Iscol Summer Scholars help organize Brooklyn health fair

October 1, 2014

Iscol Scholars Ovais Tahir and David Cheng

This summer the Iscol Summer Scholars, participants in the Cornell Urban Semester Summer in NYC, hosted a health fair, Take Control of Your Health,  in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. Over 200 attending families received health tests including blood pressure, cholesterol and asthma screenings, BMI measurements, and got information on colon and breast cancer. In addition to health tests, families were able to meet privately with a medical doctor to review their health status and receive recommendations for healthier living.

Along with 60 Urban Semester students, the four Iscol Scholars (Deanna Blansky, David Cheng, Jessica Park, and Ovais Tahir) planned the health fair, with tasks ranging from coordinating staffing, supplying food and decorations, meeting with Woodhull Medical Center staff to discuss what medical services and information would be offered, and setting up and supervising the event. Spanish-speaking students helped publicized the health fair by speaking about the health fair at the host church in the preceding weeks.

The health fair was made possible through the collaboration of the Urban Semester Program, Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, and the St. Joseph Patron church.