More than 7,000 enthusiastic runners and their families filled our Bellaire Station location for the UTHealth Houston Half Marathon & 10K health fair and packet pickup on Oct. 25 and 26. They were greeted with smiles as they entered through giant balloon arches that led to a long hall filled with booths and games.
The event offered something for everyone — from no-cost health screenings and medical resources to playful moments with therapy dogs, creative face painting, yoga sessions, and photo booth fun. Packet pickup transformed our location into a community celebration of health and fitness, bringing together athletes and families for two days of learning and laughter.
Community awareness
For the new UTHealth Houston allergy and immunology division, the health fair provided a perfect opportunity to meet the community as it prepares to open its new clinic on Nov. 15 in Bellaire Station.
“Our division is enthusiastic about joining the UTHealth Houston family and the community,” said Christopher D. Codispoti, MD, an allergist and immunologist with UT Physicians. “The health fair gave us an opportunity to create patient awareness and to let our colleagues know we’re here to help them with any immunological disorder. There are many ways that allergists/immunologists can interact with other specialists.”
Codispoti, an associate professor of the allergy and immunology division at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, said health fair guests responded positively to the allergy information provided. Many of them asked about food allergies, testing, and environmental allergies.
The UTHealth Houston Environmental Health and Safety department hosted a table at the health fair for the first time.
“I think the health fair was wonderful. The turnout was amazing,” said William Hebel, MPH, safety coordinator for UTHealth Houston’s hospital and clinical safety program.
Hebel serves as the bridge between UT Physicians outpatient clinic operations and UTHealth Houston environmental health and safety.
“We think it’s important to showcase our clinical safety efforts and better educate people about the clinical environment,” Hebel said. “The event was also a lot of fun, and interacting with the children to inspire the next generation was great.”
Proactive health care
Sugar Land resident Nanette Willis, a runner in the half-marathon, spent time at the health fair gathering information and participating in health screenings. She had her BMI, blood pressure, and carotid artery checked. She appreciated they were at no cost.
“I did the carotid artery screening because I think I’m healthy,” Willis said. “I expected it to be good, which it was, since I exercise a lot and try to eat right. I’m glad I had it done to verify that because who knows what’s going on inside.”
Lines gathered at the dermatology booth for no-cost skin checks. Last year, many fair attendees indicated they were not aware that annual skin exams are recommended.
“When we see patients for skin exams, we’ve noticed a lack of knowledge about sunscreen and skin protection,” said Zeema Daniel, APRN, a nurse practitioner at UT Physicians Dermatology — Bellaire Station. “This is important, especially since they’re running out in the sun.”
Daniel said people think dermatology is only about acne, but it’s so much more, including cosmetic dermatology, skin disorders, and skin cancer screenings. Daniel is proud to bring that awareness to people in the community.
Emergency in practice
The emergency medicine department provided essential resources to educate the community. Children and adults practiced CPR on eight manikins, learning to save a life. The department also parked the school’s Mobile Simulation Training Unit outside. This is used to train medical students in an emergency setting.
Two eighth-grade students and cross-country runners from St. Theresa Catholic School, getting ready to run their first half-marathon, learned hands-on CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) training from medical school students. Coach Cindy de Groot watched, videoed, and smiled as the students and her young daughter practiced chest compressions to the tune of “Baby Shark.”
“I think it’s a really good lesson, listening to the medical students who are guiding them on the instructions. We’re often running on the trails at Memorial Park, and it’s good to be prepared,” de Groot said. “These young ladies will at least know the first steps to call 911 and do their best to perform CPR if ever in that situation.”
The coach shared that her close friend died on the Memorial Park trail in 2001. Because people knew how to perform CPR, they were able to render aid.
“The students also learned how to apply an AED, so when they are on campus, they are a good line of defense if others don’t know,” de Groot said.
Focusing on a goal
Participants in the UTHealth Houston Half Marathon & 10K were motivated by different reasons to join Sunday’s race. Angleton resident Stephanie Weaver, for example, used the event as part of a personal goal she set following foot surgery several years ago.
“Through the process of healing, I set a goal to get back on my foot,” Weaver said. “I’m most excited about accomplishing the goal and finishing the race.”
She and her co-workers planned to walk the 10K as part of a group effort. They’ve been training with a walking schedule for six months, walking several times a week and on the weekends.
“I don’t have a time goal,” Weaver said. “I just want to finish and do it with my friends from work.”
She and her co-worker stood in line at the photo booth to capture the moment. She was all smiles!
View pictures from the health fair below.
