7/11 -- Diabetes/Podiatry Health Fair at Pathmark featuring New Jersey Family Practice Center
Thanks to the expertise of Dr. Cynthia Paige of the New Jersey Family Practice Center, more than 60 Pathmark shoppers received expert advice on diabetes and its impact on the feet.

The screening also served as an opportunity for
Dr. Paige to meet many of those who read her medical column in "The Clarion" -- New Community Corp.'s monthly newsletter.

Screening statistics:

Glucose -- 21

7/11-7/12 -- American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay for Life
The ACS 1st Annual Relay for Life was a tremendous success. Approximately 10 different teams raised over $17,000 for ACS by walking 15 hours straight relay style. Nearly 500 people attended to show there support for the event, which was held at Malcolm X Shabazz stadium. UH provided various health-related literature.

7/12 -- Community Life Festival at Masjid Muhammad
Members and friends of the Masjid Muhammad on South Orange Avenue came to celebrate the local community and its resources at this mosque's annual Community Life Festival. John Rafols, RN of UMDCare, was on hand to do blood pressures and give wellness information.

"There were more people at his table than any other," said Sa'idah Sharif, who works for the Emergency Department and is a member of the Masjid Muhammad. ""We really enjoyed having him there."

Screening statistics:
BP -- 31


7/16 -- "Stroke: Minutes Do Matter" Lecture at Newark Screens Theater
UH continues to look for more creative ways to bring health education programs to the community. So when seniors from the Essex County Department of Aging visited the theater to see "Charlie's Angels," Doreen Monks, APN (Stroke Service) gave them a quick talk on stroke before they viewed the movie. Doreen was joined by Chuck Loeber of the New Jersey Cardiovascular Center, Darlena Smith of the Newborn Nursery, and Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities staff members Kiana Lassiter and Wesley Tahsir-Rodriguez.

"We're not just a movie theater, we're here as a resource for the community," said Michael James, general manager of the theater.

Other lectures are scheduled to be held at the theater as well.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 26
Glucose -- 22

7/19 -- Melrose Area Block Assoc. (MABA) Health Fair
Staff from the University Family Practice Center taught Melrose Area Block Association residents the importance of a healthy lifestyle at the association's first health fair. Attending that day from the Vailsburg staff was Leticia Apochie, medical assistant, Veronica Sobul, RN, Christine Davis, Robyn Gantt, MD and Kathyann Duncan, MD.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 31
Glucose -- 31

7/23 -- Baxter Terrace Health Fair
The social work staff at Baxter Terrace worked extremely hard to plan this health fair. Their efforts were rewarded as dozens of residents came to the community room where the fair was held. UH participants included Doreen Monks, APN (Stroke Service), Gary Sabino-Benowitz, RN (Nursing), and Wesley Tahsir-Rodriguez and Kiana Lassister (Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities).

Screening statistics:
BP --12

7/24 -- Asthma Lecture at Newark Screens Theater
All eyes were on Loretta McConeghy of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center as she taught asthma awareness to students visiting the Newark Screens Theater. UH is partnering with the theater to present free health education lectures to the community. Here are scenes from this one:

Loretta McConeghy of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center joins Newark Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell who brought several students to the lecture to learn about asthma (seen below).

A great speaker, Loretta uses her expertise and wit to teach even the youngest students about asthma.

Cindy Wright, a work assistant for the Marketing and Media Relations Dept., was in charge of the food table.
No unhealthy snacks here -- only fresh fruit.

7/25 -- El Club Del Barrio Health Fair
El Club Del Barrio hosted its annual health fair in Lincoln Park and as in previous years, the event was was an overwhelming success. DAYAM staff members Eligia Reyes, Josefina Mercedes and Fernando Morris attended.

Screening statistics:
HIV/AIDS -- 18
Chlamydia -- 10
Syphilis -- 8
GYN -- 8

7/26 -- The Three Doctors Foundation Health and Safety Fair at the Newark Boys and Girls Club
You may have seen them on campus . . . or possibly on Oprah! Doctors Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins are the "three doctors" from Newark who have gained national fame from "The Pact" (which is also the title of their book) that they made as teens to become physicians. Today, two are doctors, one is a dentist, and the entire country knows their success story.

Now, equipped with their own foundation, they are giving back to their community, most recently with a health fair that was held at the Boys and Girls Club on Littleton Avenue. The fair was very well-organized with over 200 people, dozens of vendors, a healthy assortment of refreshments and of course, health screenings. All were free!

Many thanks to the dozens of medical students who attended, as well as Sharon Washington of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center, Yvonne Brown of OB/GYN Associates, Mittie Simmons of the Institute for Elimination of Health Disparities, and Fernando Morris of DAYAM.

There they are: Doctors Rameck Hunt, George Jenkins
and Sampson Davis.

NJMS students provided the health screenings, one of which included vision acuity.

These three youngsters, (l) to (r) Charles Lindsey, Aaron Howard and Christopher Brown, from the Boys and Girls Club, wrote a rap song about the three doctors and performed it at the health fair. The students, shown here with the three doctors, gave facts about the medical trio during the song and were a hit! And yes, those are authentic lab coats worn to complete their performance. Young Charles is the son of Deborah Lindsey of the NJ Dental School and made his mom extremely proud!

Dr. Davis meets Stacie Newton of the Department of Urban and Community Development.

The children at the fair were treated to a clown, face painting and much more!

Who is the mother, and who is the daughter? It's difficult to tell! A very youthful Mittie Simmons (l) of the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities proudly poses with Nikia Simmons (r), one of her two daughters. Nikia was on hand to help her mom distribute the Institute's health disparities survey. Now that's a good daughter; it was nearly 90 degrees!

Cindy Wright of the Department of Marketing and
Media Relations had a ball with the clown and a
very tall "Nurse Penny."

7/29 -- University Center for Bloodless Surgery & Medicine (UCBSM) Heart Lecture Series
With heart disease being the number one killer in America, there's probably no better time to become more educated about the disease. That's why the UCBSM had Marc Monteith of the NJ Cardiovascular Center talk about heart disease at their monthly lecture series.

The response was very positive as one attendee wrote Michelle Thomas, BSN, RNC (nurse coordinator for the program): "Nice job . . . I learn something new each time I attend one of your programs."

Attendance: 16

7/31 -- Newark Board of Education Office of Adult Education 5th Annual Health Fair
This annual event drew approximately 150 people -- most of whom are on their way to earning their high school diploma or GED. In other words, they are laying the foundation for better career opportunities. And that's a good thing!

DAYAM outreach workers Eligia Reyes and Fernando Morris were joined by the POWER team to conduct a variety of screenings (listed below). While they were busy with the screenings, Wesley Tahsir-Rodriguez and Kiana Lassister from the Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities had guests complete the institute's health disparities survey. Now that's team work!

Screening statistics:

HIV/AIDS -- 11

Syphilis -- 9

Gonorrhea -- 9

Chlamydia -- 9

GYN -- 8 appointments

December 2003 summary

November 2003 summary

October 2003 summary

September 2003 summary

August 2003 summary

June 2003 summary

May 2003 summary

April 2003 summary

March 2003 summary

February 2003 summary

January 2003 summary