2008 Multicultural Health Fair
| Heidi M. Pascual* Publisher & Editor * 2006 Journalist of the Year for the State of Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA) |
Both were involved in the Multicultural Health Fair last year in different capacities, although not as “heavy” as this year when they took
the leadership task from planning to execution. But both agreed that the initial year of service to the community provided the inspiration to
do more this year.
“Last year, I did community organizing so I recruited organizations to come to the fair,” Horembala recalled. “This year, I functioned as
the co-chair, putting together the entire event.
We (with David Nguyen) had to do pretty much everything. We had to recruit other medical students to help function under different
committees to put this together, and to make sure that they’re doing what they’re intended to be doing. This year, we had a huge focus on
publicity because we felt that the community doesn’t really know about this. This is the 21st year that this is happening, so we really wanted
to make sure that this is recognized and that people should take advantage of it, because it’s available and because this is a resource that
is free to the public .”
David Nguyen recalled that he dealt mostly with supplies last year. “I helped bring all the tables and stuff in and did cholesterol
screening,” he said. “Then I figured I can give more than that to help out, so I signed up to be co-chair or coordinator this year. It’s pretty
hectic; but everything has worked out so far. I’m happy to see everybody here. The effort is worth it.”
Horembala acknowledged the importance of community outreach, as she pointed to the different information booths. “We looked for
coalitions that deal with health-related issues, like the Tobacco Free Coalition,” she said. “We refer people to social agencies, like Joining
Forces for Families, that offer services to people who are underserved in health and have broader, social needs as well. We recognize that
it’s a very important thing. The Dane County Mental Health Center is here because mental health is an issue that, while really overworked
in general, is definitely needed by people who can’t afford health care to begin with.”
Comparing this year’s health fair to that of last year’s, Horembala said that they did a better job in certain areas this year. “I feel that we
did a better job with our layout,” she acknowledged. “Our screenings are the most personal, so that people don’t feel like their ‘business’ is in
everybody’s face. They can feel comfortable at the same time.”
Horembala was also proud to announce new services that were not available in years past. “Things that are new this year is that we have
registration for BadgerCare Plus, which is something new and neat to get out to the community, because it encompasses a larger amount
of families,” she said. “We also have new diabetes screening, courtesy of UW-Pharmacy School which we didn’t have in years past. So this
year’s Fair is definitely greater in potential!”
Nguyen observed that more people came this year and that everything moved along very smoothly. “Also new this year is, we have the
St. Mary’s Happy Heart here,” he said. “We have asthma checks and hearing checks, and those things are new, as well as, we have some
folks here from the UW Corrective Cardiology Department. They do counseling … nip it in the bud before heart disease comes in and they’
re here to talk to people as well.”
Like Horembala, Nguyen thought that the BadgerCare Plus registration offering was an important addition to the Fair’s services this year. “I
think the BadgerCare Plus is the biggest thing because families with kids who do not have insurance will probably qualify for it. They just
come in, get settled here, and the BadgerCare people will do all the paper work for them.”
“I feel that this year, we had a better effort going into it,” Horembala added. “The medical students working on this project were very
dedicated and worked out everything ahead of time so that we could pull together a comprehensive fair. And I think we did a better job
outreaching too. We have more residents here, people know where to go.”
Both co-chairs were elated by the number of people coming in to avail themselves of the many resources available at no cost. They were
grateful to all the participating organizations and agencies that were willing to spend a day serving Madisonians who are in need of health-
related information and care.
“We are in school for a long time, and we tend to forget why we came into this field in the first place,” Horembala admitted. “We’re
always doing school, and we kind of forget the person behind it. So when we have a chance to interact with the community and people we’
d be working with in the future, and give them the skills we feel that we’ve learned so far, and we’re able to give them now, that makes us
realize that we actually have proof of what we’re going to be doing and wanting to be doing. I’m really happy to be able to provide them
all for free. I feel wonderful!”
Nguyen compared the Multicultural Health Fair to a child that was conceived and birthed in nine months, with the baby now ‘delivered,’
and pleasing everyone. “We started last year, just talking to people,” he said. “A lot of this was talking to all these community organizations
and partners. That’s how we all got them to come today. We were calling back and forth and attending meetings and all that.” With a big
smile on his face, Nguyen looked around and nodded at their “baby” serving Madison’s community with all its heart.
“So, I think that for a lot of us (in the medical school), we just have to be very active in this movement and provide, as much as we can
(as much) free services as we can,” Horembala said
| UW-Madison Medical Students for Minority Concerns co-chairs Weronica Horembala and David Nguyen at the Multicultural Health Fair held at the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. |
It is no secret that thousands of people in Madison and Dane County, especially those
with low income and many of whom are people of color, either have very little access to
health care or none at all. The stark reality is that many just choose to ignore what they
feel are “minor” symptoms of illnesses, often until it is too late. They often do not know
what ails them and are not even aware of the health care resources available to them.
The organization Medical Students for Minority Concerns (MSMC) of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health recognized this major problem
more than 20 years ago. Since then, every year, its members conduct a free “Multicultural
Health Fair” at a location accessible to everyone, focusing on the most disadvantaged
areas of Madison. For four years running, the Multicultural Health Fair has been held on
the south side. In the past, the fair had been held at East Towne Mall, an alternative
school, and South Towne Mall (those were the areas of concern at the time).
This year, the health fair was conducted at the Boys and Girls Club on Madison’s south
side, and Asian Wisconzine was there to witness the latest project of MSMC in action.
There were numerous informational tables set up by organizations and agencies
providing health-related services, a separate “private” space for screening, and smiling,
uniformed medical students greeting community members to the fair.
Co-chairs Weronica Horembala and David Nguyen, both second-year medical students,
gave us a glimpse of the day’s event that attracted hundreds of folks, of all colors, on the
south side.
with low income and many of whom are people of color, either have very little access to
health care or none at all. The stark reality is that many just choose to ignore what they
feel are “minor” symptoms of illnesses, often until it is too late. They often do not know
what ails them and are not even aware of the health care resources available to them.
The organization Medical Students for Minority Concerns (MSMC) of the University of
Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health recognized this major problem
more than 20 years ago. Since then, every year, its members conduct a free “Multicultural
Health Fair” at a location accessible to everyone, focusing on the most disadvantaged
areas of Madison. For four years running, the Multicultural Health Fair has been held on
the south side. In the past, the fair had been held at East Towne Mall, an alternative
school, and South Towne Mall (those were the areas of concern at the time).
This year, the health fair was conducted at the Boys and Girls Club on Madison’s south
side, and Asian Wisconzine was there to witness the latest project of MSMC in action.
There were numerous informational tables set up by organizations and agencies
providing health-related services, a separate “private” space for screening, and smiling,
uniformed medical students greeting community members to the fair.
Co-chairs Weronica Horembala and David Nguyen, both second-year medical students,
gave us a glimpse of the day’s event that attracted hundreds of folks, of all colors, on the
south side.