2026 Hypertension & Wellness Days
This signature Ethnic Health Institute (EHI) event aims to educate diverse communities about the risks of high blood pressure and help them learn whether they are showing signs of hypertension — often called the “silent killer” because people can have it for years without symptoms — which can lead to serious health problems like heart attack and stroke. To learn about our impact last year, see the attached overview.
What: Blood pressure assessments & heart health/hypertension education for underserved communities.
Who: This event is open to SMU faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members, and licensed practitioners. This is an all-hands-on-deck event, we need all the support (clinical and non-clinical) we can get!
Where: Locations vary, please choose the site that works best for you via the sign-up link. We are pleased to be able to provide volunteer sites in Alameda, Hayward, Oakland, San Francisco, San Mateo, (Vallejo & Sacramento - TBA).
Two Types of Volunteer Opportunities:
In-Person Screenings: Feb 13, 15, and 22
Follow-up Calls: March 2-16
What: Volunteers to make follow-up calls to individuals screened by SMU students/faculty at Hypertension Sunday events to remind them to contact their PCP about their BP.
When: At your convenience, between March 2-16 (two weeks after screenings)
Where: flexible, from your phone (enter *69 to make it anonymous)
If interested, please sign up under “Follow Up Calls” on SignUp Genius (scroll to the end)
Pre-Volunteering Training:
Required pre-event training (in person): Wed, Jan. 28, 5-7pm at SMU’s Health Sciences Simulation Center in Oakland (recording will be available for those who are not local). You do not need to attend the training if you are only volunteering for the follow-up calls, just if you are volunteering for in-person activities.
Sign up to volunteer here by January 19!
Please contact Brianna Wells bwells@samuelmerritt.edu if you have any questions