Valley Presbyterian Hospital Hosts Health & Wellness Community Fair

Valley Presbyterian Hospital (VPH) will host its free annual Health & Wellness Community Fair on Saturday, Oct. 13 between 10 AM and 2 PM. The fair will be held at the Hospital, located at 15107 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys, Calif. The fair will offer a variety of free health screenings, including blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), carotid artery, cholesterol, and foot health. Free flu shots will be administered to those who are eligible. Physicians and other medical experts will give live presentations, including Joshua Rokaw, MD, on diabetes awareness, and Brian J. Ostick, MD, on stroke awareness. Attendees may visit information booths to learn more about VPH services and receive health and wellness resources. “Providing wellness education, screenings, and resources to the communities we serve is aligned with our mission of improving the quality of health in the San Fernando Valley,” said Lori Cardle, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. “Our annual health fair enables us to interact with our neighbors beyond our hospital walls, and focus on disease prevention and awareness, which is vital to the improvement of health in the Valley region.”The event will feature fun activities for children, including an arts and crafts station, a treasure hunt, and a “Teddy Bear Clinic” led by certified pediatric nurses and child life specialists. The Teddy Bear Clinic is designed to familiarize young children with hospital settings and procedures. Children choose a teddy bear and take it to a series of medical stations, where the bears receive mock check-ups, bandages and temperature checks.The fair also will include live cooking demonstrations led by Hospital chef, Gabriela Perez Martinez, and registered dieticians will be on hand to provide information on food and nutrition. Attendees will even be able to extend the community fair experience into their homes by visiting the “Farmer’s Market” on-site and selecting a fruit or vegetable to take home, where they may incorporate the produce into an upcoming meal.Healthy BBQ food and a steel drum band will round out the day’s festivities. Parking is available at the hospital’s Noble Street parking structure, or next to the hospital at 15211 Vanowen Street, in the Campus parking structure.