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[June 20, 2007]

SUNY DOWNSTATE ENCOURAGES TEENS TO BE DOWN, BE HEALTHY

 

SUNY Downstate Medical Center recently teamed up with Clara Barton High School for Health Professions, NYC Administration for Children’s Services, and the College of Freshman Studies at Medgar Evers College to present the Second Annual “A Dine & Learn Healthy Youth Symposium” themed “B Down…B Healthy!” in keeping with Downstate’s continuing efforts to promote community health.

Close to 600 adolescents attended the conference held at Clara Barton High School. They listened carefully as Downstate physicians addressed teenage health problems such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS. Other health professionals from SUNY Downstate were present to screen for asthma, high-blood pressure, and diabetes as well as provide rapid HIV testing.  Over 43 teens took advantage of this opportunity to know their HIV status.

The Barton Fitness Challenge, a health initiative designed by event organizers to teach young people the importance of good nutrition and physical activity to combat obesity through a video documentary, was popular with the teens.

Through community partnerships with local businesses SUNY Downstate was able to award the youth for their participation such as gift cards and certificates to the YMCA.

“We fed the hungry mind of over 600 youths, proving that young people want to be educated, given that the information is presented in a fun, interactive, and informative way,” said event organizer Karen Jemmott, physician outreach coordinator at SUNY Downstate. “Our institution is demonstrating through these programs that we are not only about research and treatment, but prevention as well.  We plan to annually address the health issues affecting youth until prevention is what they crave, and treatment is their last desire.”

SUNY Downstate Medical Center is the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, serving more than 2 million people throughout the borough.  SUNY Downstate is located at 450 Clarkson Avenue.