UTHealth Houston students and clinicians deliver care to underserved Houston neighborhood

More than 100 patients visited the UT Physicians Multispecialty – Victory clinic for no-cost health screenings as part of the UTHealth Houston | Cares program. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

Student volunteers and clinicians from UTHealth Houston came together to deliver no-cost health screenings and resources to an underserved Houston neighborhood through the UTHealth Houston Cares Community Health Fair March 28 at the UT Physicians Multispecialty – Victory clinic.

UTHealth Houston | Cares is a student-led initiative in collaboration with UTHealth Houston’s seven schools to address health concerns of many Houston communities through community engagement.

“This event brings health care directly into the community in a way that is accessible, personal, and trusted,” said Latanya Sam, community practice manager for the clinic. “This is a community I’ve grown to love over the past 10 years, and events like this allow us to meet people where they are, build relationships, and connect them to resources that can truly improve their quality of life.”

Student volunteers from each of UTHealth Houston’s schools, and physicians and staff at the clinic, provided no-cost health screenings throughout the clinic. Attendees were provided dental and vision checks, blood glucose testing, vital signs measurements, and stroke risk exams.

“I grew up in a low-income family, so coming here and be able to see these families, perhaps from similar backgrounds, feels really rewarding for me to be able to give back and give them the knowledge and resources that would have helped me earlier,” said Anh Nguyen, co-director for the UTHealth Houston | Cares event and third-year medical student.

Families were also provided with a free bag of groceries as well as a UTHealth Houston giveaway bag, which included books, crayons, games, and more. Children also enjoyed a teddy bear clinic, where they received a free teddy bear while taking a hands-on approach to learning about health care with different activities like how to properly use a stethoscope.

“When it comes to reducing health disparities, access is a big deal. Just knowing that this place exists in the community is a big deal,” said Olayiwola Olutola, MD, family medicine staff physician at the clinic. “I’m pretty new to UTHealth Houston, and I chose to come here because I want to work with the underserved, and this community needs that kind of care.”

The event is the culmination of a year of planning by the student-led UTHealth Houston | Cares program, and a successful turnout was beneficial for both the patients and students. The clinic provided free care to more than 100 patients, 79 of which participated in an important carotid doppler screening.

“This event was an absolute success,” Sam said. “The turnout was amazing. We were able to engage with the community, provide valuable information, and connect individuals to care and services they may not have otherwise accessed. Seeing the turnout and the level of interaction showed just how much the community values these opportunities. Houston knows they can count on UT Physicians for quality care.”