TTUHSC students join local heath care effort

TTUHSC AmarilloTTUHSC pharmacy and nursing students and faculty teamed up with volunteers from St. John Baptist Church, Amarillo College, West Texas A&M University and the City of Amarillo to conduct a free health fair Feb. 17 at the Amarillo United Citizens Forum. The effort, known as the Alive and Aware Health Fair, focused on the top health issues faced by the African-American community, including HIV, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.

Volunteers conducted free screenings for body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, pulmonary function, COPD, depression and HIV. School of Pharmacy Assistant Professor Shanna James, Pharm.D., said more than 160 people attended the health fair and more than 80 were screened by TTUHSC students. She said students also helped the Amarillo Department of Public Health provide sexually transmitted infection screenings and immunizations. All participating schools conducted sessions for children about careers in health care.

"For adults I provided three sessions: Diabetes and Me, Operation Breath (pulmonary disorders and smoking) and Love and Health,” James said. “We provided the Love and Health session for everyone 13 and up and it was co-presented Marcus Nerios, an outreach specialist from the Department of Public Health, pharmacy students Kingsley Ugoji (P1) and Jeremy Camp (P3) and me. We talked about what is sex, what is safe sex and where to go for resources. We also had a condom demonstrator and at the end who had participants practice using condoms.”

The Alive and Aware Health Fair was an extension of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day that began in 1999 and was commemorated this year on Feb. 7. The 2017 theme was, “I Am My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper. Fight HIV/AIDS!”

 

IMAGE GALLERY

Related Stories

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated

On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.

Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience

Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.

Recent Stories

Health

TTUHSC Receives $1.3 Million HRSA Telehealth Resource Center Grant to Expand Telehealth in Texas and Louisiana

The TexLa Telehealth Resource Center, based at TTUHSC, has been awarded a $1.3 million, four-year grant from HRSA to strengthen and expand digital health services in Texas and Louisiana.

Health

The Relational Health Center Celebrates Two Years of Care for Families

On Friday, August 22, from 3 - 5 p.m., the Relational Health Center is celebrating its second birthday with an open house event at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock.

Campus Life

From Backpacks to White Coats: TTUHSC School of Medicine Invests in Tomorrow’s Healers Today

As part of its partnership with JAMP, the TTUHSC School of Medicine Admissions Office recently partnered with Alderson Elementary School in the Lubbock Independent School District to provide critical school supplies.