Not only will , but costume shop will also once again sponsor two categories in the Textile Division of the fair competition. The shop has been doing this for more than a decade under the leadership of Melissa Shepherd, costume shop coordinator and adjunct professor. ��

The textile competition features participants from all over the state, including UofL students. In the past, Shepherd has required that students participate in a category that she doesn’t judge.

“When we did that, we had a very successful year. The costume shop was fully represented and every student won something in their category,” she said.

Students who participate are able to keep their projects for their graduate school portfolios.

Not only has this involvement been a benefit for UofL students, it has also worked as a nice

recruitment tool, Shepherd said.

“We always get submissions from all over the state, so this is a good way for us to see what specific talent is out there that would fit UofL,” Shepherd said.

Shepherd’s supervisor, resident costume designer Zhanna Goldentul, has supported the project every year it has been a part of the Theatre Department.

In addition to managing the costume shop and serving as an adjunct faculty member, Shepherd also serves as the costume designer for the traveling . She is also one of the directors of the Rep Company, working with existing scripts or devising original work to take into local elementary schools throughout the year.

When not at UofL, Shepherd works as a performer for local theater groups, including Stage One Children’s Theater and Center Stage at the JCC. She is a graduate of UofL’s Theatre Arts Department, earning an MFA in Performance in 2001.

Some services require that participants meet certain criteria; staff in the booth can provide information.

Daily services

University of Louisville health care providers will be on-site in the Health Horizons Pavilion at the Kentucky State Fair, and three programs will be offering services each day:

• Mammogram screenings: Providers affiliated with the UofL James Graham Brown Cancer Center and Kentucky Cancer Program will provide mammograms. All screenings will take place in the privacy of the Horses and Hope Cancer Screening Van. Mammogram screenings will be billed to insurance, so participants should have their health insurance verification and photo identification handy. Yearly mammograms are covered by Medicare and most private insurance providers for women over 40. Special discounted rates are available to those without insurance.
• Vascular screenings, including carotid artery screen and ankle brachial index, will be provided daily at the fair, Aug. 17-27. A carotid artery screen is ideal for anyone with dizziness, ringing in the ears or anyone with a family history of carotid artery disease. It also is indicated for smokers and people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes or for anyone who is over the age of 50. The test is administered by a registered technologist and uses ultrasound technology.��
• ����ֱ��, prevention and survivorship information from the Kentucky Cancer Program: The Kentucky Cancer Program is a statewide cancer prevention and control program, bringing together local organizations, providers and other partners in planning, implementing and evaluating cancer prevention and control efforts. The KCP staff and volunteers will be on-site providing information and giveaways to fair-goers with the goal of reducing cancer incidence and cancer death in Kentucky.

Women’s health

Staff from UofL Hospital’s��Center for Women & Infants��and��UofL Physicians-Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health��will be on hand at the fair to help women of all ages. The Center for Women & Infants specializes in both high-risk obstetrics and general maternity services and gives expectant families their choice of care from board-certified obstetricians and certified nurse midwives who practice with UofL Physicians-Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health.

At the fair, staff will be on hand to discuss urogynecology with providers from the Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery practices, fertility specialists in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, the certified nurse midwifery program, family planning services, and our newest offering – Centering Prenatal Care.��

Emergency care, training

The UofL Hospital Level I Trauma Center and the Burn Unit will also both provide a variety of services at the fair.

The��Trauma Center��is the region’s only Level I trauma unit. Staff will train fair-goers to “Stop the Bleed” on Aug. 18. This innovative program uses a lifelike replica of the human thigh – complete with faux blood – to train participants in handling bleeds from wounds at the scene where they occur. On Aug. 22, the Trauma Center will participate in Senior Day at the Fair, and feature a walk-through demonstration to help older adults identify potential hazards, help prevent falls and improve balance. The Trauma Center staff will return on Aug. 26, with more trauma prevention activities.

The UofL��Burn Unit��is the region’s only dedicated adult burn unit and will provide safety information and activities for the entire family. Burn Unit personnel will be at the fair on Aug. 23.

Senior Day

Senior Day at the Fair will feature two programs that will only be available to fair-goers on that date, Tuesday, Aug. 22:

• UofL Hospital Pharmacists��will share information of interest to older adults, including diabetes, vaccinations, pharmacy services at UofL facilities and more. They also will be available to answer questions one-on-one with fair-goers about their medications and treatments.
• UofL Hospital Volunteers��will be at the fair to provide information on how fair-goers can serve others as a hospital volunteer. A wide array of service opportunities are available each year, from greeting guests to clerical service and more.

Also on Senior Day, the UofL booth will provide mammogram screenings, vascular screenings, colon cancer screenings, blood pressure checks, stroke assessments, women’s health information and a walk-through demonstration for older adults to help them avoid falls.

Specialty screenings

Several specialty services will be provided by UofL staff at the fair:

• UofL Physicians-Pediatrics��will be at the fair Aug. 19, offering vision and blood pressure screenings and a child safety demonstration.��
• UofL Physicians-Diabetes & Obesity Center��will be at the fair Aug. 23, providing screenings for prediabetes and diabetes. The screening requires a finger stick and the participant does not have to be fasting.
• UofL Hospital Infection Control��will be at the fair Aug. 24, with information on the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of disease. The staff also will show fair-goers the benefits of getting annual flu vaccinations and provide information on when antibiotics should be used and when they should not.
• Carbon monoxide screening��will be available during the final four days of the fair, Aug. 24 through Aug 27. The carbon monoxide breath test shows the amount of carbon monoxide in the lungs and blood in an indirect, non-invasive manner. Breath carbon monoxide also is an indicator of the levels of approximately 7,000 toxic substances present in cigarette smoke, 69 of which are known to cause cancer. Participants will blow into a small handheld device for several seconds.

Cancer screenings and more��

Staff with UofL’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center, the Kentucky Cancer Program and the UofL School of Dentistry will be on hand to provide information, screenings and more. In addition to the aforementioned mammogram and vascular screenings:

• Head and neck cancer screenings: Provided Aug. 19 and 20, Aug. 22, Aug. 26 and Aug. 27, the UofL School of Dentistry and the Kentucky Cancer Program will observe the 25^th��anniversary of their collaboration in providing head and neck assessments at the fair. Dental students and faculty have conducted more than 3,800 screenings since the collaboration began. This oral head and neck exam is painless and quick, and open to everyone. Participants wearing dentures will be asked to remove them during the 10-minute exam.
• Prostate cancer screenings: Provided Aug. 19 and Aug. 20. Prostate screenings are recommended for men with average risk starting at age 50. African-American men and anyone with a brother, father or son who had prostate cancer before age 65 should begin getting screened for prostate cancer at age 45. Testing will involve a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test that involves taking a small amount of blood. A digital rectal exam also will be performed in the privacy of the Horses and Hope Cancer Screening Van to feel for any lumps, bumps or other abnormalities. The results of the PSA will be mailed about two weeks after the fair ends. The entire testing process takes approximately 20 minutes.
• Colon cancer screenings: Provided Aug. 21 through Aug. 27. Colon cancer screenings with FIT kits are available to anyone over 50 who has not had a colonoscopy within the past 10 years or a stool test in the past year. A free take-home kit will be available for men and women 50 and older and to younger participants who are cancer survivors or have a history of cancer in close relatives. The participant will complete stool collection at home and then mail it to UofL Hospital in special packaging provided.
• Cancer resources and Reiki demonstration from the M. Krista Loyd Resource Center��at the Brown Cancer Center: Provided Aug. 24. The Krista Loyd Center provides a peaceful environment for patients with cancer to learn, relax and heal emotionally. One service provided is the Japanese technique of Reiki for stress reduction and healing promotion. Personnel from the Loyd Center will demonstrate the technique.
• Stroke risk assessments and blood pressure screening:��Provided Aug. 22 and Aug. 26. The UofL Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center was the first certified stroke center in Kentucky. Staff will provide free stroke risk assessment and blood pressure checks to fair-goers.

For the 24^th consecutive year, the will offer free head and neck assessments in partnership with the .

Kentucky has a high incidence of oral disease, which includes tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer. Lee Mayer, DMD, UofL School of Dentistry associate professor and director of community dental health, recommends regular checkups by a dental health professional for early detection and treatment.

The School of Dentistry will perform the assessments on the following dates and times:

• Aug. 20: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Aug. 21: 9:30-12:30 p.m.
• Aug. 23: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Aug. 27: 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Aug. 28: 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

To thank those who have served in the United States military, the School of Dentistry also will be on hand to schedule veterans for a free oral exam and panoramic x-ray at the school’s main location, 501 S. Preston St. Veterans can make an appointment for this special offer on Aug. 21 and 28 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

In the same section of the South Wing, the UofL Center for Women and Infants will offer giveaways, with representatives who can talk with those interested about their comprehensive services including tub labor, family-centered C-section, self-administered nitrous oxide for pain during labor, and certified nurse midwife services.��