Fourth Annual Senior Black American Health Fair Returns to Pennington Biomedical Saturday, April 12

Open to all, the event will feature health screenings and educational speakers focusing on health topics for which African Americans are more susceptible

Pennington Biomedical Research Center is gearing up to host the 4th annual Senior Black American Health Fair. Open to all residents in the Greater Baton Rouge region and beyond, the health fair will take place on Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the C.B. Pennington Jr. Conference Center Building, located at 6400 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge. The schedule for the day is filled with engaging activities, and participants are encouraged to dress in comfortable activewear.

In an effort to get participants moving and stretching, the activities taking place will include line dancing, virtual reality exercise, cornhole and horseshoes, Bingo, and a designated stretch zone. To participate, register online on the Pennington Biomedical website.

"We're excited to once again host the Senior Black American Health Fair to connect seniors with engaging and beneficial health information and to provide free screenings," said Dr. Robert L. Newton Jr., professor and Director of Pennington Biomedical's Preventive Behavioral Medicine lab. "There is never a wrong time to learn more about your health, and this health fair is intended to provide a range of important health information and opportunities, while encouraging movement and fun."

In addition to physical activities, the fair will also feature screenings, including glucose, blood pressure, stroke assessment, cholesterol, BMI and memory. For blood glucose screenings, fasting is not required, but eating or drinking in the nine to 12 hours prior to the test could affect the accuracy of test results. Several vaccines will also be available for interested participants.

"The Senior Black American Health Fair is a unique event with limitless health resources," said Reggie King, a Baton Rouge resident who participated in the event in 2024. "Last year, I was able to be adjusted by professional stretching practitioners. This year I'm looking forward to hearing from the panel of health experts."

This year, Southern University is supporting the health fair with a visit from the "Jag Mobile"—a "clinic on wheels" developed to provide health outreach services to medically underserved, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach populations in the Greater Baton Rouge region. Staffed by students in the Southern University College of Nursing and Allied Health, the wheelchair accessible mobile health clinic is equipped with two examination rooms, designed to accommodate children and adult populations.

"The Southern University College of Nursing and Allied Health is honored to support the 4th annual Senior Black American Health Fair by bringing the Jag Mobile directly to the community," said Marlin L. Hollins, Director of Advancement for Southern University's College of Nursing and Allied Health. "Our mobile unit reflects our commitment to expanding access to care and empowering individuals—especially seniors and Black/African American communities—with the tools they need for healthier living. Events like this align perfectly with our mission to promote wellness, education, and equity through hands-on engagement and culturally responsive care."

The fair will also feature a panel of experts to discuss healthy aging, consisting of Christina Ashley Patterson, DO; Amanda Perron, LDN; and Joshua Rai Clark, MD, of Our Lady of the Lake Health; Owen Carmichael, Ph.D., of Pennington Biomedical; and Lance C. LaMotte, MD, of Baton Rouge General.

"On behalf of the entire team at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, I'm delighted to welcome the Baton Rouge Community to the Senior Black American Health Fair," said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. "Our mission is to identify the triggers of metabolic diseases and share our findings globally, with special emphasis on our local community here in Baton Rouge. We warmly invite everyone to join us on campus for this wonderful event."

The health fair is being made possible this year with the help of local sponsors, including presenting sponsor Our Lady of the Lake Health, gold sponsors Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana, silver sponsors CareSouth and Human, and in-kind sponsors LabCorp, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Varsity Sports and Southern University School of Nursing and Allied Health.

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Pennington Biomedical has the vision to lead the world in promoting metabolic health and eliminating metabolic disease through scientific discoveries that create solutions from cells to society. The center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus in the LSU System.

The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 600 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a globally recognized state-of-the-art research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu.

Provided by Louisiana State University