Local residents and members of the Bonaventure community alike can join together to discuss common health care concerns this Saturday by participating in the My Community, My Health workshop.
Presented by Health Care Access Coalition, a local group who works to promote affordable health care, the half-day program will discuss several health-related areas. According to a Notice Board announcement, the program will consist of four, 45-minute workshops.
Allison Field, a pre-pharmacy student in the Franciscan Health Care Professions program, will lead “Rx: Prescription for Debt.”
This portion of the workshop will work to explain the raising costs of pharmaceutical drugs. Local pharmacist and local business owner, Vic Vena, RPh, will discuss the costs from the viewpoint of doctors. Dr. Gil Witte will represent the effect of raising prices on patients.
Students, Setu Shah, a senior sports studies major, and Austin Thomas, a sophomore business major, will participate in “The Bitter Side of Sweets.” Led by registered dietitian Summer Jolley, M.S., R.D., will speak about the physiological effects of sugar.
Both Shah and Thomas will demonstrate the amount of sugar in common household food products.
“Experts believe that the amount of sugar instead of the far in an average American’s diet is contributing to our obesity epidemic,” said Shah, who is a student member of the Health Care Access Coalition.
Shah who has previously educated public groups on health issues, believes that the obesity epidemic is one of the main reasons to stress public health education.
“I believe that the members of our local community will spread awareness about these problems and hopefully ignite [local] change.”
Christopher Anderson, the director of St. Bonaventure’s Center for Student Wellness, will examine the causes of addictions in the workshop, “Addiction: Why am I addicted and what can I do about it?”
Jené Gardner, the director of Clinical Services for the Council on Addiction Recovery Services, will discuss services available locally to provide addiction counseling and management.
The workshops will be followed by a lunchtime panel, “A Call to Action.” The workshop will be hosted by Dr. Kevin Watkins, the director of the Cattaraugus county Department of Health.
Students are welcome to participate in discussion and collaborate with local community members.
“The school can get more involved by holding small nutrition workshops at the local libraries and community centers,” said Shah.
“Bona’s students can even partner with healthcare providers or the YMCA to hold ‘healthy kids days’ or ‘active adults days’ to spread awareness.”
Attendees are encouraged to offer suggestions to the county to help benefit local healthcare.
The program will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in Olean. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Advanced registration is available at www.facebook.com/healthcareaccesscoalition or by calling (716) 372-3348.
rootcm14@bonaventure.edu
