WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest University School of Medicine students will hold the 11th annual “Share the Health” fair on Jan. 9, 2010, at the Marketplace Mall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The health fair is designed to encourage community members, especially those who are medically underserved, to become active participants in their own health care. In 2009, more than 300 student volunteers participated, including medical students, students from the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Wake Forest University (WFU) undergraduates, serving more than 650 community members.
Many free health screenings will be available for participants, including screenings for glaucoma, diabetes, HIV, syphilis and high blood pressure. Free tests to evaluate hearing, lung function, bone density, cholesterol, blood sugar and body-mass index will also be available.
Health care professionals – including physicians, North Carolina Baptist Hospital residents, physician assistants and nurses – will offer free health information on such topics as heart disease, diabetes, exercise and nutrition, and childhood obesity, among many others. Members of Brenner FIT, a Brenner Children’s Hospital program that focuses on the treatment of childhood obesity (children ages 2 to 18), will also be on hand to provide counseling on healthy lifestyles.
There will be door prizes for participants, including WFU basketball tickets, Hitting Zone coupons for free tokens and batting cage time, gift certificates from the Yoga Gallery and Cycle Therapy, and YMCA membership certificates.
For Hispanic participants, Spanish-speaking physicians, translators and information in Spanish will be available.
“Share the Health” is sponsored by the medical school and Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of the medical school, which is also part of the North Carolina AHEC Program.
Marketplace Mall is on Peters Creek Parkway, one block north of Silas Creek Parkway.
Student contacts are Meredith Ochs-Mercer, mochsmer@wfubmc.edu and Josh Dworkin, jdworkin@wfubmc.edu.
Media Relations
Robin Brantley: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587
Bonnie Davis: bdavis@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-1597
Mark Wright: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587