(CHICAGO) — Free health services, including screenings, school physicals, immunizations and health counseling, will be administered to underserved Chicagoans at the eighth annual Rush University Medical Center Spring into Health and Fitness Fair on Saturday, March 31, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Instituto Health Science Career Academy, a high school in the Pilsen neighborhood at 2520 S. Western Ave. Registration closes at 12:30 p.m.

RU Caring, Rush University’s student-run organization, and Rush University Medical Center, collaborate with local sponsors to provide better access to health care for underserved communities from across the city of Chicago. Organizers hope to reach more than 1,000 people with services at the fair.

The Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair offers free physical health screenings, immunizations, dental and vision assessments and mental health services. Blood glucose, blood pressure and body mass index screenings are performed at the fair.

Rush students from a wide range of disciplines are participating, including medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, audiology, health systems management and clinical laboratory sciences. The students will work under the supervision of Rush attending physicians, nurse practitioners, professional nursing staff and faculty.

“The health fair is a great example of the community benefits Rush offers annually to people in need from the West Side and greater Chicago area,” said Sharon Gates, senior director of multicultural affairs and community outreach at Rush University. “With RU Caring, not only are our nursing and medical students getting hands-on leadership experience in the community, but they are witnessing firsthand the impact they can make as health professionals.”

Approximately one million people in the Chicago metropolitan area are living without health insurance. The Spring Into Health and Fitness Fair will provide much-needed care to this growing demographic.

Rush University was found 40 years ago in 1972 and has expanded from one college and fewer than 100 students to four colleges and more than 2,000 students. The University includes Rush Medical College, the College of Nursing, the College of Health Sciences and the Graduate College. Integrated within Rush University Medical Center, the University offers students more than 30 degree or certificate options in medicine, nursing, allied health and biomedical research.

For more information, contact Sharon Gates at (312) 942-3670 or visit www.rush.edu.