9th Annual Palo Alto Community Health Fair
About this Event
This annual community event will feature doctors and health experts from Stanford Medicine & Sutter Health. They will lead presentations, workshops, and 1-on-1 conversations about this year's topics, Food As Medicine, Teen Mental Health, and Aging with Intent.
This event also features nonprofits from all over the Bay Area who will share wellness resources and healthy living tips, with fun craft opportunities for the whole family.
Check out our fun-filled agenda below, and register now!
Thank you to our sponsors: City of Palo Alto, Stanford Medicine, Sutter Health, Kiwanis of Palo Alto, and Palo Alto Weekly.
Main Stage
?: 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Opening Remarks: Healthy Palo Alto
Host: Mayor Vicki Veenker
?: 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Sponsor Introductions
Info: City of Palo Alto, Palo Alto Family YMCA, Sutter Health, Stanford Medicine, Palo Alto Weekly, Kiwanis of Palo Alto
?: 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Aging Well: Finding Joy, Purpose, and Health Along the Journey
Host: Peter H. Cheng, MD AGSF
Info: Dr. Peter H. Cheng has been a part of the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group family for 20
years. Dr. Cheng was instrumental in the establishment of the medical specialty of geriatric
medicine for PAMF in 2009. He currently serves as the Department Chair of Geriatric
Medicine in Palo Alto’s Guzik Center.
Dr. Cheng's presentation will offer an engaging and inspiring perspective on healthy aging. He will explore how purpose, social connection, movement, cognitive wellness, and focusing on what matters most can help individuals thrive throughout the aging journey.
?: 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Keeping Your Heart Healthy: Cardiac Disease Prevention & Recognizing Symptoms
Host: Amelia Claire Watkins, MD
Info: Dr. Amelia Claire Watkins is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford Medicine's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and a member of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. As a specialist in cardiac surgery, her presentation will explore how to improve heart health in order to reduce chances of needing cardiac surgery, as well as how to recognize symptoms before a cardiac event arises.
?: 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM
Hot Button Topics and Teen Mental Health
Host: Mira Zein, MD
Info: Dr. Mira Zein is a Clinical Associate Professor in Stanford's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences with a background in public health and global mental health. During her presentation, Dr. Zein will focus on the effects of digital media on teen mental health, including both social media and AI, given the positive and negative impacts of these technologies. She will also briefly explore concerns of suicide as seen in youth. (SENSITIVE CONTENT: Attendee discretion is advised.)
?: 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Q&A Session
Host: Peter H. Cheng, MD AGSF
?: 12:30 PM - 12:40 PM
Raffle (First Drawing)
Info: Grab a raffle ticket at the welcome desk on your way into the fair for a chance to win during the drawing! Prizes provided by event sponsors.
?: 12:40 PM - 12:55 PM
Nonprofit Open Mic
Info: Stop by to hear from our nonprofit vendors about the incredible work they are doing to support healthy living!
?: 12:55 PM - 01:10 PM
Lifestyle Medicine: Food for Health and Food As Medicine
Host: Ken Vereschagin, MD
Info: Dr. Ken Vereschagin spent 32 years as an educator and physician in private practice. He began his career in sports medicine and then began his practice in pediatric primary care and sports medicine consultations. While he recently retired from clinical practice, Dr. Vereschagin has an ongoing passion for teaching about disease prevention and health promotion invoking all the pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, with primary emphasis on healthy nutrition, which he will be focusing on during his presentation, representing Stanford's Lifestyle Medicine group.
?: 01:10 PM - 01:25 PM
Nutrition Across the Lifespan: How Food Supports Longevity at Every Life Stage
Host: Bree Phillips, MS, RD
Info: Bree Phillips, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian, nutrition consultant, and health writer
helping people navigate the intersection of nutrition science and everyday balanced eating.
Her clinical background includes chronic disease care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital
and eating disorder treatment at Children’s Wisconsin, with a focus on pediatric and young
women’s health. She now specializes in appetite regulation and nutrition for healthy aging
across the lifespan, helping clients redefine their relationship with food through actionable,
evidence-based strategies that support health goals without sacrificing satisfaction or joy.
?: 01:25 PM - 01:40 PM
Q&A Session
Host: Ken Vereschagin, MD
?: 01:40 PM - 01:50 PM
Raffle (Second Drawing)
Info: Grab a raffle ticket at the welcome desk on your way into the fair for a chance to win during the drawing! Prizes provided by event sponsors.
?: 01:50 PM - 02:00 PM
Closing Remarks: Appreciation to City, Sponsors, Exhibitors, & Volunteers
Host: Jade Chao (Palo Alto Family YMCA Event Co-Chair)
El Palo Alto Room
YMCA of Silicon Valley - InBody Scan
Info: Visit the YMCA of Silicon Valley's Community Health table and complete an InBody Scan for a body composition analysis. Participants may receive a tote bag upon completion.
Empathy Wall Project
Info: Leave a note of encouragement on the Empathy Wall art installation to uplift our community!
Ask the Doctor Sessions
Info: Community members will have the opportunity to converse with healthcare professionals 1-on-1 throughout the Health Fair in the El Palo Alto Room. Each professional will be available during a designated 30-minute window. Please view their windows below.
?: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Oksana Selavri, RN - Lifestyle Medicine, El Camino Health
?: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Ken Vereschagin, MD - Stanford Lifestyle Medicine
?: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Kelly Buckman, MD - Behavioral Health Innovation, Pediatrics, Sutter Health
?: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Mira Zein, MD - Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medicine
?: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Amelia Claire Watkins, MD - Cardiac Surgery, Stanford Medicine
?: 01:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Antoinette Rose, MD - Internal Medicine and Urgent Care, PAMF Group
?: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Amber Chan, NP — Neurosurgery, Stanford Medicine
Adobe Room
?: 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Palo Alto Family YMCA - Group Exercise: Gentle Yoga
Host: Tomoko Miyahara
Info: Start off your morning with a gentle yoga session that focuses on alignment, flexibility, and relaxation, offering a less strenuous workout than other styles of yoga. Friendly for beginners and older adults.
?: 12:15 PM - 01:00 PM
Palo Alto Fire Foundation - Hands Only CPR Training
Host: Palo Alto Fire Foundation
Info: Palo Alto Fire Foundation is partnering with the Palo Alto Fire Department to increase cardiac survival rates in the community. Join this interactive training workshop to learn how to perform hands only CPR and be equipped to save a life.
?: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Avenidas - Seize the Day: Proactive Planning Now for Peace of Mind Later
Host: Paula Wolfson, LCSW
Info: Paula Wolfson, LCSW is a career social worker with an expertise in health and geriatric social work services, currently working at Avenidas as a Clinical Consultant in the Social Work Department, Elder Care.
Since 2012, Paula has provided an array of inclusive, compassionate services to our local community: she is a public speaker, hosts a monthly Aging Wisely lecture series, facilitates multiple caregiver support groups, and consults with individuals, couples and their support teams needing resources.
Paula is an expert on advanced care planning, navigating complex health, legal and financial systems, managing dementia care challenges, cultivating resilience and stress management.
Matadero Room
?: 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Stanford Lifestyle Medicine - Live Well, Age Well
Host: Sally Duplantier, MS
Info: This workshop session led by Stanford Lifestyle Medicine will be split into 3 phases: Better Sleep Starts Before Bedtime (led by Sally Duplantier with support from Beth Mitnick-Rayman), Move with Purpose (led by Dr. Silvia Tee with support from Michelle Paw, RN), and Aging with Purpose and Joy (led by Diane Friedlaender with support from Beth Mitnick-Rayman).
?: 12:15 PM - 01:00 PM
Connecting w/Your Teen: Building Strong Relationships to Support Mental Health
Host: Vidya Krishnan, MD
Info: Dr. Vidya Krishnan is Chief Psychiatrist and Medical Director at Children’s Health Council (CHC), dedicated to helping children, teens, and families thrive through compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. She is a passionate advocate for reducing stigma, expanding access to services, and supporting the well-being of diverse communities across California. Adolescence can be a challenging time for both teens and their caregivers. This interactive workshop will provide practical strategies for strengthening communication, building trust, and fostering meaningful connections with teens. Participants will learn how supportive relationships can promote emotional well-being, recognize signs of mental health challenges, and create opportunities for open and productive conversations at home.
?: 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM
Sutter Health - Continuing the Journey: Practical Steps for Aging Well
Host: Jennifer Sampson, Patient Educator
Info: This workshop session will follow Dr. Peter Cheng's main stage presentation as an interactive opportunity to further explore healthy aging, led by Patient Educators Jennifer Sampson and Dio Hartmann. Dr. Cheng will be present during the workshop for additional clinical questions.
Family Activities
?: 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
Ride With Us! - Community Bike Ride
Info: Join us for a scenic, family-friendly group ride to kick off this year’s Health Fair! We’re starting bright and early at the East Palo Alto YMCA and taking a peaceful, low-traffic route through the Baylands all the way to the Mitchell Park Community Center. Whether you ride daily or haven't been on a bike in years, this route is flat, safe, and designed for riders of all ages and skill levels. https://maps.app.goo.gl/J2GXbJiDNuX3hyFK8 Preview the bike route here.
Stanford Medical Humanities and the Arts - Bookmark Stories
Info: Bookmark Stories is a community art project that invites people to share their immigration journeys, whether their own or their family’s, through a simple, powerful medium: a bookmark. By writing or drawing on a small piece of paper, participants capture moments of transition, memory, and identity. Visit their table to make a bookmark of your own.
Palo Alto Fire Department - Fire Truck Tour!
Info: Head out to the owl statues by the curb outside Ada's Cafe for a chance to tour the fire engine! Ideal for families with kids.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
