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Largest class yet graduates from Mini-Med School

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2006

A University of Maryland public health program targeting Latinos in Montgomery County graduated the largest class in its history in December.

Mini-Med School, a health education and disease prevention course, started at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore five years ago. With a plan to address health disparities across the state, the university spread the program to the Eastern Shore and rural communities in Western Maryland.

The next step was to develop a program in another language, said Claudia Baquet, an associate dean at the School of Medicine, so organizers decided to focus on Latinos.

The first Spanish version of the program, a collaborative effort between the county Latino Health Initiative and Montgomery College, was held at the Universities of Shady Grove in November and December. It graduated 270 people, the highest number of participants of any Mini-Med School program ever conducted.

The five-class program was offered free of charge.

More than 300 people showed up for the first night of class, filling the room to capacity, Baquet said. People were allowed to bring their children, who were entertained in another room with coloring books and movies. Potomac Deli and Whole Foods donated thousands of dollars in food to make sure that people, many coming right after work, had a full meal, she said.

Physicians and researchers from the School of Medicine conducted the classes, covering practical health tips and how to interpret medical news in the press. Organizers came up with topics they thought were significant for the Latino community, including diabetes, hepatitis B, obesity, drug and alcohol abuse, heart care and oral health, Baquet explained. They also got feedback from students on future topics they think the program should address, she said.

The key lesson the Rev. Luis Montes learned was about preventive care and how illnesses can be avoided, he said through an interpreter. Many people in the Latino community do not have any knowledge about the types of diseases that are attacking them, said Montes, of Gaithersburg.

The professors taught a class of people with a wide range of educational backgrounds in a simple way that all could understand, Montes said.

‘‘[The course] was well received and it should continue because our community is in desperate need of that education,” Montes said.

He plans to share the information with people who may not be able to attend classes like this, he said.

Montes said he was grateful to all the people, professors and doctors who helped bring Mini-Med School to the Latino community.

This program was a ‘‘big, big success,” Baquet said.