NJ DISCOVER: ON THE ROAD:  AT NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH DAY Warren County Community College Washington N.J.     By Calvin Schwartz   (video)  October 23, 2013

On Wednesday September 25^th NJ Discover journalists Tara-Jean Vitale and Calvin Schwartz hit the road,  departing  central New Jersey, under a clear blue autumn sky, to experience the third annual National Rural Health Day at the largest statewide activity to “Celebrate the Power of Rural.” This all-day event, supported entirely by volunteers, was held at the Washington campus of Warren County Community College. Free services (dental and medical screenings and services for the rural population of northwest Jersey) were available to all age groups.

Calvin Schwartz with Dr David Stein DDS.(Periodontist in East Brunswick)

Zufall Health Center, in cooperation with Delta Dental of New Jersey and Warren County Community College joined in putting together this integral program which screens patients for oral cancer, periodontal disease and cavities as well providing medical screenings for vision and glaucoma, blood pressure, weight and body mass index, asthma and blood sugar.

National Rural Health Day was created to showcase rural America and increase an awareness of rural health related issues such as difficulty in getting transportation to receive health care as well as a shortage of health care providers in rural areas. The Henry Schein Cares Foundation also supported this event. New Jersey is very much at the forefront of rural health. Tara-Jean Vitale noted on her first trip to this part of northwest Jersey. “It’s incredibly beautiful here but indeed surprisingly rural and pastoral.” I wanted to say “we’re not in Kansas,” to confront the stereotype that New Jersey is the Turnpike and Parkway; we’re quite rural as well.

NJ Discover reporters spent several hours interviewing key personnel involved in the event which ultimately would bring in several hundred patients. Enthusiasm of the volunteers as well as the patients was pervasive; it was quite special. Five hours later NJ Discover reporters were back in Monmouth County; a most inspiring day. Thanks to Dr. David Stein for lighting our awareness; Susan Cichowski, Michelle Blanchfield and Dr. Sam Wakim, all from Zufall Health Center, an integral part of rural health care in northwest Jersey; and to Roslyn Council, Program Specialist Coordinator, New Jersey Office of Rural Health.

Calvin Schwartz