The impact of community health initiatives was powerfully demonstrated on Saturday, March 22, at UTHealth Houston Cares, a student-led health fair in its sixth year. Sixteen-year-old Sarahi Perla confirmed what she suspected – blindness in one eye – through an examination she might never have otherwise received. Despite this significant diagnosis, Sarahi’s enthusiasm remained high as she also took advantage of dental screenings.
The community event transformed UT Physicians Multispecialty — Jensen and delivered essential health care services to families who often face barriers to medical access. Sarahi’s example illustrates the need to provide essential early interventions directly to our neighborhoods.
“This health fair is a unique opportunity for students to use their knowledge and the skills they’ve accumulated throughout medical school to create a real impact in our community,” said Maisie Nievera, a second-year student with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. She helped coordinate the popular Teddy Bear Clinic for the second year and was one of three public relations chairs.
The multidisciplinary event involved 90 student volunteers who provided no-cost health screenings. Stations throughout the clinic offered dental and vision checks, blood glucose testing, body mass index calculations, and vital signs measurements. The UTHealth Houston students represented a variety of health care disciplines related to dentistry, public health, nursing, and medicine.
Making a difference
The year-long planning process for the health fair culminated in a day that benefitted the community and its student volunteers, who gained practical experience while serving others.
“Personally, I love being able to interact with the families who attend,” Nievera said. “They’re usually interested in learning more about their health but haven’t had the opportunity or access to the services they need.”
That was the case for Sarahi, who was eager to have her teeth checked because her family doesn’t visit the dentist often. The 16-year-old came with her mom and two siblings.
“We want to know if we have cavities,” Perla said. “It’s fun because I ask a lot of questions about my teeth because I care about them. The people are very nice here and respect our opinions.”
It was a big day for Sarahi, who also interacted with the medical school students. She asked questions about medical school because she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
Nievera said it makes her happy to see patients leave with resources and health notes from the day. This event put compassionate care into action, one of the practice plan’s guiding principles.
Community involvement
Nicole Compton, RN, nurse manager at UT Physicians Multispecialty – Jensen, appreciates how the health fair raised awareness of the clinic’s services. She said many people don’t realize there is a clinic in the strip center as they pass by.
“It gets our name out in the community and helps people know we are in their neighborhood,” Compton said. “If they don’t have health care for their family, they can start seeing a provider here.”
Those who attended also learned about additional resources, such as legal, psychiatric services, and food resources.
“We have them fill out a short form so we can contact them after the health fair to follow up to see if they need to establish a provider,” Compton said. “We get that one-on-one contact with them and can help them get an appointment quicker.”
Creating a child-friendly experience
The health fair aimed to create a friendly environment for children so they aren’t afraid to visit the doctor. The Teddy Bear Clinic provided a stuffed bear and enabled children to practice using a stethoscope to listen to the bear’s heart and lungs.
New this year, the event partnered with Reach Out and Read Texas, part of the Children’s Learning Institute at McGovern Medical School, to distribute books to children. This added a critical literacy component to children’s health initiatives. A popular partner with select UT Physicians clinics, Reach Out and Read provides books to children from 6 months to 5 years old during their well-child exams.
La Tiendita, a program within the Tejano Center for Community Concerns, also provided resources for health fair attendees. Its mission is to provide food assistance and healthy eating education for families in need.
View photos from the UTHealth Houston Cares event.
