Thousands of San Antonio-area students and families received free health and dental screenings, school supplies, wellness information and educational resources during the fifth annual Spurs Sports & Entertainment Back to School Bash, held Aug. 8 at the Frost Bank Center.
UT Health San Antonio participated in the event, which served as a “one-stop shop” for families preparing for the new school year.
Programs representing public health, dentistry, medicine, health professions, health promotion research and strategic enrollment collectively formed the largest presence among participating vendors.
Students preparing to enter kindergarten through 12th grade, their guardians and educators attended the event, organized by Spurs Sports & Entertainment in collaboration with local businesses, nonprofit organizations and school districts.
Health screenings and interactive education
Students from the School of Dentistry provided more than 250 dental screenings and performed over 445 oral health demonstrations. They also distributed more than 2,000 dental hygiene kits to children, helping families identify potential concerns and maintain healthy oral care routines at home.
“We came last year and decided to get here earlier this year,” said Angela C. who brought her three children. “We just had all our teeth checked with [UT Dentistry] and, luckily, no cavities.”
Three programs from the School of Health Professions offered screenings and interactive demonstrations as well. Students from the Physician Assistant Studies program conducted about 150 blood glucose and blood pressure checks each and over 200 body mass index screenings.
The Department of Physical Therapy demonstrated how ultrasound is used in patient care and shared movement and exercise tips. The Department of Respiratory Care used a pig lung demonstration to give families an up-close look at how the lungs function and introduce children to the work of respiratory care professionals.
Representatives from the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine’s Division of Diabetes provided nutrition information and giveaways promoting healthy habits. The university’s Institute for Health Promotion Research shared cancer education materials and information about care opportunities.
Supporting local families
The Kate Marmion School of Public Health distributed school supplies, including crayons, pencils, rulers and coloring books to attendees.
This year’s participation also expanded to include the division of Strategic Enrollment from UT San Antonio’s academic campus. Representatives shared undergraduate enrollment information and university-branded materials, giving families with older students an opportunity to learn about preparing for college.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to have the kids be aware of their health and make sure it’s a priority,” said Melissa Maldonado, who brought three of her children to the event. All three had their glucose checked by the university’s physician assistant students.
Maldonado said the event’s health screenings and health information were a draw for her, as she wants her children to learn about the importance of making good choices.