Inaugural Nassau County Health and Wellness Fair By Alicia Colangelo, MPH, ’14
… more than 100 local vendors came out to provide Nassau County residents with information and resources to help them live a healthier lifestyle. The first Nassau County Health and Wellness Fair, held August 18, 2013, was a great success. There were more than 600 people in attendance, more than
North Shore-LIJ and Winthrop-University Hospital. It took place at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale; more than 100 local vendors came out to provide Nassau County residents with information and resources to help them live a healthier lifestyle.
50 doctors and nurses, and 30 volunteers. Approximately 300 residents participated in free glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart disease, breast cancer and dental screenings. In addition, 31 pints of blood were donated to the New York Blood Center. The event was hosted by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, in conjunction with
At the event, attendees had direct access to multiple health and wellness resources, as well as private consultations and health screenings. Attendees with abnormal screening results were advised for followup care at the exit interview. The fair also offered an array of workshops and exercise classes, in addition to children’s activities such as carnival games, a mobile gaming truck, interactive photo booths and free backto-school supplies. It truly was a fun-filled day for families to get healthy together.
Hofstra’s Center for Civic Engagement By Nuzhat Quaderi, MSCH, ’14
The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) was founded on the premise that individuals who are equipped with civic engagement experiences and skills are better able to move from awareness to action. Since its inception, the CCE has aimed to educate students about the current and historical issues that affect both our local and global communities, and has worked to empower students to make changes by developing and strengthening leadership, team-building, organizing, and advocacy skills. The CCE believes in the importance of creating a community of active citizens
and works with all interested members in building long-term relationships with community-based organizations to make lasting and meaningful changes within our community. To that end, the CCE offers internship and volunteer opportunities with community-based organizations, on-campus event planning opportunities, opportunities to build skills through committee membership, and more. Students may work with the Grants Committee, in which they learn grant-writing skills; the Community-Based Research Committee, which offers opportunities to work with community organizations to identify and
pursue customized research needs; and the Community Partnerships Committee, which works with CCE’s strategic partners. The ability to build long-term relationships, appropriately use advocacy skills, and build coalitions often leads to success in the field of public health. Therefore, it is important for all public health students and professionals to be civically engaged within the communities they serve. If you are interested in finding out more about the Center for Civic Engagement, please visit hofstra.edu/cce or email CCE@hofstra.edu.
We Are Public Health: Meet the New MPH and MSCH Students Maria Akhondzadeh, MPH, ’15; and Anu Anish, MPH, ’14 People spend the majority of their lives trying to define themselves. If asked the question “Who are you?” a noun may suffice: I am a student, I am a son or daughter, I am an employee, I am a father or mother. People spend their lives creating a name for themselves. A person hopes to leave a legacy of sorts. As our Class of 2015 embarks on its new academic journey, we asked our new 6
students the following questions: “What brought you to the starting line of this point in your life?” and “What do you want to be known for?” Pascal Frederique, a new MPH student, said, “Public health encompasses my interests and it speaks to who I am as a person.” Her decision to start the MPH program grew
from both a desire for higher education and a passion to improve our health system, our community and our nation. Maria Akhondzadeh (MPH, ’15) is part of the quality assurance/quality improvement team in her fire department and loves Hofstra University’s “hands-on approach to public health and the intimacy the program has to offer.” Coming from Stony Brook continued on page 11