Free Health Screening at
Freedom Weekend IV Health Expo
Black Men's Health Public Forum, Plastic Surgery and Sexy Specs 

Detroit, MI -- March 21, 2005 -- Metro Detroiters are invited to a rare opportunity to receive free medical screenings and critical health care information during Freedom Weekend IV’s Health Expo, Saturday April 30, 2005 at Cobo Center, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  The Expo includes free health screenings for diabetes, hypertension, blood pressure, and cholesterol; cancer kits, eye care exams, and vouchers for free cervical and breast exams will also be offered; free health education workshops on weight management, diabetes management, depression and anxiety, and sexually transmitted diseases. 

Sinai-Grace Hospital is the sponsor of Freedom Weekend’s Black Men's Health Public Forum on Thursday, April 28, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Dr. Conrad C. Maitland, MD, Chief of Urology at Sinai-Grace, a presenter at the Forum, will discuss prostate cancer and the health challenges related to the disease.  Dr. Maitland is well recognized as an authority and outspoken advocate on this disease. Conrad Mallet, Jr., president of   Sinai-Grace Hospital will also participate on the panel.  Registration is required to attend the forum.

Kassandra McGehee, a member of the Black Medical Student Association, is enthusiastic about the Freedom Weekend IV Health Expo, “I just want to encourage people to come to the event. Last year we had 2,000 people who participated and they were so excited to find out they could get free screenings and consultations. This is an opportunity to be seen by trained physicians and address medical concerns.”  McGehee will be one of 30 fourth-year medical students from Wayne State University donating their time.

McGehee is specializing in family medicine and will complete her medical studies at Wayne State University Medical School in June, 2005.  The Black Medical Student Association is affiliated with the National Medical Student Association. The 40-year old Association’s goal is to support minority medical students and to increase the number of minority physicians, while addressing the health disparities within the African American Community.

Maryann Lee, executive director of the Freedom Institute, said the Health Expo and the Forum fill a critical need. “We know that access to healthcare is a critical issue for our community. African Americans are subject to a number of chronic diseases that disproportionately impact our longevity. At the same time, we are far more likely to be uninsured or underinsured.”

This year’s Health Expo also features a free 5K health walk or run. Runners and walkers will assemble in front of Cobo Center at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2005. Lee said the run/walk is an attempt to get African Americans to become more active and adopt a regular exercise routine.

Lee said they expect to have about 30 booths from major pharmaceutical and health care companies.  Information about low cost prescription drugs and health insurance programs will be shared.  New to this year’s Health Expo is Sinai-Grace’s plastic surgery program. Free facials and certificates will be provided by the hospital at the expo. Richard Golden of D.O.C Optics Corporation will also be on site on the 30^th   displaying D.O.C’s Sexy Specs. Golden is the Corporate Chair for Freedom Weekend IV.  The Health Expo runs from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 

The Freedom Institute is a 501(c) 3 non-profit African American think tank that brings together public policy makers and activists from around the country to educate the public about issues that impact the health, education, and welfare of African Americans and to make policy recommendations about those issues. 
 
The event is open to the public, for more information phone 313-533-5053 or log onto www.freeinst.org. 

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