SBU Med Students Provide Screenings, Care for Long Islanders at Health Fair
STONY BROOK, N.Y.,
March 30, 2010 – Dozens of students from Stony Brook University School of Medicine provided health education, as well as hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and other health screenings to Long Islanders living in the Islip area at the 2nd Annual Working Towards Wellness Health Fair. The fair took place on March 13 at the Central Islip Recreation Center. Stony Brook HOME (Health Outreach and Medical Education), a student-run free health clinic assisting underserved communities, sponsored the event to increase health awareness through education and outreach.
Medical student volunteers coordinated with professionals from organizations such as the Red Cross, Suffolk County Minority Health Coalition, Latino Health Initiative, Witness Project of Long Island, and other groups to provide a variety of health education and services to fair attendees. Students provided information about health issues at the health literacy table and helped attendees with the process of Medicaid enrollment for those who qualified. They helped instruct attendees on nutrition and preventive medical care for chronic conditions. The students also trained to complete health screenings to individuals for hypertension, diabetes, depression, cholesterol, oral health and HIVstatus.
“There is still a large percentage of uninsured and underinsured people on Long Island, and our student-run health fair is an effective way to provide free care and health education to those most in need,” said Eric Burdette, a SBU medical student and one of the organizers of the health fair.
Many of the students involved in the heath fair also volunteer at Stony Brook HOME, which opened in October 2008. The HOME clinic has cared for well over 100 uninsured and underinsured individuals to date. Students and physicians at the clinic have been instrumental in helping patients understand the importance of good health, providing basic primary care, and assisting in the management of chronic conditions.
