The students of the American Medical Students Association (AMSA) and American University of Antigua (AUA) joined forces with longstanding partner Jaycees International (JCI Antigua) for the Health Fair held at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Perry Bay. Each semester, the AUA chapter of AMSA coordinates a well-attended health fair as a community outreach service to the Antiguan community. AUA medical students, along with volunteers representing Mount St. John’s Medical Centre, AIDS Secretariat Antigua, Breast Friends Inc., and other health care practitioners provided free health screenings, medical testing, and disease prevention education to well over 400 Antiguan and Barbudian citizens. 

The health fair is a collaborative effort between AUA students, medically licensed faculty, and staff who look forward to the health fair, which is a way of giving back to the local community. The health fair provides AUA students with direct patient-care experience, which is an essential component of their medical education. AUA faculty members from the Introduction to Clinical Medicine, Doctor-Patient Society and Emergency Medical Technicians programs, Dr. Naira Chobanyan, MD, PhD, and Sc.D (Doctor of Medical Sciences) Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine, Dr. Madeline Fraser, DGM, Associate Professor and Chair of Clinical Practice, and Mr. Vernon Solomon Emergency Medical Technicians Course Director played instrumental roles in organizing the health fair that offered free blood glucose testing, blood pressure reading, HIV screening, visual acuity measurement, and body mass index calculation to attendees. Each of these faculty members worked closely with AMSA and JCI to get the health fair up and running.

For the first time this year, the event was held over the course of two consecutive Saturdays at the Multi-Purpose Centre, with complimentary bus shuttle service provided by Lowger Business, making the event highly accessible to the community.

The Health Fair is gaining recognition among an increasing number of health-care organizations and civic groups, such as first-time participants: Global Deaf Connection, the Lions Club of Antigua, and the Rotary Club of Antigua.

There were many well-wishers and dignitaries on hand at the Health Fair, including AUA Provost and Interim Clinical Dean Dr. Seymour Schwartz, MD, FACS, Minister of Health, Sports and Youth Affairs the Honorable Minister Wilmoth Daniel, AUA Vice President for International Affairs and Dean of Library Services and Academic Support Dr. Majid Pathan, PhD, AUA Executive Dean – Antigua Campus and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jagbir Nagra, MD, and AUA Associate Dean of Students and Professor and Chair of Physiology Dr. Reza Sanii, PhD.