UIS Health Awareness Week April 5-9

The University of Illinois Springfield Campus Health Service and the Master of Public Health Student Association will host the annual UIS Health Awareness Week from April 5-9. A health fair featuring vendors will take place on Wednesday, April 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Public Affairs Center (PAC) lobby and conference rooms on the concourse level. Health Awareness Week at UIS is designed to educate the university community and others in the surrounding area about good health practices.

In 1995, former President William Jefferson Clinton proclaimed the first full week of April as National Public Health Week (NPHW). Each year since then the public health community has focused on issues that are important to improving the public’s health. The American Public Health Association (APHA) serves as the organizer of NPHW and develops an annual national campaign to help educate the public. This year’s theme is: “A Healthier America: One Community at a Time”.

UIS has added various activities this year and speakers throughout the week. On Tuesday, April 6 the Center for First Year Students and the Department of Recreational Sports are teaming up to hold a Wii Sports/Play tournament from 5 to 8 p.m. in the PAC room G.

Wednesday, April 7 attendees are encouraged to bring items to donate for Haiti relief efforts. “Fitness testing” will also be done by the Recreational Sports Department. At the end of the fitness testing, you will receive a detailed analysis about your general health. Testicular and prostate exams will be performed by Dr. William Severino from Springfield Clinic and dietitians will be available to consult offering bone density, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol screenings and more. Those who complete an evaluation form will be entered in a drawing and eligible to win prizes donated by the Springfield community and individual departments in the Division of Student Affairs.

The luncheon speaker on Wednesday, April 7 will be Linda McCall, MS, FNPBC, CDE of Springfield Diabetes and Endocrine Center. The topic of discussion will be: “Metabolic Syndrome.” This discussion will take place in PAC G from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. Healthy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served to those attending the discussion.

Gene Taylor, CEO of Sangamon Schools Credit Union will discuss “Financial Wellness” in PAC F from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on April 7. Next, Diana Weyhenmeyer, RN, MA, OCN of St. John’s Hospital, will discuss: “The Spectrum of Wellness” in PAC G from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The final speaker of the day is John Starman, MA Practitioner in PAC F at 5:30 p.m. who will talk about “Chronic Brain Distress.”

Health Awareness Week will conclude on Thursday, April 8, with Jenna Hogan, MPH, RD Extension Educator in Nutrition and Wellness of the University of Illinois who will discuss “Metabolic Syndrome” in PAC C from 10 to 11 a.m. with individual appointments from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Exercise Demonstrations by the Department of Recreational Sports will take place in PAC D from 11 to 12 p.m.

For more information on Health Awareness Week contact Linda Tait, UIS Campus Health Service at 217/206-6676 or email ltait2@uis.edu. Information is also available online at www.uis.edu/healthservices.