Serving the underserved: Creating a student-run free health fair for the community

Students at Wake Forest School of Medicine felt the health care needs of the community were not being properly addressed. They decided to hold a free health fair that included health screening tests, information from local health organizations, and free physician consultations.

Funding was provided by grants with large support by Northwest Area Health Education Center of WFU School of Medicine and part of the NC AHEC program. The health fair was advertised using various local advertising venues. Attendance and demographic criteria were obtained via registration forms. Registration forms were tallied and percentages calculated. Each screening test kept records of how many participants were screened. Screening tests offered included cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, skin cancer, bone density, spirometry, and glaucoma.

140 medical and physician assistant students and 25 physicians volunteered. 756 people attended the health fair held at Marketplace Mall on January 20th, 2007. Participant ethnicity: 40% Caucasian, 30% African-American, 13% Asian, 13% Hispanic. 33% of English-speaking and 67% of Spanish-speaking participants had yearly incomes of less than $20,000. 24% of English-speaking and 64% of Spanish-speaking participants had no form of health insurance. The top two screening tests were blood cholesterol and glucose (n=440), and bone density (n=187).

The medical students and the NWAHEC mission provided an alignment to maximize the outcome of providing needed preventive medical screenings while providing an opportunity for students and faculty to positively interact with Winston-Salem residents. We hope this partnership and service opportunity can be initiated in other medical schools and communities.