In honor of National Diabetes Month in November, the Community Engagement Core of the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) hosted two health fairs to support medically underserved communities in Los Angeles. Held in East Los Angeles and South Los Angeles, these events focused on addressing chronic diseases like diabetes, which disproportionately affect Black and Latino communities. They aimed to reduce health disparities and promote wellness in areas with the greatest need.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap in access to healthcare and resources for underserved communities,” said Nicole Wolfe, PhD, Co-Director of the CTSI Community Engagement Core. “Through events like these, we’re able to provide direct services, strengthen partnerships, and empower individuals to take control of their health.”

The Diabetes Health Fair and Town Hall took place at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Health Plans’ Community Resource Center in East Los Angeles on Saturday, November 9. This collaborative event brought together the Community Engagement Core, the Community Resource Center, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, and the USC Keck School of Medicine. Participants received free health screenings like glucose, cholesterol, body fat evaluations, and foot exams. Additionally, USC researchers promoted their study on chemicals in drinking water and organized a raffle to distribute water filters.

The event also featured a Spanish-language discussion about diabetes prevention and management led by Jeany Jun, PharmD, MPH, BCACP, APh, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Director of Collaboration and Community Outreach at USC Mann. Community members were encouraged to ask Jun questions about their health concerns and medications.

In addition, students from USC Mann and Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine provided services to over 90 community members, while preceptors and members of the CTSI Community Engagement Core assisted with translations for Spanish-speaking patients.

Dolores Mora, a community member who attended the screening, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to receive health screenings and have her health questions addressed.

“It’s important for us to prevent these illnesses, and besides, it gives an opportunity to young doctors and researchers to continue researching more, and for us to learn more from them,” Mora said. Her feedback reflects the meaningful connections and services these health fairs aim to provide.

To continue the outreach efforts, the Community Engagement Core hosted their Health Fair and Town Hall on November 14 at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles. The event was a collaborative effort between community partners, including the Community Resource Center, All of Us, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Kedren Health, the office of Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (District 8), Epiphany Counseling, and Irth. Each organization hosted informational booths to provide community members with details about their services.

The All of Us research program, funded by the National Institutes of Health, enrolled five community members during the event, providing them with information about the study and its mission to help researchers understand health conditions affecting millions of people across the United States.

Pastor Gary Bernard Williams shared his thoughts on the importance of hosting the health fair at the church.

“We live in an area where we don’t have as much access to health services, pharmacies, hospitals, and healthy food choices,” he explained. “I hope the community walks away with more knowledge on taking care of their health.”

Jerry P. Abraham, MD, MPH, CMQ, Director and Chief Vaccinologist at Kedren Health and Co-Director of CDU-Kedren Mobile Street Medicine, spoke to community members about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black and Latino communities, chronic diseases, and racial injustice within the healthcare system. He encouraged community members to advocate for their health needs.

“I really want people to have the information that they need. I really want them to be aware of the issues that are out there, whether it’s blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes,” Abraham said. “This is what it means to be in community and support one another. And if we really want to end health disparities, if we really want to achieve health equity and address racial and medical injustice, then this is what it looks like.”

These health fairs demonstrated the power of community partnerships in addressing health inequities and providing resources to medically underserved neighborhoods. By connecting residents with health screenings, research opportunities, and health education, the CTSI Community Engagement Core and its partners made a tangible impact on the well-being of East and South Los Angeles.