FAU/NCHA Community Health Center Supports Wellness Expo with Screenings and Information
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2025
Students and faculty from Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing joined clinicians from the Florida Atlantic University Northwest Community Health Alliance (FAU/NCHA) Community Health Center for the CommunityCare Health & Wellness Expo at the U.B. Kinsey Educational & Community Center on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Organized to promote access to preventive care and wellness resources, the Expo brought together community members, health care professionals and local leaders, including Palm Beach County Commissioner Bobby Powell Jr.
Nursing students, supervised by faculty including Dr. Beth King, Dr. Rose Haklits and Dr. Nancy Harris, staffed several stations throughout the event, offering blood pressure and vision screenings, mental health education and diabetes resources.
“The blood pressure screening station was a huge success,” said Dr. Haklits. “Those who were found to have elevated blood pressure and didn’t have a regular provider were referred to the Community Health Center for follow-up care.”
The station also provided educational posters with guidance on how regular checkups and lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, can impact blood pressure. After completing the screenings, student volunteers escorted attendees to additional stations to ensure they received a full overview of the clinic’s services.
“At the diabetes station, our student team recommended to six participants that they return for more tests and a discussion about their diet and lifestyle,” Dr. Harris added.
College of Nursing’s Dean Cameron Duncan, who joined the event, noted that community engagement is essential in the nursing profession.
“Events like the CommunityCare Health and Wellness Expo allow our nursing students to apply their knowledge in the communities they will serve as practicing nurses, while building meaningful connections with those individuals,” he said. “It’s an essential step in preparing our students for the complexities associated with treating patients in an evolving health care environment.”