CHSU-COM Student Groups Collaborate at MiMentor’s Community Health Fair

Written by Aicha Naouai (Class of 2027)

On February 8, 2025, three California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine student organizations – Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC), Valley Reach, and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) – collaborated at MiMentor’s Community Health Fair in Visalia, CA. MiMentor is an organization dedicated to supporting individuals pursuing healthcare careers through mentorship and access to pre-medical resources, with the mission of empowering them to serve and uplift underserved communities.

This free event provided the community with preventative healthcare services including flu vaccines, dental screenings, and health check-ups. Additionally, attendees received health education, housing assistance resources, clothes, and food. In addition to providing aid to those in need, the health fair permitted future healthcare providers to engage with resource-limited communities to become inspired to dedicate their careers to serving these populations.

OPC provided harm reduction resources including naloxone and fentanyl testing strips following a demonstration on how to use them. Valley Reach educated participants on the importance of staying up to date on their vaccinations and how to protect themselves against Avian influenza (Bird Flu). The week before the health fair, ACOFP organized a clothing and food drive at CHSU-COM for students, faculty, and staff to donate items, which were brought to the fair for attendees to freely take anything they needed. While providing healthcare resources to underserved communities is crucial, it is equally important to address their basic needs and ensure they have access to essential items.

Alongside CHSU-COM’s OPC, Valley Reach, and ACOFP, MiMentor is planning to make their Community Health Fair a recurring event to bring essential services and support to the Central Valley.