title: A health education program for underserved community youth led by health professions students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and implement a health fair and educational sessions for elementary school children led by health professions students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The structure and process were developed with elementary school administration to determine the health topics to be covered. Students and faculty members created a "hands-on," youth-oriented health fair and interactive health educational sessions. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on learning outcomes from the underserved child population and health professions students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The health fair and educational sessions increased awareness of underserved youth in the areas of critical health behaviors, purposeful education on health issues facing their community, and exposure to careers in various health professions. The activities provided meaningful learning experiences for the health professions students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health education program model is an excellent way to teach health education, communication and critical thinking skills, and service learning to health professions students.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, 2500 California Plaza, HLSB#175. Omaha, NE 68178, USA. kimbegley@creighton.edu
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Begley
authors.forename: Ann Ryan
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lust
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000458:organization & administration; D005178:Faculty; D006277:Health Fairs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017145:Models, Educational; D009329:Nebraska; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011361:Professional Competence; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations