Miami Herald- September 16, 2007
Begone Cazalis, bcazalis@MiamiHerald.com

It happened at the Hialeah Health Fair, organized by medical students from the University of Miami.

Asegura's husband Orlando Gorra and her son Rafael also had free health screenings during the fair.

"This is the first time I've come to a health fair and it has been great because none of us have insurance and it is of great help to check for any dangerous illness," said Asegura, 57, a member of West Hialeah Baptist Church, 3195 W. Seventh Ave., where the fair took place on Sept. 8.

This was the first of eight health fair organized by the Department of Community Service at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for this year. Other communities that will receive the services include Little Haiti, Pompano Beach, Key West and Florida City.

"We were looking for a new location we had not offered our service before, and, after doing some research, we found out that Hialeah had a large population with high levels of poverty," said UM student Megha Garg, project manager of the Hialeah Health Fair. "We talked to Pastor Douglas Johnson from the church, and we found out that there were a lot of people without insurance in the area."

More than 150 students volunteered at the fair, registering people, taking their blood pressure, and drawing blood for tests.

The students also helped the 15 UM doctors who volunteered at the event.

More than 300 residents showed up for the many free tests that also included psychological screening, pap smears, diabetes screening, vision and glaucoma test, HIV test and dermatologic screening.

"Since we live in Florida, most people want to pass by the dermatologist and check their skin," said Sara Filmalter, a second-year medical student, who wants to specialize in sports medicine.

Mariana Gonzalez, 62, who came to undergo all the tests available, is one of those people who do not get to see a doctor often.

"This is great for people like me who do not have insurance," she said. "There are things you are supposed to check at least every two years, and I have not been checked in more than three years."

Darron Ramage, a second-year medical student, said he volunteered at the fair to help people who have no health insurance.

"For some students, this is about practicing; for me, it is about working close with the people and helping them on a one-to-one level," Ramage said. "I think there is a monstrous gap on the part of the government because there are too many people without insurance. I guess I cannot change that because I am not a politician, but I try to help fix that gap by volunteering as much as I can."

Members of West Hialeah Baptist Church also played a role in the fair.

They included music director Javier Perez, 30, who helped residents register.

"I am an active part of this church and we are always trying to help the community in some way or another and this has been an opportunity to really help the people," Perez said.

"Almost everybody from the church is volunteering today at the fair."

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