PECaD recently held two of its annual community events, Smart Health: A Cancer Prevention Community Education Day. On May 28, we hosted the 3rd community education day in St. Louis at the William L. Clay Early Childhood Development and Parenting Education Center (on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University). On June 4, PECaD partnered with Touchette Regional Hospital and East Side Health District to host the 2nd community education day in East St. Louis, Ill. The day featured a panel discussion including cancer survivors and caregivers for people who had cancer.
Smart Health was created to provide community partners with deeper learning opportunities pertaining to cancer prevention and research, to use as a platform to report back on research results, and to educate individuals and families about research and its relevance. These events are designed to deliver intensive small group and one-on-one health education through small interactive workshops over the course of four hours. The workshop topics are jointly determined between community partners and PECaD’s community health educator.
2016’s Smart Health events included several 30- to 45-minute break out sessions:
• 8 ways to Prevent Cancer
• Breast, Colon & Prostate Cancer
• Exercise & Nutrition
• Cancer Survivorship
• Protecting Yourself from STDs & Cervical Cancer
• Understanding Research
• Patient Navigation and its History
What was most exciting was that attendees had the opportunity to talk informally with doctors and facilitators over the “Meet the Expert” lunch. This provided a more intimate and comfortable environment for participants to ask questions that might not have been asked in an open setting. We look forward to continuing the Smart Health Events in 2017. Keep an eye out for announcements next spring!
PECaD would like to thank our partners, Touchette Regional Hospital and East Side Health District, and presenters, Drs. Jean Wang, Elizabeth Odom, Arnold Bullock, Heidi Miller, Vetta Sanders Thompson, along with ShaNeco Tori Fennoy, Linda Joiner, Elizabeth Patton-Whiteside, and the St. Louis Patient Advisory Board. We thank all of the community members who attended these very informative events. The collaboration among these individuals made these events a big success!