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This photo essay documents a community health fair hosted by the YMCA and the University of Miami, highlighting a collaborative effort to provide essential health services to local residents. From the moment guests entered the fair, they were welcomed by dedicated staff who conducted initial assessments to determine individual needs. Organized and efficient, the event was staffed by both professionals and student volunteers, ensuring that each attendee received timely and personalized care as they moved through various health service stations.
The range of services was extensive and aimed at addressing multiple aspects of health and wellness. Attendees received blood pressure checks, physical therapy assessments and bone density scans, as well as vision and hearing tests. One of the most popular stations was the eye exam booth, underscoring the community’s interest in preventive eye care — especially crucial given that many conditions like glaucoma often go undetected. The fair also prioritized women’s health, offering screenings such as breast exams and pap smears to catch early warning signs of serious conditions.
The event concluded with a visit to the La Bodega Community Food Pantry, where guests could pick up fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, shoes and other essentials — reinforcing the fair’s holistic approach to health by addressing food insecurity alongside medical needs. Volunteers, including student guides, played a key role in ensuring participants connected with doctors and services before they left.
Staff like Andrew Nordlund (left) received information that they needed from attendees to help make sure they were taken care of properly.The room had plenty of staff from the University of Miami and the YMCA to ensure that guests received speedy care.Next, attendees were sent to measure their blood pressure. After this room, they were given full access to the rest of the health fair services.Physical therapy assessments were available at the health fair, with gym equipment ready to be used.Eye exams were done as well, with this being one of the most popular stations to visit.Eye exams are important because many eye diseases like glaucoma show no early symptoms, more than 50% of people with glaucoma are undiagnosed.Bone density tests were given to check the bone health of attendees and to check for osteoporosis.A variety of women’s health screenings were available, including breast exams and pap smears.Hearing tests were performed; these tests can also detect early signs of other conditions like high blood pressure.University of Miami students Alli Pocsik (left) and James Choi (right) are seen with ‘doctor’ and ‘patient nav’ flags to help guide guests to doctors before they exit the health fair.: The last stop at the health fair was the La Bodega Community Food Pantry, where attendees were given fruits, vegetables, bread, shoes, and more.
Julian Camejo is a junior at Florida International University majoring in Digital Journalism. He is interested in the music and entertainment industry and after graduation, aims to seek a career within these industries to help bring more awareness to topics that usually do not garner much attention.
Jada Denaud, a West Palm Beach native and junior studying Digital Journalism, aspires to amplify Black women's voices in media and plans to pursue a career as a journalist after graduation.
Juan Moreno is a junior at FIU majoring in Digital Communication and Media, specifically Digital TV and Multimedia Production. Already fascinated by film, he took AICE Media Studies in high school, paving the way for his current major focusing on filming techniques and the specifics of cinematography. In his downtime, he immerses himself in visualizing and writing stories that he wants to see become a reality.
