UF’s College of Pharmacy is providing more free health screenings at its annual health fair on Friday.
For the first time, the college will partner with UF’s HealthStreet to give free health screenings to Gainesville’s low-income residents, said Vicki Piazza, the program’s manager.
The event will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at HealthStreet, located at 2401 SW Archer Rd.
UF’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association paired with HealthStreet to provide more screenings, medical counseling and nutrition education, said Lacey Nilles, the association’s vice president.
Screenings will test for HIV, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, she said.
“Even if you go to the doctor every year, you won’t get tested for a lot of these things,” Nilles said.
Pharmacists will also be available for medication reviews, where guests can ask questions about their current medications, Nilles said. Those who attend will also learn about topics including alcohol and tobacco use, immunizations, asthma and allergies.
Jack Guerci, a UF first-year pharmacy graduate student, said he and other pharmacy students will help with health screenings. He’ll provide blood pressure and cholesterol testing.
“This could be crucial for individuals to learn something brand new in terms of their overall health status,” the 21-year-old said.
