UIW Hosts Third Annual Heroes Health Fair

On Saturday, April 25, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) hosted the third annual Heroes Health Fair. Since 2023, this yearly event welcomes nonprofit organizations and families, specifically those of children with special needs, to gather on the Broadway campus. The fair intends to create a space where attendees can connect with community resources that provide valuable support, services and information based on the respective needs of diverse community members.

Members of the Future Healthcare Heroes of UIW, a student organization dedicated to providing pre-health students with hands-on experiences and opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the community, helped to organize the event. Jasmine Rojas, president of Future Healthcare Heroes of UIW and senior Health Sciences major, and her fellow student officers helped decorate the space, hosted tables and led fundraising and outreach efforts to generate strong community participation. Additionally, they coordinated fun and engaging activities for children to enjoy while parents learned more about the organizations and resources available to them.

"The continuation of the Heroes Health Fair highlights UIW's strong and ongoing commitment to service and community engagement," shared Rojas. "It shows that the University prioritizes long-term impact rather than one-time efforts. By hosting this event annually, UIW reinforces its Mission to serve others, improve community health and create meaningful opportunities for students to engage directly with the populations they hope to serve in their future careers."

Rojas recognizes that with the collective support of everyone involved in the fair a supportive environment was created for families, students and vendors.

Michelle Casares, UIW doctoral candidate in the Dreeben School of Education, had the opportunity to present her journey as a mother and researcher focused on how San Antonio families navigate the complex landscape of autism services. She hoped that by sharing her personal experiences and findings, that attendees would gain a sense of hope and be reminded of the incredible resilience parent voices carry.

"My goal was to show how the power of advocacy and community-based research can create real-world solutions for San Antonio families," expressed Casares. "Now, as I undertake my dissertation, I am witnessing the impact of this work. By bringing parents' stories to pre-health professional students, I am helping to create an exchange of knowledge. Transforming lived experience into educational insights allows us to see the human story behind the data."

It was a day filled with fun and inclusivity as UIW facilitated educational exchanges and supported various members of the University and San Antonio communities.

"I was most proud of the teamwork and dedication demonstrated by our members," said Rojas. "Seeing everyone coming together to plan and execute a successful event, while actively engaging with the community, was incredibly rewarding. It was inspiring to witness the impact we were able to make and the meaningful connections that were built throughout the day."