Let's Get Moving

FREE Community Health Fair and Educational Symposium promotes

Good Health Habits and Wellness

BUFFALO, NEW YORK; September 6, 2012—The “Let’s Get Moving Community Health Fair and Educational Symposium” will take place on Saturday, September 15^th, 2012, from 8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, 450 Masten Avenue at East Ferry. 

Of great concern to the partners in this initiative are statistical indicators that identify various areas in Buffalo as having some of the highest chronic disease rates in the State of New York.  Also notable is that African and Latino Americans are disproportionately representative in having these chronic conditions, making key goals of the conference to: empower individuals to take back their health; take control of their health habits; and improve daily nutritional choices. 

To achieve these goals, a plenary session, educational workshops, as well as traditional health exhibitions and nutritional demonstrations will be provided throughout the day.  Specific health procedures to be made available on-site during this health fair include: Mammographies in a Mobile Mammography Bus, as well as a blood drive to be conducted by UNYTS.  A children’s “Learn and Play” area, as well as adult and young adult fitness demonstrations will also be offered.  At the culmination of the health symposium, a mass line dance will be led by Jocelyn McEnitre-Guthrie from Body Sculpting and the YMCA.  This is a free event and lunch will be provided. 
Physicians to present during the symposium include: Jonathan Daniels, M.D.; Roberto O. Diaz Del Carpio, M.D.; John Fudyma, M.D.; George E. Matthews, M.D..; Theresa Rush, M.D..; Raul Vasquez, M.D.; and Willie Underwood, MD.

This program is co-chaired by Rita Hubbard-Robinson, from ECMC and Angela Blue from NYS AFL-CIO. “Through this effort, we hope to encourage people to have fun and be more active,” explained Rita Hubbard-Robinson, JD, Community Health Education and Outreach Director, ECMC Corp.  “So, Let’s Get Moving!” 

The 2012 “Let’s Get Moving Community Health Fair and Educational Symposium” premier sponsors are the Erie County Medical Center Corporation, 1199 SEIU, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Independent Health. 

Event planning committee members and partners include: The American Diabetes Association, Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation, Grupo Ministerial, Healthcare Education Project, Kaleida Health, Masten Block Club Coalition, NYS AFLO-CIO – Buffalo WNY Labor Council for Latin American Advancement & Coalition Black Trade Unionists, P2 Collaborative of WNY/WNY Health Equity Coalition, Public Policy and Education Fund and UNYTS.  This committee convened to develop a community based approach to teaching the public about health, public health, mental health, fitness and nutrition. 

ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER: The ECMC Corporation includes an advanced academic medical center (ECMC) with 550 inpatient beds and 136 skilled-nursing-home beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care clinics and a long-term care facility.  ECMC is the regional center for trauma, burn care, transplantation and rehabilitation and is a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo.  Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan.  More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences—the difference between healthcare and true care.