NHM’s Heart Health Challenge Debuts At Maryland Science Center

The first museum use of NHM’s new digital heart health exhibit is currently underway at the Maryland Science Center (MSC) in Baltimore, MD. Named the “Heart Health Challenge,” the novel exhibit was previewed at the National Institutes of Health in October followed by a stay at the American College of Cardiology. It will remain at the Maryland Science Center through March 2007 and is a central element of MSC’s American Heart Month activities taking place this month.

The Heart Health Challenge is designed to address public interest in heart health, and provides key ideas about how visitors, families in particular, can live heart healthy.

“With heart disease being the number one killer of American men and women, it’s urgent that we educate people of all ages about their risk for heart disease,” said NHM Chairman Dr. Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Museums and Science Centers are outstanding venues in which to address health issues that impact families, and NHM is pleased to partner with the Maryland Science Center on this important heart health educational initiative.”

The exhibit features two interactive multimedia screens – one providing information about heart health risk factors and engaging the user in fun heart health challenges, and a second calculating body mass index and providing health weight information.

Funding for the Heart Health Challenge is provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health, and WellPoint Health Networks. Content was principally provided by NHLBI.

The Heart Health Challenge is the second major topic area explored as a part of the Health Response Center initiative, a program that provides science center visitors with up-to-date information about important public health issues. The first Health Response Center project focuses on seasonal flu, bird flu, and pandemic preparedness, and has been pilot tested at six science museums and one hospital.

The Health Response Center is an educational program developed in association with the National Public Health Partnership, a NHM-led network of leading public health organizations, museums and science centers pursuing new opportunities for education about public health topics.

NHM is now developing plans to make the exhibit available at other
institutions in the future.

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