UMass Med Students Take Over Worcester Public Library For Health Fair

WORCESTER, MA — UMass Chan medical students and more than a dozen local health and social services groups will hold a health fair Wednesday at the main Worcester Public Library, offering basic health services like blood pressure screenings and more.

Here's more from a library news release:

First-year students from T.H. Chan School of Medicine will be hosting a health fair on March 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Worcester Public Library (WPL), 3 Salem Square. This event will provide an opportunity for the community to access basic health services and engage with representatives from various organizations committed to promoting health equity.

The students are taking a proactive approach to community health by engaging in service-learning initiatives that directly impact the lives of vulnerable populations. Through the innovative Early Clinical Learning Social Determinants of Health Longitudinal Project, spearheaded by Assistant Professors Susan Hogan, MD, MPH, and Heather-Lyn Haley, PhD, students are not only gaining valuable hands-on experience but also contributing to the well-being of local communities.

"We are thrilled to host the UMass Chan School of Medicine's health fair at the Worcester Public Library," said Christina Connolly, community resources manager at the Worcester Public Library. "This event exemplifies the power of collaboration between educational institutions and community organizations to promote wellness and accessibility in our community. We encourage everyone in the community to attend and take advantage of this invaluable opportunity."

The health fair at WPL is free and open to the public. Participating organizations include New England Rural Health Association; Pernet Family Health Service; Worcester RISE for Health; Epworth Free Medical Program (Formerly Worcester Evening Free Medical Service Program); Coalition Healthy Greater Worcester; Child Health Equity Center; Worcester Refugee Assistance Project; Worcester Community Midwifery; Barre Family Health Center; Colony Retirement Homes Road to Care, Homeless Outreach Advocacy Project; Greater Lawrence Family Health Center; The Village Worcester; Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation; The Mustard Seed; Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance; Welcome Neighborhood Support Team; VISIONS Consulting L3C; Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Re-Entry Services; and the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA).

The collaboration between the medical school and community partners has been made possible through the support of the Remillard Family Community Service Fund grant. This funding has facilitated partnerships with 18 organizations, allowing students to make a meaningful impact while also providing monetary support to community partners.