A Santa Ana health fair organized by UCI Health’s Interprofessional Education & Practice Collaborative drew in a large crowd, with hundreds of attendees getting their cholesterol, vision, blood sugar, and other vitals checked for free. The event took place on April 7 at the historic Second Baptist Church in Santa Ana, which is the oldest African American congregation in Orange County. In addition to health screenings, the fair also provided nutrition counseling, educational booths, and various resources to the community.
Organized by Nana Entsuah-Boateng, a UC Irvine assistant professor of clinical pharmacy practice, and Stephanie Au, an assistant clinical professor of nursing, the health fair was the first of its kind and is hoped to become an annual event. A team of 55 UCI Health members, including medical, nursing, pharmacy, and public health students, volunteered at the fair. According to Entsuah-Boateng, recruiting volunteers was a breeze as the sign-up sheet was nearly full within minutes of being posted.
The primary objectives of the health fair were to assist disadvantaged and at-risk residents in improving their health by connecting them with free resources and to expose UCI Health students to charitable work. The event achieved both goals successfully, with positive feedback from participants and organizers. Overall, the fair was deemed a major success in promoting health and community involvement.