Baker College free community health fair Oct. 16

Students in Baker College of Allen Park health sciences programs are getting real-world experience while giving back to the community during the Community Health Fair and Breast Cancer Awareness Event, Friday, Oct. 16, 2015, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Baker College campus, A Building, 4500 Enterprise Drive, Allen Park.

Among the many free offerings at the fair are health screenings for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, memory and vision. Body mass index (BMI) calculations, blood testing, fitness, posture and pulmonary evaluations, and therapeutic massages will also be available, as will educational information about hand washing, CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), medication and fall prevention.

“This a great way for the public to learn about many different health and wellness issues and for students to supplement their classroom education with on-the-ground experience helping within their community,” said Kristine L. Barann, CPA, Baker College of Allen Park president.

The event is facilitated by Baker College students across a range of programs in health sciences, including medical assistant, surgical technology, physical therapist assistant, pharmacy technician, occupational therapy assistant, therapeutic massage, medical laboratory technician, opticianry and nursing. Baker College instructors who are professionals in their specialties will supervise the students.

Joining the college as sponsoring partners are St. John Providence, CVS Health, Bayer HealthCare and Novo Nordisk.

The CVS Health Minute Clinic will be on-site at the fair to provide flu vaccines (fee charged without insurance) and smoking cessation consultations.

Bayer HealthCare and Novo Nordisk, pharmaceutical companies, have donated diabetic testing supplies that will be distributed by students in the pharmacy technician program.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Event will feature on-site mobile mammogram screenings provided by St. John Providence for women age 40 and older, as well as breast self-exam educational information. Most insurance will be accepted for the mammograms, and financial assistance is available for uninsured and underinsured participants who qualify. Appointments are required. Because there are a limited number of appointments, interested women are encouraged to secure their appointment early.

For more information about the Baker College of Allen Park Community Health Fair or to make an appointment for a mammogram, contact Rhonda Johns, fair coordinator and director of the Baker College of Allen Park medical assisting program, at 313.425.3740 or rhonda.johns@baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It serves more than 28,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 150 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker is a pioneer in distance education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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