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Jeanne Wei, executive director of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, takes part in a discussion with KARK-TV’s Dylan Price at the 2026 Health & Wellness Expo.
Image by Chris Carmody
UAMS-Sponsored Health & Wellness Expo Offers Free Screenings, Other Resources
| The 2026 Health & Wellness Expo drew hundreds of Arkansans for a morning of health screenings, question-and-answer sessions with experts from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and other activities.
The free annual public health event, sponsored by UAMS Health and presented by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, was held Sept. 19 at the City Center in Little Rock.
The UAMS MammoVan and the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s new lung cancer screening van were on hand to offer screenings for members of the community.Image by Lara Woloszyn
Employees and students from UAMS conducted 92 blood pressure screenings, 90 glucose screenings, and 43 vascular screenings. More than 50 attendees had their hearing screened, and 31 people received vision screenings.
Outside the City Center, the UAMS MammoVan provided screening mammograms for community members. The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s new lung cancer screening van was also on hand to offer rapid, low-dose CT scans for people who are at high risk of developing lung cancer.
The expo featured a series of question-and-answer sessions that focused on issues related to health and wellness. Ashley Posey, DPT, a physical therapist at UAMS, spoke about how she helps patients with complex pelvic-floor conditions.
Venkat Kalapatapu, M.D., professor and chief of the UAMS College of Medicine’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, talked about common vascular conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease, and varicose veins. He noted that some vascular conditions can result in loss of limbs or life-threatening complications if they’re not managed properly.
“An event like this is very important for members of the community to learn about vascular disease, its risk factors, and the healthy lifestyle choices that can help prevent it,” he said. “For those who do have vascular disease, the expo gives them a chance to undergo a free screening so we can connect them with the treatment they need.”
Jeanne Wei, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Geriatrics and executive director of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, took part in a discussion about how a person can do his or her best to age well. She described the importance of diet and exercise, stress reduction, social interactions, and activities that challenge the brain.
Employees and students from UAMS conducted a variety of screenings, including for blood pressure and glucose.Image by Lara Woloszyn
Members of the audience asked her questions about topics such as aspirin dosages, depression, and developments in Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment.
The UAMS Health medical specialties and services represented at the Health & Wellness Expo included the Breast Center and MammoVan, Neighborhood Clinics, Injury Prevention, Heart Center, Therapy and Sports Performance, Urology, UAMS Milk Bank, UAMS Arkansas Center for Women’s & Infants’ Health, and the Institute on Aging and its statewide Centers on Aging.
Attendees browsed the exhibits from UAMS and other organizations, participated in prize drawings, and played several rounds of Arkansas Travelers bingo. Wei, who has been part of the expo since its inception more than a decade ago, said she sees many familiar faces who attend the event each year.
“It’s amazing to see how many people look forward to this event,” she said. “We’re just so fortunate to have this opportunity to bring people together and share the information they need to be proactive about their health.”