STUDENTS' COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR DRAWS CROWD
Date: December 31, 2008

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona stresses the importance of nutrition and exercise SCORES OF PEOPLE VISITED THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE on January 9 to hear comments from Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona and Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and to learn about health and nutrition from more than 50 local vendors.

People stood in line to donate blood inside the Bloodmobile parked outside the school. Others waited to receive a soothing massage in the Health Sciences Library. In the Medical Education Library, there were demonstrations of everything from pole-walking to the medical school's "Tar Wars" program, which visits schools to educate children about the harmful effects of smoking.

In the Wellness Center, harpist and physician Dr. Elizabeth Chen-Christenson performed soothing tunes to demonstrate the healing power of music.
Internal medicine students conducted blood pressure screening for the public, while the opthamology interest group performed eye exams using a high tech retinal scanner along with the old-fashioned eye chart.

The City and County Department of Emergency Services parked an ambulance outside the school to demonstrate its capabilities and the critically important work paramedics perform.

Medical Students Tiffany Ching, Tui A Lauilefue, Brad Kamitaki, Iris Kim, Zachery Thielen, Mikela Yarawamai and Derek Nakayama and others worked tirelessly to organize the health fair.

The students appeared on local television morning news and radio shows to promote the fair, which drew hundreds of people throughout the day.

Sponsors Hawaii Medical Services Association (HMSA) and Aloha Care generously contributed to the success of the health fair.