Augusta, Ga. (Aug. 10, 2023) -- Piedmont Augusta was the featured healthcare partner at the Lucy Laney Museum of Black History’s much-anticipated annual Golden Blocks block party to help families prepare to go back to the classroom.
Piedmont Augusta’s Community Outreach Team provided health education and coaching, as well as plaque scans and blood draws for lipid profiles, to the more than 500 in attendance. They performed 63 plaque scans, of which 23 were positive for plaque. Of the lipid profiles performed, seven showed critical values and were referred to Piedmont Physicians Primary Care for follow-up.
Piedmont Heart Cardiologist Mac Bowman, M.D., made a presentation on the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, as well as the necessity of “knowing your numbers,” including your blood sugar, A1c, cholesterol and blood pressure readings. He also took the time to counsel individual health fair participants and answer their questions.
“Piedmont Augusta is proud to be a part of this event that brings much needed information and resources to the residents of this historic area less than a mile from our hospital,” Dr. Bowman explained. “The Piedmont promise is that we will always seek to make a positive difference in every life we touch. This event is a great opportunity to make a significant impact in our community.”
Piedmont Augusta is a longtime supporter of the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, named for Lucy Laney, who established the Lamar Hospital Training School at the former University Hospital, one of the South’s first nursing schools for African Americans, graduating its first class of nurses in 1896. The museum’s Golden Blocks Project refers to the name of the historic corridor of black-owned business and industry located on or near downtown Augusta’s Campbell and Gwinnett streets, since renamed James Brown and Laney-Walker boulevards. The event includes a walking tour and art show, and concludes with the back-to-school block party.
Piedmont interacted with more than 50 community partners at the block party, including Phi Eta Chi nursing sorority, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Project Refresh, Compass for Hope and GAP Ministries.