1. The First Annual Blacksville Community Health Fair Larissa J. Fordyce, Events Coordinator West Virginia University School of Medicine Family Medicine Interest Group July 28, 2005

2. WVU School of Medicine FMIG Our organization includes mostly first and second year medical students, while third and fourth year students participate as their schedules permit. Our organization includes mostly first and second year medical students, while third and fourth year students participate as their schedules permit. We meet monthly, usually during lunch, to discuss issues pertinent to the field of family medicine and often invite guest speakers. We meet monthly, usually during lunch, to discuss issues pertinent to the field of family medicine and often invite guest speakers.

3. WVU School of Medicine FMIG A senior member of the Family Medicine faculty, Dr. David Deci, serves as our advisor. A senior member of the Family Medicine faculty, Dr. David Deci, serves as our advisor. We have separate monthly meetings for officers to plan and organize upcoming events. We have separate monthly meetings for officers to plan and organize upcoming events. Other events have included a ski trip with emergency first aid training and a Valentine’s Day dessert meeting for couples to discuss relationships in medicine. Other events have included a ski trip with emergency first aid training and a Valentine’s Day dessert meeting for couples to discuss relationships in medicine.

4. Our Idea We decided early in the year to host a health fair in an underserved community. We decided early in the year to host a health fair in an underserved community. I suggested my home town of Blacksville, which is approximately 35 miles west of the city of Morgantown, where our school is located. I suggested my home town of Blacksville, which is approximately 35 miles west of the city of Morgantown, where our school is located.

5. Our State…My Home

6. The Town of Blacksville Blacksville is a small coal mining community with a population of 400. Blacksville is a small coal mining community with a population of 400. Blacksville has a community health center in the heart of town, but like most rural communities, is highly susceptible to obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Blacksville has a community health center in the heart of town, but like most rural communities, is highly susceptible to obesity, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

7. Organizing the Event The Clay-Battelle Community Senior Center was reserved for the event. The Clay-Battelle Community Senior Center was reserved for the event. We decided to focus on the issues of hypertension, glaucoma, cancer and diabetes. We decided to focus on the issues of hypertension, glaucoma, cancer and diabetes. Students were trained to screen for glaucoma and equipment was borrowed from a school organization named Sight Savers. Students were trained to screen for glaucoma and equipment was borrowed from a school organization named Sight Savers.

8. Organizing the Event Students were trained to administer proper blood glucose testing. Students were trained to administer proper blood glucose testing. The American Cancer Society was contacted. They loaned us materials and donated literature. The American Cancer Society was contacted. They loaned us materials and donated literature. A local organization, Dining with Diabetics, donated literature and loaned us diabetic recipes. The organization offers cooking classes for people with diabetes and their families. A local organization, Dining with Diabetics, donated literature and loaned us diabetic recipes. The organization offers cooking classes for people with diabetes and their families.

9. Organizing the Event A local business donated a banner, which was displayed at the Senior Center a few days before the fair. A local business donated a banner, which was displayed at the Senior Center a few days before the fair. Flyers were distributed throughout the community of Blacksville. Flyers were distributed throughout the community of Blacksville. Announcements were made in the local newspaper and on local radio stations. Announcements were made in the local newspaper and on local radio stations.

10. Student Volunteers On November 7 th, 2004, student volunteers gathered to participate in the health fair. On November 7 th, 2004, student volunteers gathered to participate in the health fair. Volunteers received hour for hour community service to count toward our school’s requirement of 100 hours. Volunteers received hour for hour community service to count toward our school’s requirement of 100 hours.

11. Blood Pressure Reading As visitors arrived, they were led through the various stations, starting with blood pressure screening. As visitors arrived, they were led through the various stations, starting with blood pressure screening.

12. Blood Pressure Reading They were given a card with their reading, along with guidelines from the American Heart Association for appropriate blood pressure. They were given a card with their reading, along with guidelines from the American Heart Association for appropriate blood pressure. Literature with information regarding lifestyle modifications such as nutrition, salt intake and exercise was also offered. Literature with information regarding lifestyle modifications such as nutrition, salt intake and exercise was also offered.

13. Glaucoma Screening Trained students administered testing to visitors and gave them their reading. Trained students administered testing to visitors and gave them their reading. People at risk for glaucoma were advised to seek further medical attention. People at risk for glaucoma were advised to seek further medical attention.

14. Blood Glucose Monitoring Trained students administered the blood glucose tests. Trained students administered the blood glucose tests. Visitors were given their reading along with appropriate guidelines and information for lifestyle modifications. Visitors were given their reading along with appropriate guidelines and information for lifestyle modifications.

15. Blood Glucose Monitoring Dr. Deci was available for medical advice and to answer any questions from our visitors. Dr. Deci was available for medical advice and to answer any questions from our visitors. If possible problems were discovered, guests were advised to see their physician. If possible problems were discovered, guests were advised to see their physician.

16. Cancer Information As November was Smoking Cessation month, we decided to showcase the effects of smoking on normal lungs by displaying an artificial lung machine from the American Cancer Society. As November was Smoking Cessation month, we decided to showcase the effects of smoking on normal lungs by displaying an artificial lung machine from the American Cancer Society.

17. Cancer Information We offered information about smoking cessation as well. We offered information about smoking cessation as well. There were also display models of prostate, colon and cervical cancer. There were also display models of prostate, colon and cervical cancer.

18. Cancer Information Information distributed included warning signs, screening tests for early detection, and cancer prevention. Information distributed included warning signs, screening tests for early detection, and cancer prevention.

19. Diabetic Recipe Tasting Students donated and prepared diabetic recipes to allow diabetics and their families to try delicious food that is appropriate for a low carbohydrate diet. Students donated and prepared diabetic recipes to allow diabetics and their families to try delicious food that is appropriate for a low carbohydrate diet.

20. Diabetic Recipe Tasting Visitors were also given the opportunity to sign up for the free cooking classes with the Dining with Diabetes organization and were given free pamphlet information. Visitors were also given the opportunity to sign up for the free cooking classes with the Dining with Diabetes organization and were given free pamphlet information.

21. Local Health Resources A representative from the local health clinic in Blacksville also volunteered at the health fair and distributed information to the guests. A representative from the local health clinic in Blacksville also volunteered at the health fair and distributed information to the guests.

22. Positive Outcomes More than 25 members of the community came together in the common interest of improving their health and health awareness. More than 25 members of the community came together in the common interest of improving their health and health awareness. Students were given the opportunity to reach out to an underserved community and make an impact on its members health and well being. Students were given the opportunity to reach out to an underserved community and make an impact on its members health and well being.

23. Positive Outcomes Two individuals were identified with unknown existing elevated blood pressure. Two individuals were identified with unknown existing elevated blood pressure. Several others were referred for better existing diabetes control. Several others were referred for better existing diabetes control. Enormous amounts of information about hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma and cancer was distributed. Enormous amounts of information about hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma and cancer was distributed.

24. Ideas for the Future Make the Blacksville Community Health Fair a yearly event. Make the Blacksville Community Health Fair a yearly event. Focus on advertisement and awareness to promote the growth and expansion of the health fair. Focus on advertisement and awareness to promote the growth and expansion of the health fair. Continue to reach out to underserved communities. Continue to reach out to underserved communities.

25. Acknowledgements Dr. David Deci, Faculty Advisor, WVU School of Medicine FMIG Dr. David Deci, Faculty Advisor, WVU School of Medicine FMIG Members of FMIG at WVUSOM and other volunteers Members of FMIG at WVUSOM and other volunteers The American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society Sight Savers Sight Savers Dining with Diabetes Dining with Diabetes The Clay-Battelle Area Senior Center The Clay-Battelle Area Senior Center Dr. Janice Morris and the Clay-Battelle Clinic Dr. Janice Morris and the Clay-Battelle Clinic The Community of Blacksville The Community of Blacksville

26. Contact Me For more information, feel free to email me at lfordyce@mix.wvu.edu For more information, feel free to email me at lfordyce@mix.wvu.edulfordyce@mix.wvu.edu

27. Thank You !