Student-Run Community Health Fair a Success

If you're looking for an example of community outreach by the School of Public Health, take a look at Dr. Sharon Desmond's Principles of Community Health class, which put on a health fair last week.

The event attracted about 200 community members to the Beltsville Recreation Center to hear the public health messages of the students, and to visit with medical experts and representatives from other organizations. Flu shots, hearing and vision tests, and other services were also available.

"Extremely helpful," one visitor to the health fair said about Dr. Desmond's students. "They're very nice young people. They know what they're talking about. They can answer any questions we have. They're very good."

Not only did these students work to become experts on their presentations, which varied from topics of heart health to insomnia, but they also handled every facet of the planning process. Six committees were formed to organize the fair: outreach, publicity, facilities management, door prize solicitation, evaluation and planning of presentation topics.

Dr. Desmond said she was proud of the work her class. "They were very engaged with the participants, enthusiastically sharing information and conducting activities related to their topic...There was a great deal of energy and excitement in the room, which made it fun for everyone as well as a learning experience."

Another one of Dr. Desmond's classes will be holding a fair on Nov. 10 at Brentwood. For more information, contact Dr. Desmond at desmond@umd.edu or 301-405-2526. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out the coverage of last week's fair in the Washington Times.