Maimonides promotes preventive medicine at community health fair

November 24, 2023 Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Flu shots were also given out at the event. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

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They braved the wind and colder temperatures — for their health.

The Maimonides Health Community Relations Department hosted a community outreach health fair in Brooklyn on Tuesday. Doctors and medical staff provided free health education to the public on a myriad of subjects, with the overriding theme being preventive medicine, staying healthy and promoting lifestyles that emphasize wellness.

The event, held outdoors on a cloudy and windy afternoon on 48th Street outside of the hospital’s main entrance, featured the Maimonides team leading activities to raise awareness of trauma and injury prevention; providing tips for avoiding illness; and familiarizing participants with Maimonides’ clinical services. Participants also had the opportunity to receive free flu shots, and health-focused giveaways.

Maimonides Medical Center held a community outreach health fair in Brooklyn this past Tuesday, in which doctors and medical staff provided free health education to the public.
Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Nina Dahan, nutrition center coordinator for Maimonides, performs weight reduction therapy. She encourages better eating habits and physical activity, and generally tries to help people remain healthy so that they don’t have to be seen in the hospital, she told the Brooklyn Eagle.

Jini Samuel, cardiovascular coordinator, A-Fib Program at Maimonides. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Asked why more people are not privy to health and wellness, she pointed out that many are getting their advice from social media and other sources that may be less than reliable — “and we are also competing with people who may not be as educated,” Dahan said.

“People tend to wait until they are in a medical crisis; then they have a problem,” she continued. “And we don’t want that to happen. If we can do health fairs like this more often and get the awareness out there, then we can help prevent things like heart disease and diabetes. It’s all about being in the know.”

Antigone Hatzimihalis, a nurse practitioner who specializes in gastroenterology at Maimonides, said that everyone should be aware of the importance of screening for colon issues — but people just aren’t as informed as they should be.

“They don’t have the proper information, such as details on their family history. And sadly, a lot of people let it go until it’s too late,” Hatzimihalis explained.

Nina Dahan, nutrition center coordinator at Maimonides. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

Gia Ramsey, trauma injury prevention/education outreach coordinator for Maimonides, who deals with injury prevention in all age groups, pointed out that injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages one to 44.

“People don’t realize this,” Ramsey said. “They think it’s cancer and heart disease. But the top five injuries — the leading cases for the trauma department here — are falls for all age groups; pedestrian injuries; bicycle injuries; motor vehicle occupant injuries; and motorcycle injuries. We have a lot of information available on prevention methods — everything from safe sleep in infancy, car seat safety, all through older adult fall prevention.”

Also discussed were the importance of lung cancer screening and lung cancer awareness in general.

“The earlier you are diagnosed, the better chances you have as far as recovery,” explained Lenia Batas, cancer screening program manager at Maimonides. “People must be proactive.”

Perhaps no one knows this better than lung cancer survivor Brenda Denike.

Denike, who was a smoker for more than 45 years, happened to see a commercial for the Maimonides lung cancer program some four years ago and thought, “Let me just jot down the number and give them a call.”

Gia Ramsey, trauma injury prevention/education outreach coordinator at Maimonides. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman

“Well, it turns out that the call saved my life — and it was the best decision I ever made,” she recalled.

Ultimately, Denike was diagnosed with lung cancer. However, it was in its very early stages, and she was eventually able to beat it.

“I was very fortunate,” she said. “My best advice to people is to go for a CT scan — especially if you smoke. It’s the best decision you can make; you are certainly better safe than sorry. Honestly, if it wasn’t for Maimonides and that commercial, I would never have known about anything — until it was too late.”