ROAR: NIH Specialized Center of Excellence
Building Bridges from Lab to Community
Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a major changeable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A critical barrier to limiting premature death from CVD is a lack of awareness surrounding the risks of CVD.
The Rural Obese At Risk (ROAR) initiative aims to address these issues through:
Educational Outreach
- Educating healthcare professionals and the public about sex as a biological variable (SABV) in hypertension
- Developing educational resources from grade school to medical school
Community Outreach
- Increasing community awareness about CVD risks and uncontrolled hypertension in women
- Focusing on the rural South, which has the highest risk of death from hypertension
ROAR focuses on the states of Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
Educational Outreach
The Educational Outreach team consists of faculty and students with a passion for
health promotion.
Team members are available to attend education-based events to offer educational materials
such as pages, pins, handouts, and blood pressure checks. Mentorship and shadowing
opportunities are also available for high school students interested in medical pathways
and reserach.
Events That We Attend
- STEAM/Family Nights
- Building Parent Capacity Meetings
- Health and Wellness Fairs
- Parent-Teacher Nights
- Science fairs
- Sport Registration
- Other
Register an Event
Outreach Resources
Community Outreach
Mission
We will work with our communities to listen, learn, and together, work to share knowledge about high blood pressure, how to take care of ourselves, and how to share healthy heart habits with our families and friends.
Community Engagement
Listening Sessions with women and community partners in rural Georgia are being planned in the following communities:
Augusta
Athens
Savannah
Brunswick
Albany
Columbus
Rome
Dalton
We want to hear from you!
If you would like our educational outreach team to attend your event, please contact Dr. Brittany Pinkerton at bpinkerton@augusta.edu
If you are interested in hosting a session or participating, please contact Dr. Marlo Vernon at mvernon@augusta.edu