Des Moines University to Host Free Health Fair for Adults 50 and Older 

‘One-stop Shop’ for Health Screenings, Information and Fun

On Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, Des Moines University is hosting an informative event for adults aged 50 and older. 

The 50 and Better Health Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the DMU Clinic and Olsen Center, 3200 Grand Ave. The event promises a morning filled with valuable health screenings, education sessions and engaging activities.  

Participants can receive vision, balance and foot and ankle screenings by DMU’s graduate clinical students supervised by faculty. They can learn about managing high blood pressure through diet and nutrition, preserving cognitive health and mental well-being, recognizing signs of stroke and heart attack, and understanding breast and skin cancer risks. They also can enjoy osteopathic manual medicine treatments and reflex exams. 

Attendees also can get a flu shot and vaccine information from the Polk County Health Department, have their medications reviewed by Drake University pharmacy faculty and students and obtain information from organizations, including the Senior Health Insurance Information Program and the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority. From 11:30 a.m. to noon, participants can enjoy a performance by the DMU String Orchestra.  

Attendees do not need to register for this free event. No fasting is required for the screenings, and plenty of free parking is available onsite. 

Fairgoers will enjoy one more bonus. 

“The event will be fun,” says Matthew Mackarevich, a second-year student in DMU’s Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program and president of the DMU Geriatrics Club. “The fair is a one-stop shop for broad-based medical care and education.” 

Students in DMU’s Geriatrics Club organize the 50 and Better Health Fair, and more than a dozen other student clubs and external organizations will participate. The event is an excellent way for DMU students to learn, serve and interact with community members. A similar opportunity, which will be promoted at the fair, is the Geriatrics Club’s Connecting Older Adults to Students program, or COATS. The program connects older adults in Central Iowa with DMU students to learn from each other, explore relevant health topics and enjoy social interaction. 

“Building intergenerational relationships is important for COATS participants and students,” Mackarevich says. “We’re training to be health care professionals and part of that is learning to take care of the whole patient and learning about holistic care. Any activity that lets us interact with community members helps us get out of the microcosm of medical school.” 

“Social support and interaction are important for mental health,” adds Sabrina Chu, Geriatrics Club vice president and a second-year osteopathic student. “Older adults offer unexpected pockets of wisdom and different points of view, and they help us learn from their life experiences.” 

For more information about the 50 and Better Health Fair, call 515-271-1374 or email questions@dmu.edu.