CALUMET - Considering it was the first time it was offered, Dave Olsson was pleased with the turnout Saturday for the Aspirus Keweenaw Women's Health Expo at the Calumet High School gymnasium.
Olsson, Aspirus Keweenaw's director of strategic marketing and growth, said 45 minutes after the event started at 9 a.m., all 300 of the "goodie" bags they had for the attendees of the Expo were gone.
"We have had 460 women here," he said. "We are extremely pleased with the turnout."
Olsson said women of all ages attended the event, which means it must have filled a need.
"We are finding women in our community want and deserve this kind of thing," he said.
Besides having about 70 vendors onsite, Olsson said there were several presentations by doctors and wellness practitioners, all of which were well attended.
"It's about the full spectrum of care," he said.
The idea for the event came from Sharon Stoll, an MD in family medicine and obstetrics with Aspirus Keweenaw in Laurium, who said the event was inspired by other such events she's attended in larger cities.
Stoll said the Expo went well, and she also was pleased with the turnout.
"Things have run smoothly," she said. "We had people lined up at 8:30 to register."
The people who attended the presentations weren't just sitting and listening, but got involved, Stoll said.
"People were asking good questions," she said.
Stoll said the reason for the good turnout for the Expo had much to do with how it was presented.
"I think it's just an interesting format," she said.
Those attending were interested in the presentations and the various health screenings, including exams for bone density, glucose levels, body mass index and oxygen saturation, Stoll said.
Olsson said because the Expo went so well, it's expected Aspirus Keweenaw will conduct another one.
The 10 staff members and 40 volunteers running the Expo found a few problems, which Olsson said will be worked on before the next event is conducted. Those attending provided comments, also.
"We've received great feedback," he said.
