For more information contact: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Marketing and Communications (937) 775-2951

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2008

Wright State Medical Students will “Get You Connected” during
National Cover the Uninsured Week – April 27-May 3

Dayton, Ohio—Medical students from Wright State’s Boonshoft School of Medicine will help connect local people in need with providers who assist the un-or-underinsured at the “Get Connected” Health Care Forum on Saturday, May 3, from noon – 4 p.m. at the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center, 444 West Third Street, Dayton.

Dayton's Mayor, Rhine McLin, has officially declared April 27-May 3, "Cover The Uninsured Week."

Medical students along with representatives from area clinics, government agencies, and community-based organizations will help people get connected to organizations and services available for those in need. The free event is open to everyone. (Download and print an event flyer.)

“I believe, as part of the future generation of physicians and leaders, it is important as medical students to educate ourselves on current injustices in our healthcare system and to advocate for those whom we will serve,” says first-year medical student, Sandeep Palakodeti, co-organizer for the event. “In our view, allowing 70,000 of our friends and neighbors (in Montgomery County alone) to go without access to basic healthcare is a problem we want to help rectify. It is also our hope that the community-at-large will join us to help raise awareness on healthcare disparities and help encourage practical, meaningful solutions.”

The “Get Connected” Health Care Forum will include representatives from the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, CareSource, Community Health Advocates from the Center for Healthy Communities, Dayton Area Diabetics Association (DADA), Dayton Dietetic Association, House of Bread, Bureau for Mentally Handicapped Children, Miami Valley Hospital, Planned Parenthood, Premier Health Partners, Samaritan Homeless Clinic, Unified Health Solutions, Wright State medical students, the YMCA, and more. Kroger has generously donated $10 gift cards that will be raffled off to participants during the event!

For more information, contact Sandeep Palakodeti at (937) 545-6731 or by e-mail: daytonctuw@gmail.com

Facts on the Uninsured (PDF)

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