6/1 -- Superior Court of NJ Health Fair
Although the health fair at the Superior Court was due to start at 10:00 a.m., employees began lining up at the door at 9:30 a.m.! The reason: they knew that UH would be on hand to provide a variety of free health screenings.

So exactly who were the staff members that helped make the event so successful. Take a look:

Moshe Sinaie, DPM discusses foot issues at the Superior Court health fair.

These ladies were really happy to attend the health fair!

Occupational therapist Michelle Hibbert answers a question. Physical therapist Julie Radice attended also. In addition to their therapy duties, both took blood pressures. Now that's double duty!

Anna Haywood, RN did 94 glucose checks at the fair; she never left her seat the entire time. Other staff members who attended the fair were Yvonne Brown of OB/GYN Associates, Pat Hardy of the FXB Center, and John Anderson and Termerah Flournoy of DAYAM.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 59
Glucose -- 94
HIV/AIDS -- 18

6/7 -- Green's School of Martial Arts and Fitness Health Fair
A rainy day didn't stop East Orange residents from attending a health fair at this martial arts school. Ilsa Curtis and John Rafols (both from UMDCare) were there to greet them with free screenings to brighten their day.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 50
Glucose -- 44

6/12 -- Babyland Health & Community Resource Fair
Parents and staff from Babyland (the multi-location day care center where our nurse Anna Haywood is stationed) convened for a cookout and health fair on this beautiful June day. A DJ even helped complete the program. Did Anna and Doreen Monks, APN, Stroke Service (the other nurse who attended) hit the dance floor. They'll never tell!

Screenings statistics:
BP-- 24
Glucose -- 36

6/13 -- NCC/Pathmark HIV/AIDS Health Fair With HIV/AIDS infection rates continuing to rise among teens, adults ages 25-44, and even seniors, AIDS education and testing has never been more important. For this reason, HIV/AIDS was the focus of this month's health screening at Pathmark.

Erica Williams, FXB Center, educated shoppers about HIV/AIDS and even quizzed them on the subject. While she worked inside, John Anderson from DAYAM administered HIV/AIDS tests outside in the mobile unit. Teamwork at its best indeed.

Screening statistics:
HIV/AIDS -- 5

6/14 -- Newark Day at Newark Screens
$2 movies? On a Saturday? Can't be. Yes it can, when it's Newark Day.

Thanks to Newark Day -- a celebration of the city of Newark, residents viewed movies for $2 (AND received free popcorn) at Newark Screens -- the only movie theater in the Central Ward. As part of the special day, UH and other organizations provided health and community resource services. Several community leaders attended the event including:


Newark Central Ward Councilman Charles Bell, our own Doreen Monks, APN, Stroke Service, and Rev. Levin West, Senior Pastor of Grace Reformed Baptist Church.

In addition to $2 movies and free popcorn, Newark Day participants had access to a free health fair. UH was well represented at the event by Joan Odom, RN, of UMDCare, Doreen Monks, RN, Pat Hardy of the FXB Center, Jason Elliston, MD and Sharon Washington of the Asthma and Allergy Research Center, and Stacie Newton of the UMDNJ Department of Urban and Community Affairs.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 56
Glucose -- 44

6/18 -- Stephen Crane Elderly Health Fair
Once again, Doreen Monks, APN, answered the call and helped educate the community about stroke. The beneficiaries of her services were residents of Stephen Crane Elderly. During her visit, Doreen taught them the signs, symptoms and treatments for stroke.

Screening Statistics:
BP -- 15

6/19 -- West Ward Senior Conference
Judy Washington, MD of Family Medicine and Jennifer Winter, APN, OB/GYN Associates represented the UMDNJ family well at the West Ward Senior Conference.

The conference was hosted by West Ward Councilwoman Mamie Bridgeforth and held at Metropolitan Baptist Church. Dr. Washington spoke during a workshop on domestic violence/depression among the elderly, while Ms. Winter taught participants about heart healthiness.

Attendance: 200

Jennifer Winter, APN, OB/GYN Associates made a new friend at the conference.

6/21 -- New Born Holy Church Health Fair
What a rainy Saturday! But just as on previous Saturdays, our community outreach team still ventured out to serve the community. Just ask Doreen Monks, APN (Stroke Service), Ilsa Curtis (UMDCare), Saundra Foster (Infectious Disease Practice), and Darlene Smith (NJ Poison Information and Education System). All were present at this health fair.


Darlene Smith gives a quick lesson on poison prevention.

Ilsa Curtis, UMDCare, takes care of the glucose checks.

Screening statistics:
BP-- 52
Glucose -- 41

6/21 -- UH/100 Black Men of New Jersey Prostate Cancer Screening at Rafael Hernandez School
While one group from our outreach committee worked at New Born Holy church, another group (Dr. Miguel Rodriguez and FOCUS Community Health Center staff members Shirley Rivera, Guillermina Morales and Xiomara Perez) were on hand at this prostate cancer screening. Despite the rainy weather, the show still went on with prostate cancer screenings, as well as screenings for hypertension and diabetes, being available to the community!

The 100 Black Men's prostate cancer display was loaded with information in both English and Spanish.

On duty and ready to serve: Resident Miguel Rodriguez, MD and FOCUS Community Health Center staff members Shirley Rivera (seated), Xiomara Perez (middle) and Guillermina Morales (standing).

Keith DaCosta, executive vice president of the 100 Black Men of New Jersey, explains the registration process during the prostate cancer screening.

In addition to UH and the 100 Black Men of NJ, several other sponsors helped make these prostate cancer screenings a reality. They included the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center, the Honorable Mayor Sharpe James, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Newark Community Health Center and PNC Bank.

Shirley Rivera in action doing glucose checks.

Outstanding trio!

Screening statistics:
BP -- 20
Glucose -- 20

6/21 -- Broadway House Health Fair at Jersey Gardens Mall
According to the news, thousands of people flocked to the malls on this rainy Saturday. That was good news for Vera Holmes and Pat Hardy (from the FXB Center), as well as Rosemary DeStephen (Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation). All attended a health fair sponsored by Broadway House at the Jersey Gardens mall. Talk about a great venue for a health fair!

6/22 -- Pathmark/NCC/Hispanic Development Corporation Multicultural Festival and Health Fair
The FOCUS Community Health Center staff was very busy with outreach on this particular weekend. After working at the prostate cancer screening on Saturday, they still volunteered on Sunday by working at the Pathmark Multicultural Festival and Health Fair. Sincerest thanks to Xiomara Perez, Annie Robles and Guillermina Morales for donating their time.

6/27 -- 3rd Annual Latino Health Festival
The 3rd Annual Latino Health Festival was held at Branchbrook Park and attracted hundreds of visitors and dozens of community-based organizations. The festival was featured on News 12 New Jersey and several Latino radio stations.

An overwhelming success, this event was sponsored by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine in the New Jersey Medical School. Several COC members attended including the DAYAM staff, Health Disparities Institute representatives Milka Biascochea and Wesley Tahsir-Rodriguez, Dr. Miguel Rodriguez, FOCUS Community Health Center staff members Shirley Rivera, Guillermina Morales and Xiomara Perez.

Screening statistics:
BP--75
Glucose -- 60
Prostate education: 92
Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV -- 14
GYN -- 2

6/28 -- St. Stephen's/Grace Community Lutheran Church Health Fair
The health fairs at this church get larger with each one that we do. Just look at the crowd below. Although the event was not scheduled to begin until 9:00 a.m., guests lined the sidewalk by 8:15 a.m.

Look at that line!

Susan Rodgiquez-Bostock, MD of the NJ Family Practice Center was happy to do blood pressures & consultations. This guest appears very pleased with her work.

Education Specialist Gary Sabino-Benowitz, RN also helped with blood pressures. While he and Dr. Rodriguez-Bostock worked outside, Illsa Curtis of UMDCare handled the diabetes screenings inside.

Screening statistics:
BP--225
Glucose--177

6/28 -- UH/100 Black Men of New Jersey Prostate Cancer Screening at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
African-American men die from prostate cancer more than their white counterparts. This disparity exists although African-American men have fewer instances of prostate cancer. (They just die more often from the disease because it is not diagnosed until it reaches the advanced stages.)

For this reason, UH and the 100 Black Men of New Jersey are partnering to teach men about prostate cancer and offer them free prostate cancer screenings. Here is a look at one that was held in the South Ward.


Vangie Kupyak, RN, Nurse Manager, Trauma-SICU consults on a glucose reading. In addition to the prostate cancer screenings, blood pressure and diabetes screenings are also offered at the prostate cancer events.

Doreen Monks, APN, Stroke Service, handled the blood pressure screenings.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 25
Glucose -- 12
Prostate screenings -- 60
Prostate education only -- 103


6/29 -- UH/100 Black Men of NJ Prostate Cancer Screening at the Women in Support of the Million Man March (WISOMM) Mansion
The prostate cancer screenings continued at the WISOMM Mansion, which is a beautifully restored brownstone in Lincoln Park. Take a look:

Keith DaCosta, executive vice president of the 100 Black Men of New Jersey, medical students John Fontanilla and Ed Nicholas, and UMDCare's Ilsa Curtis discuss the day's prostate cancer screening activities. A glimpse of the beautiful WISOMM mansion is in the rear.

Medical student John Fontanilla advises a prostate cancer screening guest.

Women also need to be educated about prostate cancer so that they can educate their husbands, fathers and other men that they know. Not only did this woman become more aware of prostate cancer, but she also had medical student Ed Nicholas examine a bump on her head.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 25
Glucose -- 25
Prostate screenings -- 63
Prostate education only -- 13
Prostate education (women) -- 13

December 2003 summary

November 2003 summary

October 2003 summary

September 2003 summary

August 2003 summary

July 2003 summary

May 2003 summary

April 2003 summary

March 2003 summary

February 2003 summary

January 2003 summary