly Jacob, RN, Dr. Mohamed Abdelmoula and Dr. Ankur Patel.

In addition, the following NJMS students assisted: Sana Khan, Ali Chaudhry, Rehan J. Khan, Claudia Anglade, Mafudia Bangura, Auja McDougale, Abimbola Obafemi, Trent Lyons and Dare V. Ajibade.

Dr. Asha Samant and New Jersey Dental School students assisted as well.

Screenings statistics:

Cholesterol screening--51
Glucose--57
Blood pressure--65

Members from the Islamic Community Health Collaborative, The University Hospital representatives
Dr. Jawad Kirmani (first from right) and Tiffany L. Smith (second from right) join Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker at the Pre-Ramadan Health Fair.

During the health fair, NJIT students Samin Nawaz and Nada Farooqui represented the Muslim
Student Association and distributed information about educational opportunities at NJIT.

There was definitely a full house at the Pre-Ramadan Health Fair.

Minnie Presley, President, The University Hospital Auxiliary, distributed information
about one of the auxiliary's latest projects--The Healing Garden at the New Jersey
Medical School/The University Hospital Cancer Center.

As the parent of a child with sickle cell anemia, Simone Johnson of the UH Cancer
Registry gave first-hand knowledge of caring for a child with the disease.

This guest's smile said it all--she enjoyed attending the health fair.

Ben Szirth, Ph.D. of the NJMS Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science conducts
an eye screening at the Pre-Ramadan Health Fair.

Imam Abdul Aleem Razzaqq, co-liaison for the Islamic Community Health Collaborative,
visits one of the tables at the health fair.

Maryam Chebli greets her father, Hamad Chebli, Religious Director for the Islamic Society
of Central Jersey. Imam Chebli gave the keynote address at the health fair.

Khadija Shahid of the NJMS Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science explains
an eye screening result.

Dr. Haitham Hussein (r) of the Department of Neurology collects data for a stroke risk assessment.

Huriyyah Nassiruddin of Huriyyah's Gourmet Catering was the caterer for the health fair.
Thanks to the Islamic Community Health Collaborative, guests were treated to a
delicious Halal lunch that included scrumptious sandwiches, tasty pastas and salads,
and mouth-watering fruit (shown here).

New Jersey Dental Students were very busy throughout the health fair.

Abu Jamal Teague, a member of the Islamic Community Health Collaborative, didn't
just encourage guests to get a dental screening, he led by example.

During the health fair, Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker (far right) is welcomed by
The University Hospital Stroke Center physician Jawad Kirmani, MD (a panelist at the
health fair), Imam Abdul Aleem Razzaqq, co-liaison for the Collaborative and
Sa'idah Sharif, co-liaison for the Collaborative.

Sa'idah Sharif, co-liaison for the Islamic Community Health Collaborative, was pleased
with the outcome of the health fair as was another Collaborative member,
Faruq Abdul Aziz.

These youngsters were pleased that Batman was able to attend the health fair.

Abdul Muhammad (l) of the UH Food and Nutrition Department, and Imam Abdul
Aleem Razzaqq (r), co-liaison for the Collaborative, greet Imam Wahy ud-Deen Shareef,
Convener of the Council of Imams of New Jersey. Imam Shareef is also a representative
for Newark Mayor Cory Booker's office.

Tamara Coley, MPH, Health Educator for The University Hospital Emergency
Stroke Education Center (r) chats with Dr. Susan Gould-Fogerite of the Institute for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Zelia DeSouza (l) of the SAVE Women Program, explains how to perform a self breast exam.

9/16--MAAT Health Fair
The mission of the MAAT Center is to promote the health and well being of women and their dependents. Based on the success of their health fair, which included health screenings and information, a panel discussion and a cooking demonstration, they are successfully fulfilling their mission.

The University Hospital was on board at the event as Ilsa Curtis of UMDCare took blood pressures and Pansy Harris Lane of the UH Stroke Team provided glucose screenings.

Dr. Gloria McNeal and the School of Nursing students attended as well.

Screening statistics
BP--35
Glucose--26

9/23--Grace Community-Lutheran Church & St. Stephen's UCC Health Fair
As expected, the Grace Community-Lutheran Church and St. Stephen's UCC Health fair was a standing room only event and more than 100 people attended.

The event was definitely a success thanks to the following staff members who attended: Denise Clark Bell and Kenneth Paige, Jr. of the SAVE Program, Joan Odom and John Rafols of UMDCare, and Maria Barros of Neurology. Dr. Asha Samant of New Jersey Dental School attended as well.

In addition, the following New Jersey Medical Students assisted: Claudia Anglade, Mafudia Bangura, Auja McDougale, Abimbola Obafemi, Trent Lyons and Dare Ajibade.

The Grace Community Lutheran Church health fair attracted more than 100 guests!

John Rafols of UMDCare takes blood pressures at the Grace Community Lutheran
Church health fair.

Rev. Moacir Weirich, pastor of Grace Community Lutheran Church, joins Denise Clark
Bell of the SAVE Men Program and Dr. Guy Francis.

Maria Barros (l) handled the diabetes screenings at the health fair. . .

while Joan Odom administered the glucose screenings.

Screening statistics:

Blood pressure--110
Glucose--121
Cholesterol--63
Prostate --12

9/23--Women, Infants and Children (WIC) The University Hospital/Pilgrim Baptist Church Health Education Luncheon
This luncheon featured information on cancer screenings and early detection, nutrition and healthy food choices; and the WIC and farmers market food program. A total of 25 people attended.

9/28 and 9/30--The University Hospital/UMDNJ/Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities/New Jersey Medical School SAVE Program Free* Prostate Cancer Screening
The University Hospital, New Jersey Medical School SAVE Men Program and the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities provided free* prostate cancer screenings at The University Hospital in Newark on Thursday, 9/28 and Saturday, 9/30. The screenings, which were held at three different screening times to accommodate men’s schedules, attracted 62 participants.

New Jersey Network News covered the event and interviewed Mark Jordan, MD, Professor and Chief of the Division of Urology at New Jersey Medical School and head of the Urology Department at The University Hospital. Dr. Jordan was joined by one of his patients, Norman Boucher, a 51-year-old prostate cancer survivor who had a radical prostatectomy, a surgery that removes the entire prostate gland and some of its tissue.

"This type of surgery is used when it appears that the cancer is in its early stages and has not spread outside of the prostate,” said Dr. Jordan who performed Boucher’s surgery this past February with Dr. Rahuldev Bhalla, Director of Minimally Invasive Urology in the Division of Urology.

The surgery was performed with the da Vinci robot, which allows more precise surgery and faster recovery than traditional surgery.

“I feel great,” says Boucher, who has been a carpenter for The University Hospital for the past four years. “I hope I can make a difference by telling men that prostate cancer is beatable. It’s like they say, early detection is your best weapon.”

*The screenings were free for the uninsured; men with medical coverage had their insurance company billed.

THANK YOU to the following staff members who were a part of this event: Hassana Ali, Denise Clark Bell, Sharon Alexander, Dr. Diana DeCosimo, Dr. Diane Brown, Dr. Mark Jordan, Dr. Neel Shah, Kenneth Page, Jr., Gwendolyn McKnight, RN, Renato Enojado, Barbara Graham, Kafilat Jimba, Pamela Tilley, Maria Barros, Tina Jalloh, Rhonda McCathern, Donna Martemucci, Kim Noel, Dr. Neil Sherman, Carolyn Demarest, Dr. Nitiin Patel, Gloria Burke and Dr. Gregory Lovallo.

9/30 -- New Community Corporation Parade and Festival
In the thank you letter that we received for attending this event, Joyce G. Bates, the program's coordinator said, "the event was an overall success and your presence was a great asset to our community. We appreciate your being able to provide the community with valuable information they would otherwise not receive."

UH was proud to participate in that event as Saundra Foster of OB/GYN Associates attended on our behalf.

Attendance: 415

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