School of Health Professions programs promote wellness during 2025 Spurs x Frost Back to School Bash

Most of the people walking past the Department of Respiratory Care’s pig lung demonstration at the Spurs x Frost Back to School Bash had one of two reactions — fascination or revulsion.

Designed to show the lung specimens being inflated via mechanical or manual ventilation, the demonstration was as part of a broader spotlight on respiratory health at one of several stations hosted by School of Health Professions programs at the back to school event. Several other schools and programs from UT Health San Antonio also participated in the event, held Aug. 10 at the Frost Bank Center.

Master of Physician Assistant Studies students Ale Ochoa and Fernando Cantu, who study at the program’s Laredo campus, traveled to San Antonio specifically to volunteer at the event. They and other students in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies measured Body Mass Index (BMI) and blood pressure for children and adults, conducted blood glucose screenings for adults and shared information on healthy lifestyle practices. Ochoa said she volunteered to apply some of what she has learned in the program and give back to the community.

“The kids are so interested,” Ochoa said during a break from measuring blood pressure. “They are asking, ‘What does this number mean?’”

Visitors to the Department of Respiratory Care station also had the chance to try on a vibrating vest designed for airway clearance and to see specimens that represented the lungs of a nonsmoker compared to a smoker. Assistant Professor Thomas Stokes Jr., MA, RRT, and respiratory care student volunteers also shared information on asthma inhalers and spacer devices.

“I think it’s really important for the community to get the opportunity to learn about respiratory health,” Stokes said. “To see my students interacting with them — that’s what I really love.”

Participating in the event was gratifying for Kaylan Forest, a master’s student and president of the Respiratory Care Class of 2026.

“The excitement and enthusiasm from not only the children but also the parents filled me with happiness and a deep sense of purpose,” she said. “My biggest takeaway from this event is the importance of continuing to show up and be a source of inspiration for the community.”

The Department of Occupational Therapy provided attendees with sensory activities, coloring pages, self-calming and self-energizing strategies and tips for managing backpack weight. 

“I like chatting with the kids and parents,” said Faith Cranfill, a second-year student in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, who said she hoped to raise awareness about how children can proactively take steps to regulate their emotions.

The free community event offered dental screenings, back-to-school supplies, wellness tips and other health resources to an estimated 4,000 school children, parents, caregivers and teachers who attended the event sponsored by San Antonio Spurs Sports & Entertainment and Frost Bank. UT Health San Antonio is the official sports medicine partner of the San Antonio Spurs.