Healthy Start for the New Year

UHCOP Students Provide 2,800 Screenings, Health Education Interactions at Mayor's Back 2 School Fest Aug. 13

UH College of Pharmacy students helped Houston-area adults and children prepare for a healthy start to the new school year through 2,800 screenings and education activities at the Houston Mayor's Back 2 School Fest Aug. 13 at UH.

The annual event organized by the City of Houston Mayor's Office drew more than 25,000 attendees, who were provided with school supplies, backpacks, uniforms, haircuts, health and medical services, and other community resources.

UH Pharm.D. students screened more than 400 attendees for required immunizations and provided immunization education to nearly 400 individuals. They also provided nearly 450 blood pressure screenings, blood glucose screenings, diabetic foot exams and Body-Mass Index screenings.

Health education and awareness also was offered by UHCOP students to more than 1,550 adults and children on topics ranging from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, smoking cessation, medication safety and diet/lifestyle modifications.

The UHCOP contingent comprised more than 60 members from three student organizations at the college: American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists, Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity and the Student National Pharmaceutical Association.

view more event photos in the Flickr album.