NYMC Students and Faculty Provide Free Screenings at White Plains Health Fair

The volunteers included medical students, students in the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program and in the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program, along with Amy Ansehl, D.N.P., R.N., M.S.N., FNP-BC, associate dean, student experience, director, applied practice experience, and associate professor of public health; Vikas Grover, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, assistant professor of speech-language pathology; Kathleen Franklin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, chair and associate professor of speech-language pathology; Jeanne M. Wilson, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and course director for foundations of clinical medicine; and Nick Sekkas, M.S., director of recruitment in the SHSP.

"Volunteering with the speech-language pathology students at the health fair was an excellent opportunity to assist in screening individuals from the community with language barriers. I was privileged to observe enthusiastic parents who verbalized in Spanish that their needs were heard,” said Jossias Genao-Cruz, M.D., an M.P.H. candidate in Health Behavior and Community Health. “Public health in the community focuses on systemic issues through health inclusion, promotion, education, and service by reducing risks and improving lifestyles and overall environmental well-being."

“Our volunteers provided early language development screenings, hearing screenings, vital signs screening, and provided education on children's environmental health, as well as educational opportunities at NYMC in public health, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, basic sciences and medicine,” said Dr. Ansehl.

“It was nice to see the White Plains community come together for such a great day,” Mr. Sekkas said. “Our students and faculty in attendance were able to meet with and provide services for a large number of people in the community. It is great for our students to get to collaborate with each other for such a good cause.”