The Student Health Force of Michele Clark Academic Preparatory Magnet High School is hosting its first health fair for the Austin community Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The theme of this year’s student-run health fair is “Because it’s your life, and you deserve to live it NOW!”
“Michele Clark’s Student Health Force members are bringing qualified health information and promoting access to health services on a timely basis. These are critical tools for people to better manage their health,” said Michael Diamond, executive director of the Chicago Student Health Force.
“There are so many resources in Austin which are willing to help, and the Austin Community Health Fair is a great place for people to find the services and information they need,” Diamond said. “These high school students have been an outstanding force for promoting health through tobacco prevention and leading their fellow students to healthier living.”
Health fair goers will learn more about personal health, receive free basic testing and get connected to local health and lifestyle resources. Health topics covered and services offered include:
- Tobacco prevention and cessation (Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project)
- Breast cancer prevention and screening (A Silver Lining Foundation)
- Prostate cancer prevention (PCC Health Clinic)
- Asthma (Rush University Asthma Center)
- Reproductive health (Family Focus and Planned Parenthood)
- Nutrition (Suzen Moeller, nutritional epidemiologist with the American Medical Association)
- Gun violence prevention (CeaseFire Chicago)
- Advocacy (Mujeres Latinas en Accion)
- Employment and upward mobility (SER Central States)
- “Ask the Doctors” (representatives from the American Medical Association)
- General health services (Loretto Hospital and Rush Medical Center)
In addition to health screenings and information, the fair will feature beginning at noon expert guest speakers, including Dr. James Galloway, regional health administrator for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Joseph Harrington, assistant commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health; and Dr. Sonja Boone of the American Medical Association.