Students in the Department of Health and Human Physiology offered hands-on health screenings, educational resources, and valuable wellness insights to university employees during a recent event.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Two students smiling and standing at a table representing the Health and Human Physiology department

By Kaylee Alivo

 

The University of Iowa’s annual LiveWell Health and Well-Being Fair, held on October 16 at the Field House, brought together employees from across campus to connect with health resources and support a culture of well-being. The fair featured 46 vendors, including the Department of Health and Human Physiology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Under the guidance of faculty members Kathy Mellen, Lucas Carr, and Lauren Steinke, students provided hands-on health screenings, offering more than 55 blood pressure checks, 75 lipid screenings, and 160 grip strength tests. 

Kathy Mellen, who is a professor of instruction in the department said each test served as a screening tool to help identify people who might need further health assessments. 

“Each [test] relates to overall health and well-being. Blood pressure is tied to factors like physical activity, sleep, and diet, while grip strength provides insights into musculoskeletal health,” Mellen explained.

A student administering a blood pressure screening to a fair attendee.

In addition to screenings, students in HHP:3820 Community Wellness Guided Practicum, partnered with Mellen’s HHP:4010 Behavioral and Clinical Health Assessment course to create educational materials to hand out at the fair. This collaboration allowed students to offer useful health tips and foster conversations with attendees about their health data. 

Lauren Steinke, assistant professor of instruction in the department, highlighted the significance of the event for the professional growth of students.

“For our students, events like the LiveWell Fair allow them to interact directly with the community and put their learning into practice,” Steinke said. “They gain experience in how to present health information clearly and effectively while seeing firsthand the positive impact of their work.” 

Additionally, Lucas Carr, associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in several HHP programs, emphasized the value of hands-on learning experiences. 

Two students administering grip strength tests to fair attendees.

“Promoting student growth, collaboration, and community are three of our department’s key values that align very well with this initiative,” Carr explained. “Promoting undergraduate student success is a key goal of our strategic plan. Within this goal, we strive to invest in high-impact practices that promote critical thinking, problem solving, knowledge, and perspective-taking. Experiential learning opportunities, like those at the fair, are examples of high-impact practices that foster these important professional skills.” 

HHP students also found the event to be a valuable learning experience, deepening their understanding of health communication and patient care.

“Overall, I found this experience extremely rewarding,” said Ellie Finley, a third-year health promotion and pre-dietetics student. “I enjoyed talking and interacting with the employees and think that this experience served as a test to applying the things I have learned in various other classes.” 

Another fourth-year health promotion student, Beza Mengistu, agreed and said, “I personally really enjoyed the health fair and testing individuals’ grip strength. I found it exciting to know the answers to their questions and to be able to apply the skills we have learned in class to real-life situations.”