Ochsner and the Urban League of Louisiana team up for The Big Health Event – New Orleans

The Big Health Event will prioritize health and wellness for the entire local community

NEW ORLEANS - Ochsner Health and the Urban League of Louisiana are proud to announce the fifth annual Big Health Event, an experience that prioritizes health and well-being for the entire family, is coming again to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The comprehensive no cost event is open to the public and will be held in Hall J of the convention center on Saturday, August 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free parking will be available for attendees in Lot F and Lot G.

This celebration of health, wellness, and community will include health screenings and education, movement and fitness instruction, culinary demonstrations, expert panels, back-to-school giveaways, children’s zones with STEM adventures and kids’ activities.

The Big Health Event is being advanced by Ochsner and the Urban League to improve healthcare access and create better health outcomes among the greater New Orleans community, and across Louisiana. Together, Ochsner and the Urban League of Louisiana are committed to moving the needle and advancing a collective mission of building a healthier region for all.  

“Healthcare happens in hospitals, but health begins in healthy communities. The Big Health Event is an investment in both," said Yvens Laborde, MD, chief community medical officer, Ochsner Health. "By bringing together preventive screenings, health education, community resources, and trusted partners, we are helping create the conditions that allow individuals and families to thrive long before they need medical care. Together with the Urban League of Louisiana, we are building healthier communities because the path to better health outcomes begins where people live, learn, work, worship and play." 

One of the Urban League of Louisiana’s top priorities is to help ensure everyone has fair and equal access to health and wellness programs and opportunities, regardless of their background or where they live.

“We are proud to present The Big Health Event to the Louisiana community for the fifth consecutive year,” said Judy Reese Morse, president & CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana. “The Urban League of Louisiana believes in improving health outcomes and ensuring our community members have greater ability to access quality healthcare. We especially applaud our Ochsner Health partners for their unwavering commitment to prioritizing the communities they serve. Together, we can build a future where access and affordability are the norm for everyone. We are asking the community to bet on themselves and future generations by focusing on the health and wellness of their families.”

The Big Health Event will include:  

• Health screenings
  • Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes/glucose, cognitive testing, lung capacity, adult and pediatric vision, weight/BMI (body mass index) assessment, mammograms, dental, PSA (prostate-specific antigen), HIV/STI testing, scoliosis, take-home colorectal cancer testing kits, oral and skin cancer checks, pediatric motor development and hearing and student athlete physicals   
• Back-to-school giveaways  
• Health and wellness information  
• Candid conversations featuring health experts and community leaders 
• Healthy culinary demonstrations by top New Orleans chefs  
• Movement Zone with personal trainers and exercise instruction  
• Sports and STEM activities in the Ochsner Children’s Zone  
• Pediatrics, geriatric medicine and women and men’s health information and resources  
• A robust Career Development Center for entry level and advanced job seekers 

To help lift Louisiana in national health rankings, Ochsner and the Urban League of Louisiana are teaming up with dozens of partnering organizations to inspire healthier lives and stronger communities. Together, partners are enacting plans to reduce child poverty, smoking, obesity, low birth weights, cardiovascular and cancer deaths.  

Thank you to our sponsors and community partners: New Orleans & Company, RTA, WWL-TV, WDSU-TV, WGNO-TV, Lilly, Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM), Hancock Whitney, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, 504 HealthNet, Aetna Better Health, Dillard University/Eli Lilly Skin Health Initiative, Flourish Dermatology & Aesthetics, Humana, Inclusiv Care, Pfizer, Priority Healthcare, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., First Horizon Bank, Phenomune, Walgreens, EXCELth, St. Tammany Health System (Be Well Bus), DePaul Community Health Center, STEM NOLA, Sankofa CDC and VPG Enterprise.  

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About the Urban League of Louisiana 

Urban League of Louisiana’s mission is to build a Louisiana where Black and other people of the global majority have economic self-reliance, generational wealth, civil rights, and equitable representation. We envision a Louisiana in which a legacy of well-being and economic security passes from one generation to the next and where Black and other people of the global majority are living their full potential. To learn more, visit www.urbanleaguela.org.