Compassion in Action: 2026 Northern Virginia Community Health Service Day Empowers Underinsured Residents

Overview
The 2026 Northern Virginia Community Health Service Day successfully took place on October 17, 2026, at the Jim Scott Community Center. Marking its ninth year at this venue since its inception in 2015 (following a temporary pause from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), this annual event provides vital, free medical screenings and consultations to low-income residents and individuals lacking health insurance.

Collaborative Community Leadership
Co-hosted by the Chinese American Community Health Services (CACHS) and the Coordination Council of Chinese American Associations (CCCAA), the initiative serves as a crucial safety net for immigrant and minority groups facing systemic language and cultural barriers to preventative healthcare. The event was heavily supported by local organizations, including the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV), HBI, Walgreens, and Gilead Sciences. Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Director of the Fairfax County Health Department, personally attended to praise and encourage the medical volunteers and organizers.

Comprehensive On-Site Medical Services
Over 60 community members received free medical checkups during the seven-hour event. Leading the medical consultation team was CACHS Clinical Medical Advisor Dr. Benson Yu, alongside a robust contingent of licensed physicians, specialty doctors, registered nurses, and physician assistants specializing in internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, ophthalmology, and dentistry.

The extensive clinical services provided included:

• Pre-arranged laboratory blood tests processed by Quest Diagnostics
• On-site height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) evaluations
• Blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiograms (EKG), and hearing exams
• Eye examinations and bone density screenings
• Free influenza immunizations provided on-site by Walgreens
• One-on-one medical consultations and diagnostic reviews with licensed doctors

Dedicated Volunteer Support
The continuous success of the program relies entirely on months of rigorous advance preparation and the selfless execution of volunteers. Organizers and leaders—including CACHS Executive Director Dr. Ningping Feng, Deputy Director Dr. Min Li, Northern Virginia Project Director Xiaochun Lei, and co-founder Professor Yining Wang—coordinated the massive operational workflow. More than 50 volunteers, including biomedical researchers, software engineers, university professors, and students, worked seamlessly alongside one another. Notably, 89-year-old retired cardiovascular surgeon Professor Yining Wang utilized his deep clinical expertise to manage patient triaging, while the youngest volunteer, 10-year-old Youning Yang, dedicated his day to assisting with bone density examinations.

Looking Forward: Montgomery County Event
Building on the momentum of the Fairfax County event, CACHS and CCCAA announced that the second leg of their 2026 health campaign will take place in Montgomery County on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Sunshine Health & Center in Gaithersburg, MD. The upcoming event will scale up services further to include free hepatitis B screenings, insurance consultations, senior resource assistance, and a complimentary fresh food distribution drive for low-income local families.