On April 20th, members of Brothers in Medicine volunteered at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Germantown, PA. The “Know Your Numbers”
health fair was specifically tailored for Black men in the community to stay up to
date with their health numbers.
“Brothers in Medicine's involvement stemmed from our ongoing collaboration with the Community Wellness Initiative (CWI) director, Flo Byarms, to identify community outreach opportunities,” said osteopathic medical student Owen McLeod (DO '26).
“When the event presented itself as another community engagement opportunity, we joined forces to support the initiative. This participation reflects our dedication to promoting health awareness and addressing healthcare disparities within our community,” he shared.
From blood pressure checks to PSA tests, attendees received comprehensive health services. Volunteers also focused on educating men about the higher risks of prostate cancer and peripheral vascular disease in the community.
The event wasn't just about health screenings. Participants were also offered access
to haircuts, an expungement clinic and panel discussions.
“A lot of men who came and saw us were able to feel more comfortable and also felt happy to see us in that space,” said Simon Ogunleye (DO '26). “It was inspiring for most of them and a great experience, as we were making a difference in getting men to take better care of their health.”
While Brothers in Medicine has many focuses, the community engagement piece remains an integral part of their mission.
“Our goal in coming together for events like this is two-fold,” said McLeod. “To develop our skills as future clinicians and to positively impact the narrative of medicine for the African American community.”
Ogunleye agreed, adding, “It is important to have this representation because the statistics show that representation matters. Being able to be in the community and speak to individuals who look like us about health issues helps move the needle forward, no matter how small it may be.”
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
© 2024 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine