UAMS 12th Street Center’s March Man-ness a Three-Peat Success
Lamarr Bailey, right, has a blood sample taken for health screenings offered at March Man-ness.
| March 29, 2016 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) 12th Street Health & Wellness Center put teams of students and clinicians on the gymnasium floor March 19 as it scored its third annual March MAN-ness Health Event victory.
More than 50 men and women circulated through rooms on each side of the gym at Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock as they received free health care services, including free blood pressure checks, glucose, HIV testing and physical examinations.
Males also had blood drawn, provided by Epoch Men’s Health, to check testosterone levels, cholesterol levels and prostate sensitive antigen (PSA) for
UAMS student volunteers, left, review the March Man-ness schedule in the gymnasium at St. Mark Baptist Church where the event was held.
prostate cancer screenings and other blood components necessary for optimal health. A panel of health care professionals, pharmacists and physicians along with UAMS students supervised by them were on hand to answer personal health questions.
“Everyone was very professional and seemed happy to be at the event,” said Donald Lee of Sherwood, who attended. “Everyone has a smile on their face and treats you with respect.”
Because of a family history of prostate cancer and his age, 62, Lee was eager to receive the prostate cancer screening as well as the other services.
Like Lee, Lamar r Bailey, Saint Mark chief of operations, too wanted to take part in the prostate screening. He also said the church, an event sponsor, was grateful to be able to partner with the center and UAMS.
Bradford Caldwell of Wynne, left, collects some health information from one of the March Man-ness volunteers.
“As a church, we want to make sure we minister to the whole man,” Bailey said. “We teach and preach the Gospel, but we want to minister to the physical man as well. I think it’s a great benefit to the community, especially men.”
Free food, T-shirts, educational materials, child care and activities were provided. Epoch Men’s Health, ARcare and Arkansas Urology also were sponsors and provided supplies and services for March MAN-ness.
Bradford Caldwell, a resident of Wynne who was in Little Rock for work and heard about the event on television, said March Man-ness provided efficiency and convenience, too.
“I think the benefit was having all of this in one location rather than have to go to several labs or offices to get everything checked out,” he said. “It’s great for the community and great for UAMS and its students to provide these services.”
Mary Bradley, a College of Pharmacy student and the center’s director of external events, said because Epoch donated blood panel services they were able to screen for multiple conditions and disease states with minimal discomfort to the patient.
She also said an increased effort to reach out to the Hispanic community was a success, prompting more people from that community to attend.