5/3 -- Speedway Avenue School 4th Annual Community Health Fair
There was no way UH couldn't attend this health fair -- we were invited nearly a year in advance!

Jason Elliston,MD, (Asthma and Allergy Research Center), as well a Pat Hardy and Vera Holmes (FXB Center) were on hand at the event to teach asthma and HIV/AIDS awareness.

5/9 -- UH/New Community Corp. Monthly Screening at Pathmark
The monthly screening at Pathmark featured stroke information -- and for several good reasons. Someone in this country suffers from a stroke every 53 seconds. And, someone dies from a stroke every three minutes.

Doreen Monks, APN, Stroke Service was on hand to relay this information to shoppers and to take blood pressures.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 46

5/10 -- UH/100 Black Men Prostate Cancer Screening/Barbecue at Greater Friendship Baptist Church
What man couldn't resist delicious barbecue -- even if it meant getting checked for prostate cancer?

Both were part of the program at the UH/100 Black Men Prostate Cancer Screening at this church. Not only did men have the chance to have good food and get screened for prostate cancer, but John Rafols (UMDCare) and Julio Colon (Orthopaedics) made sure that they had blood pressure and glucose screenings as well.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 92
Glucose -- 58
Prostate -- 60

5/10 -- Cicely Tyson School of Performing & Fine Arts Program for Autonomous Creative Expression (PACE) Community Rally
Students from the PACE program at this school are on a mission to educate the community about good health and improving the community. They did exactly that at this rally and Pat Hardy and Vera Holmes (FXB Center) were there to help them. Pat and Vera distributed teen focused information on HIV/AIDS.

Attendance -- 150

5/14 -- Health on the Hill Lecture "Stroke: Minutes Do Matter"
Our stroke lecture series made its way down the street to Society Hill as part of our "Health on the Hill" lecture series there. During the lecture, Doreen Monks discussed the signs and symptoms of stroke while Shirley Brydie, Ph.D. checked the guests for diabetes. Chuck Loeber screened them for hypertension.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 15
Glucose -- 15

5/16 -- Newark Health Renaissance & Stroke Awareness Day
The NJMS Medical Science Building was bustling with activity as part of the Newark Health Renaissance Conference and the UH Stroke Alert Week.

The Renaissance conference was sponsored by UMDNJ/UH and was part of a three-day health initiative sponsored by the city of Newark. Highlights included workshops on cancer, diabetes, stroke and a variety of other topics. On the same day, UH began its annual Stroke Alert Week activities.

During the week-long stroke events, the hospital sponsored several free, community-based stroke screenings, which consisted of diabetes and hypertension screenings; cardiac risk assessments; and information on smoking and physical rehabilitation information. Doreen Monks, APN, then combined each element of the screening to give guests an individual stroke risk assessment.

In addition to Doreen Monks, a number of other individuals helped make the stroke screening at UMDNJ successful. Sincerest thanks go to the following: Linda McGinnis, Kathy Donnelly, Sherine Varghese, Cheryl Cafone, Elisa Huffalar, Esther Augnayo, Christine Boardingham, Rosemary DeStefan, Mary Rowsen and Chuck Loeber.

And we can't forget our up-and-coming physicians. The following medical students were also on hand to assist: John Fontanilla, Bill Cobb, Claudia Mosquera, Andrew Yanofsky, Jeena Jacob, Roger Caron, Sarita Sonalkar, Brian Prystowsky, Kabir Bhasin, Nichelle Smith and Kiran Patel.

Conference attendance: 250
Stroke risk assessments: 58

5/17 -- Newark Health Renaissance Health Fair at JFK Recreation Center
The Newark Health Renaissance continued with a health fair at JFK Recreation Center. Hundreds from the community attended the event, which was spearheaded by the Newark Health Department. UH contributed by sending HIV/AIDS educators Pat Hardy and Vera Holmes. Both work at the FXB Center.

Attendance: 500

5/18 Health Fair at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Parish
The UH Infectious Disease Practice (Unit 6) and FOCUS Community Health Center Staff helped lead this effort, which focused primarily on HIV/AIDS education and testing. Other tables on hypertension, diabetes and other health issues were available as well.

Screening statistics:
BP-- 87
Glucose -- 74

5/18 -- Stroke Alert Day at New Hope Baptist Church
Churchgoers at New Hope Baptist church had a few extra treats on this particular Sunday. Not only was it Family & Friends Day at the church, but it was also the day that University Hospital sponsored free stroke screenings at the church.

Stroke Risk Assessments: 39

Scenes from Stroke Alert Day at New Hope Baptist ChurchDoreen Monks, APN (Stroke Service) completes a stroke risk assessment for an impeccably dressed member of New Hope Baptist Church. That hat is gorgeous?

Illsa Curtis (UMDCare), who handled the blood pressures at the screening, registers a guest.

Occupational therapist Michelle Hibbert discusses therapy options. Her guest is Clara M. Hunt of our National Tuberculosis Center and a member of New Hope Baptist Church.

And although she's not pictured here, Colleen Pickering of UMDCare worked this event as well. She did a super job of handling the glucose tests. Thanks everyone!

5/21 -- Stroke Alert Day at Unified Vailsburg Services Organization (UVSO)
Despite non-stop raining, Vailsburg residents still made there way to Unified Vailsburg Services Organization (UVSO) for a long-anticipated stroke program. The delicious free lunch provided by the hospital was probably appealing as well!

Stroke Risk Assessments: 42

Scenes from Stroke Alert Day at UVSO
Chuck Loeber (NJ Cardiovascular Institute) helps a guest understand her blood pressure reading . . .

. . . while Doreen Monks, APN (Stroke Service) helps another guest understand the results of her stroke risk assessment.

Jerome Coakieanos of University Behavioral Healthcare discusses mental health issues.

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

Shirley Myers-Dodson, RN (Intensive Care and Intermediate Care Nurseries) was all smiles while checking guests for diabetes.

5/23 -- Stroke Alert Day at Masjid Al Haqq
Would people really come out for a health fair on the Friday evening before a long weekend? Even in the rain? YES!

Although it was a rainy Friday evening, as well as the Friday leading into Memorial Day weekend, people were still interested in getting stroke risk assessments. As a result, they attended the Stroke Alert Day at Masjid Al Haqq on Springfield Avenue in Newark.

So who where the workers at this event on a Friday evening? Kudos should go to Jack Norris, MD (UMDCare), Doreen Monks, APN (Stroke Service), Ilsa Curtis (UMDCare) and Karen Portee, RN (Medical Special Procedures).

Stroke risk assessments: 30

5/31 -- Franklin St. John's United Methodist Church Health Fair
Once again, the weekend was a wet one--especially on this Saturday, the busiest day for health fairs. Despite the nasty weather, the attendance at this health fair was strong.

The UH delegation consisted of Joan Odom, RN, Collen Pickering and Illsa Curtis (all from UMDCare), and Rose Faison, RN (Operating Room).

Screening statistics:
BP -- 85
Glucose -- 60

5/31 -- UH/100 Black Men Prostate Screening at Hopewell Baptist Church
While the health fair was going on at St. John's United Methodist Church, Julio Colon and Jesus Mabute, both from Orthopaedics, were participating in our prostate cancer screening at Hopewell Baptist Church. The screening was co-sponsored by the 100 Black Men of NJ.

Screening statistics:
BP -- 35
Glucose -- 35
Prostate -- 37
Prostate education -- 73

5/31 -- FXB Teen Day
Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS transmission continues to rise among teenagers. To help do our part in the fight against the spread of the disease, the FXB Center hosts a Teen Day. The purpose is to teach at-risk youth about the impact of their choices, specifically those that put them at-risk physically and emotionally. Great job, FXB!

Attendance -- 100

December 2003 summary

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