Chase Reece, BSHP '24

Today, I spent time further looking into data for the health screenings grant project that I have been working on which focuses on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. We also had a meeting with a professor from the medical school to discuss the data and potential ideas for the project. During this meeting, we discussed the findings of the community health needs assessments for the Archway communities. Overall, they found that diabetes, heart disease, and chronic diseases were the main priorities, which is consistent with the aims of this project. Further, they identified potential solutions such as reducing risky behaviors like tobacco use, increasing screenings and primary care services, and promoting healthier lifestyles through health education. After examining the data further and identifying which communities have the most need but also potential resources to address their needs, we will work to create and pilot low or no-cost screenings and health fairs. Some points of consideration include opportunities for hospital or community involvement, costs for point of care tests, and acquiring funding for needed equipment and supplies. We will also identify which communities currently have ongoing health fairs and how they could potentially be expanded to be more successful and reach more people.