Health Expo expected to Draw Students from throughout the Gulf States
(Baton Rouge) "The Hip Hop Healthy Coalition in conjunction with the American Heart Association and Citadel Broadcasting is sponsoring the "Hoopin' for Health: Back to School Health Fair" designed to educate and raise awareness among high school, college-aged students, and adults on Heart disease and Stroke. The event will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2007 at Capitol Middle School in Baton Rouge, LA. Anticipated to be the largest back to school gathering in the Gulf States,
Hoopin' for Health was conceived by Hip Hop Healthy Coalition founder and Ambassador for the American Heart Association Dr Rani Whitfield aka tha Hip Hop Doc and popular Citadel broadcasting radio personality and Ambassador for the American Heart Association, LaTangela Sherman. The day-long activity will feature celebrity coaches and professional athletes who will challenge returning students on relevant health issues. The health fair will end with a celebrity basketball game, skills challenge, and halftime show including Dr. Whitfield, local businessmen, and celebrities. The two teams will be coached by some of the LSU women’s final four participants. In addition to the Hip Hop Healthy Coalition, the American Heart Association, Citadel Broadcasting, Coca-Cola, City Café, La View Magazine, and General Motors are sponsors for this year’s event, which is among the many regional activities conducted annually by the Hip Hop Healthy Coalition.
The Health Fair ends on the 18th, however, tha Hip Hop Doc keeps busy as a featured panelist for a discussion on African American women and HIV/AIDS sponsored by Baton Rouge Mayor Melvin “Kip†Holden’s HIV/AIDS Task Force. The BET Rap-It-Up crew will cover this event, which will provide a platform on this urgent problem facing African American women in the Gulf region. “I am tired of seeing people die from diseases that are preventable so increasing awareness and educating people about HIV/AIDS is extremely important to me, says Dr. Whitfield.” The event is scheduled to take place beginning at 5:30pm on August 21st, at the Baton Rouge River Center.
Dr. Whitfield will end his busy month by filming an upcoming BET show about sexual health and urban American youth. Set in Miami the show will test groups of young people (also in LA and NYC) about a variety of sexual health issues, particularly HIV/AIDS. As the medical expert for the show, Dr Whitfield will set the record straight; explaining answers on this important show that delves into the sexual behavior of young black America. Kaiser Permanente along with BET and the Rap-It-Up campaignare sponsors for the show that will air this fall on BET.
For more information on all these events and some of Dr. Whitfield’s other activities, please visit his web site at www.h2doc.com.
About Dr. Rani Whitfield
Dr. Whitfield is a graduate of Southern University & A&M College and the Meharry Medical College, He is an active member of the American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP); American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM); American Medical Society of Sports Medicine (AMSSM); Louisiana State Medical Association (LSMA); and East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society (EBRPMS). He is a board member of the Louisiana Governor's Council for Physical Fitness and Sports, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden's HIV/AIDS Task Force, the Baton Rouge General Hospital Ethics Committee, Louisiana Medicare Clinical Advisory Board, and is a board member of the American Heart Association.
About Hip Hop Healthy Coalition
The Hip Hop Healthy Coalition is dedicated to promoting positive health messages to young people. It grants supports to programs that integrate the health industry with Hip Hop culture. The Hip Hop Healthy Coalition also operates programs in under-served communities that provide forums for young people to address important health issues.
It is a non-profit, volunteer served, public charity founded in 2005 by Baton Rouge physician Rani Whitfield M.D., who serves as president andchairperson. They provide programs to charities tying to address health disparities among youth. Among its affiliates are the American Heart Association.
For more information on future projects from Dr. Whitfield please visit
www.h2doc.com.
For media opportunities contact the Robertson Treatment at 310-927-3378.
