Hands-On Health: Stephens College Unites Campus and Community for First Health Fair
Between blood pressure cuffs, rapid wellness screenings and a visit from a miniature therapy horse named Teenie, the Kimball Ballroom bustled last Wednesday during Stephens first ever College Campus Health Fair.
The event served as the centerpiece of “Stephens Cares Health Week” (Oct. 5-9), an initiative organized with Boone Health to promote everyday wellness, preventive care, and hands-on learning across campus.
Building a Week of Health Awareness
The week kicked off on Monday with a campus blood drive organized by the Tri Beta Biological Honors Society.
On Wednesday, leaders from across Columbia filled Kimball Ballroom to educate students on various health topics. From the importance of breast cancer screening to fitness classes and chiropractors, students spoke with industry leaders to learn more about their practices.
Programming continues Thursday with a Nursing Preview Day at the Center for Nursing from 9 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a 12:45 screening of the breast cancer awareness short film “Lay Lefty Down” in Windsor Auditorium featuring alumna director Traven Rice ‘94 and guest speaker, Boone Health Breast Surgeon Dr. Jennifer O’Neill.
Health Week wrapped up on Friday with a “Pink Out” Volleyball game honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Silverthorne Arena.
During the game, Stephens Athletic Director Betty Villalobos honored Boone Health Breast Care and Dr. O’Neill by dedicating the game-day ball to celebrate her accomplishments in the medical field and the partnership between Boone Health and Stephens College.
Real-World Practice for Nursing Students
Stephens students transformed classroom theory into community care during Wednesday’s health fair.
Students staffed educational tables focused on hypertension and diabetes management while running a free flu shot clinic for faculty and staff.
“When you’re teaching your craft, you know your craft better,” said Dr. Karina Floyd, Director of the Stephens College Nursing Program. “Plus, our students get a clinical check-off for administering intramuscular injections to the public.”
Floyd emphasized that college is the ideal window for establishing healthy habits and illness awareness.
“This is the prime age to really get the education done,” Floyd said. “Especially while they’re young women, some of them are going to develop these same conditions. It’s good to be self-aware for prevention-for themselves, their families and their friends.”
Meeting Students Where They Are
Community health leaders also attended to provide direct, barrier-free access to public health services.
Cody Jenkerson, HIV Health Coordinator, was joined by a team from the Columbia/Boone Public Health and Human Services to provide free 15-minute rapid HIV and syphilis testing alongside free naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips.
“We are glad to be out here providing testing and educating students about what sort of public health assistance we provide,” said Jenkerson. “All of our rapid sexual health testing is free, so HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis C testing are completely free, and we just want to make sure that students know these options are available to them.”
Jenkerson added that STI testing is also offered at a discount to students who bring in their ID. In addition, the department also has 24-hour access to naloxone, a drug used to help reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.
More information on the services the health department provides can be found here.
Empowering Early Advocacy
Breast health awareness was another focal point of the event, reinforcing the mission of Thursday’s film screening, Lay Lefty Down.
Dr. Jennifer O’Neill of Boone Health urged young women to start practicing regular self-exams and understand their personal baseline.
“The biggest misconception is that people feel like, ‘My family didn’t have it, so I’m not going to develop it,’” O’Neill said. “One in eight women get breast cancer independent of risk factors. Knowing what’s normal for you in your 20s and 30’s is critical.”
O’Neill reminded attendees that annual mammograms begin at the age of 40, but proactive self-advocacy begins much earlier. More information on breast exams and breast health awareness and the Boone Health Breast Care Unit can be found here.
Whole-Body Care and Campus Connection
Holistic health and stress relief rounded out the afternoon.
On their way in, guests were greeted by Teenie, a miniature therapy horse that was brought by Shelby Baxley ’15. Baxley, the stables operation manager and equestrian program coordinator, shared more about Teenie’s training program, helped Teenie welcome guests, and answered any questions students or staff had.
Megan Lantz, a current Stephens nursing student and assistant at Active Life Chiropractic, educated her peers on Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) and spinal alignment.
“Subluxation, which is your misalignment, can cause scar tissue to form if it is not corrected within seven days,” said Lantz. “I love the holistic approach and helping people learn that there are other methods of care to treat a variety of different issues, and chiropractic care can be helpful for a variety of different ailments.”
Active Life Chiropractic will be holding free exams and X-rays on October 22nd.
Lantz added that she feels honored to represent Active Life Chiropractic at the fair.
“I love the work we do at our office,” said Lantz. “I love the people I work with, and I love that Stephens held the event so groups like us can come out and share and help the community.”
O’Neill shared Lantz’s sentiment, adding, “I think it’s great that Stephens is bringing awareness and promoting women’s health. It’s important to know what to look for in your 20s and 30s, so you know how things have changed, and you have the tools to advocate for yourself.”
“It’s always good to be self-aware for prevention,” said Dr. Floyd. “It’s important for their own families and friends; friends share things as well, so it’s imperative at this age that they are learning what to look out for.”
Organizers and participants expressed optimism that the well-attended fair will return as an annual Stephens tradition.
