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More than 400 grade school kids from the Clairton School District learned about asthma and healthy lifestyle choices during a series of fun activities on Friday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Clairton City School District’s Education Center.

Pictured are Pittsburgh Steeler Jesse James and fourth graders Chyna Stowers and Mary Janetka.

This was a collaborative effort of Duquesne University’s Mylan School of Pharmacy and the Department of Athletics, the Allegheny Health Network, the American Lung Association, Stay Positive Clairton and the Clairton School District.  It was sponsored by the Jefferson Regional Foundation.

“Our primary goal is to identify undiagnosed or uncontrolled disease, such as asthma, and to provide education and skills for asthma and cardiovascular disease control and prevention,” said Dr. Jennifer Elliott, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at Duquesne University, who is conducting the Surveillance of Asthma in our Region’s Schoolchildren (STARS) study in partnership with Dr. Deborah Gentile from the Allegheny Health Network.

Each grade was rotated through activities, which included various health screenings as part of the STARS study, sports skills conducted by Duquesne’s Athletic Director Dave Harper, Assistant Athletic Director Sherene Brantley, University athletes and strength and conditioning coaches, and health education games.

Duquesne University’s 55 student pharmacist volunteers ran eight different health education games, serve as team leaders, and assist with the health screenings. Clairton high school athletes and students shadowed the Duquesne athletes and pharmacy students so that they can help and make connections.

The event concluded with a visit from Pittsburgh Steeler side receiver Jesse James.

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