Two Health Fairs down and on the move!

MOD has been busy lately, thanks to school, but we finally got around to writing an entry:

Saturday was our second health fair this fall, although it was more like the first because it was a joint APhA event. MOD teamed up with Operations Heart Burn, Immunization and the Maryland Regional Operation Hypertension at the CommUNITY Fest at "The World Famous Lexington Market" http://www.lexingtonmarket.com/.  Check out the local Baltimore Flare!!

CommUNITY Fest was hosted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine Chapter of the SNMA (Student National Medical Association).  The theme of the event was “CommUNITYFEST 2009: Healthy Childhoods, Healthy Futures.”  Many services were provided to reach the goal of making CommUNITYFEST festive and informative for a diverse audience of all ages and backgrounds.  There were  free health screenings including: glaucoma provided by the medical students, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar provided by nurses from Maryland General Hospital, and mini oral exams provided by the dental students. Health information and education on topics such as diabetes, immunizations, hypertension, heartburn (by our ASP chapter) and asthma, mental health, children's health, tobacco use prevention, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections was also provided by various other organizations.  ASP members also represented the school of pharmacy by teaming with the Maryland Poison Center to give medication safety information to parents and children.  Overall, it was a fun event attended by over 600 people.  It was great to see the health care professional students working together for the undeserved populations in the immediate area. 

Our first video entry with both of us was taken outside of the market.  Be sure to check it out, but give us a break, it's our first time on camera :P

<3 MOD

 Ashley and Erica welcoming the community!

 

 It was slow at the beginning.

Entrance to Lexington Market.

 

Student National Medical Association Board

View from above.

MOD prepares to Step Out on the town!

MOD here. Just wanted to update you on one of my upcoming projects! I am getting ready for Step Out for Diabetes, a fundraising walk that raises Diabetes awareness and money for the American Diabetes Association to work towards a cure. The ADA is able to use the funds raised to help individuals with Diabetes. They do this by funding critical research and sponsoring community-based education programs to help educate and promote little "steps" along the way to ensure lifelong fitness and well-being! 

When: October 3, 2009

Where: Rash Field at the Inner Harbor (Baltimore)

I have been busy recruiting team members and doing some fundraising myself. If you would like to join my friends and I check out the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy team at: http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/StepOut101028010/941335939?pg=team&fr_id=6377&team_id=386860
We would love to walk with you! If you can't make it, you can make a donation on behalf of one of our walkers at the above website.

Here is a picture of a few of us from last year's event. Keep up the good work, Steppers! This year our team's goal is to have 40 walkers! And raise $4,500! I'll keep you updated on the team's progress.

See you October 3rd at the Inner Harbor for Step Out!

<3 MOD

Start of a new year!

I'm back to school to start my 3rd, and final year of pharmacy didactic courses!  It's not only exciting to be one step closer to finished, but I also get to really focus on Diabetes outreach and education in the city of Baltimore, and the state of Maryland!

As I go through the year, I plan on documenting the events I attend and the diabetes awareness and healthy lifestyle love we spread.

Come back soon for the first video diary entry from the first event that Operation Diabetes is attending, thanks to our good friend Dr. Seferina Kim!

What:  Pigtown Festival
Where: Pigtown, of course!  (Baltimore City)
When: Saturday, September 12th

Until next time, ABC's to everyone!
A1C, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol ;)

Love-
MOD