Cheers Summer 2013

s r e e h C

CEL EBRATI N G Y OUR HE A LTH

Summer 2013 | Vol. 3, No. 2

RAPID REBOUND

4

TIPS

Knowing when your child can return to activity after a concussion can prevent long-term problems, even death. Page 4

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

for getting your teen game-ready

Shannon Peterson, a Pueblo South junior, is playing basketball once again after safely recovering from two minor concussions, thanks to vigilance by her parents.

New knees keep baby boomers in action.

Genetic syndrome at root of colorectal cancer.

Visit the MEGA Brain at the State Fair.

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Page 6

Back Cover

CHEERS

T O Y O U R H E A LT h Rob Ryder (right) hands the St. Mary-Corwin leadership reins to Brian Moore.

Welcome to this edition of his month, I step away from St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center to retire and enjoy the next chapter of my life with my family. It has truly been a privilege to serve with the St. Mary-Corwin team at a time when the health care industry is facing unprecedented challenges. I have been inspired on a daily basis by this community and the dedication of our associates, physicians, and volunteers.

I want to say how blessed I have been to work with the leadership team at St. Mary-Corwin. Our physician leaders, directors and managers, and administrative team have all played significant roles in creating the progress and achievement that the hospital has experienced over the last several years. This team will remain intact, and will continue to live out the mission of St. Mary-Corwin by serving our associates, physicians, and volunteers so they, in turn, can serve those of you in our community who entrust your health to this hospital. I am confident that this team will live into the possibilities that now exist, and move our ministry forward as never before.

St. Mary-Corwin welcomes its new CEO, Brian Moore. I have worked with Brian for many years in the Centura Health network. He is a compassionate, caring leader who brings extensive experience and knowledge to this team. Brian and his family have moved to Pueblo and will be great additions to the St. Mary-Corwin family and to the community.

I will close by simply saying thank you. Thank you for your support of this great hospital, thank you for teaching me about commitment to community, and thank you for allowing me to be part of the St. Mary-Corwin legacy.

Cheers to your health,

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

CT heers

Brian Moore named CEO of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

Photo: THANKS ©istockphoto.com/mrPliskin

t hanks!

On July 15, Rob Ryder handed over the leadership of St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center to new CEO and president, Brian Moore.

Moore brings 14 years of diversified hospital leadership experience to St. Mary-Corwin, including 12 years within the Centura Health system. Moore was instrumental in opening Parker Adventist Hospital in 2004 and played a key role in the hospital’s tremendous growth and expansion, eventually serving as the facility’s vice president of operations for five years.

He is excited to bring this experience to Pueblo.

“I hope to be a good steward of the long legacy of faith-based health care that St. MaryCorwin has enjoyed for more than 130 years,” Moore says. “The organization currently has positive momentum that’s being recognized throughout the community. I look forward to working with the board and hospital leadership team to manage this transition in a way that continues to add to that momentum.”

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Brian joined Centura after receiving his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where he is a graduate of the Adventist Health System management residency program. During his residency, he rotated through all areas of hospital services, including surgery, emergency services, patient transport, and patient financial services.

Brian and his wife, Lindsay, have two daughters. The family has moved to Pueblo and looks forward to becoming a part of the community.

“My wife and I took time to spend several days in Pueblo just driving around to get a picture of the community and to soak up the culture,” Moore says. “What we found was a group of people incredibly proud of their town. We also found a lot of things in the community that we think will make this a great place to live as well as work.”

Rob Ryder President & CEO

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

1008 Minnequa Avenue Pueblo, CO 81004 719-557-4000

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center brings specialized care in the complex areas of cancer care, robotic surgery, joint replacement surgery, sports medicine, pediatrics, women’s services, cardiology, and more. We are part of Centura Health, the state’s largest health care network. The purpose of this publication is to support our mission to improve the health of the residents in our community. No information in this publication is meant as a recommendation or as a substitution for your physician’s advice. If you would like to comment on this magazine, please email cheers@centura.org.

Cheers is produced by Clementine Words LLC of Denver, Colo. Executive editor is Rochelle Kelly Wristen.

NEW

RESEARCH

Walking

Tall

Kathy West is back playing with her grandchildren after recently having both knees replaced at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

Thanks to knee replacement surgery, Kathy West is back on her feet again

W

hen Kathy West tore the meniscus (a disc that cushions the joint) in her left knee, she had arthroscopic surgery first.

Then, when it was re-torn, she had injections for the pain.

But each time the treatments helped less, until it reached the point that the 66-year-old could stand for only a few minutes at a time, and had difficulty walking.

“We have grandchildren that we take care of, and I didn’t want to not be able to get around,” she says. “So I finally decided it was time to do something that was really going to make it better.”

Waiting can make replacement harder

While many people put off joint replacement, postponement could make the eventual surgery more complicated, and potentially limit your range of motion afterward, says Shawn Nakamura, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

“The biggest predictor of post-op range of motion is your pre-op range of Did you know motion. If you have a severe deformity that more than or contractures (shortening of a muscle 90 percent of total or joint), that’s going to affect the final outcome of your replacement, and you knee replacements should probably get your replacement result in substantially before those things become severe,” he decreased pain says. and improved daily And age is no longer a primary functioning? consideration for joint replacement.

Source: American Academy of “We used to make people wait much Orthopaedic Surgeons longer because we wanted their knee to outlast them,” Nakamura says. “But now we do it much sooner if need be, because we’ve gotten so much better at doing the revision.”

On the move again

By the time West had her procedure last October, her X-rays showed that the cartilage in both knees was worn away, leaving bone rubbing against bone. So she opted for a bilateral replacement — both knees

Can you prevent knee replacement?

You may have heard the buzz about hyaluronic acid injections to help you sidestep knee replacement.

Unfortunately, no magic injection can prevent the need for joint replacement, says Shawn Nakamura, MD, medical director of orthopedics for St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

“These injections cannot prevent replacement, deformity, and contractures.

The only thing you can do to completely prevent getting a joint replacement is to pick the right parents,” he says.

But there are things you can do to help protect your joints, like avoiding injury (damage can lead to joint deterioration), keeping your weight under control, and maintaining a regular exercise program throughout your life.

“Research has shown that exercise does not make arthritis worse; it makes it better,” Nakamura says. “Light weights, biking, swimming, walking — those are all good for your knees.”

at once. And though rehab was challenging, today she’s getting back to her old self.

“It’s just so nice,” she says. “I can walk and climb stairs, care for the children, and work with our livestock again — things I couldn’t do before.”

West also works out three times a week at Curves and enjoys Zumba classes. She has regained full range of motion in her right knee, but her left — the one with the torn meniscus — is still improving.

“It’s coming along a little slower, but it’s getting there every day, every week,” she says.

 LEarn HOW to preserve

your knees and when it might be time for replacement at a joint replacement seminar. Plus, enter to win a $100 Sports Authority gift certificate at the event. 

Date: Oct. 14

Time: 5-7 p.m.

Location: Dorcy Cancer Center RSVP: 719-557-5622 or online at stmarycorwin.org/calendar

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

3

P L AY I N G

SAFE

Use Your Head Concussions are serious business

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ast summer, Shannon Patterson, a Pueblo South junior playing guard, got tangled up with another girl wrestling for the basketball. Expecting the whistle, Patterson stopped. The other player didn’t, and the next thing 17-year-old Patterson remembers is her dad and coach standing over her.

They recognized the signs of a concussion and took her to the nearest hospital. Patterson’s story is not uncommon. A 2008 study found that five concussions occur for every 10,000 high school athletes who play in the U.S. Where Patterson’s story differs from many is that her parents and her physician took the injury seriously and made sure to take steps to prevent longterm physical, emotional, and cognitive damage.

Signs of Concussion

Knowing the signs are important, says Rocky Khosla, MD, a family physician with a special certification in sports medicine. “Loss of consciousness only happens in 5 to 10 percent of athletes suffering concussion,” he says.

Other signs include: • Balance problems • Slow to get up • A dazed or vacant look • Clutching of head • Nausea • Confusion/lack of awareness Parents (particularly those who have kids playing contact sports) should know these signs.

But it’s important for coaches to know these as well, as they are the ones often pushing the child to get back in the game. Any athlete who has had a concussion should be seen by a trainer or doctor and should not return to play — even if the child says he or she is fine.

Playing it s after two concussio Shannon Patt a South gu avoided long injury.

Why It Matters

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

For after-hours and weekend sports injuries, call the St. Mary-Corwin Sports Injury Hotline at 719-562-6234.

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

Recognizing a concussion and making sure the athlete has adequate physical and cognitive rest (often about six to 10 days) before returning to play is critical, Khosla says, because the risk of a second concussion increases. And if the signs of the first concussion haven’t resolved before the second one, there’s a risk of second impact syndrome — a rapid and fatal swelling of the brain.

We’re on your “We understand that if you get a concussion and if you haven’t cleared side(lines) completely,” Khosla says, “there’s a metabolic cascade that happens that can lead You can rest a little easier to death.” knowing that St. MaryJake Snakenberg, a freshman football player at Grandview High School, died of second impact syndrome in 2004. The Jake Snakenberg Youth Sports Corwin’s primary care Concussion Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2012, requires that coaches be physicians and orthopedic trained on recognizing concussions and that any player who is suspected of surgeons are on the having had a concussion must be removed from play. sidelines of the county’s To return to the sport, a medical professional must clear the athlete. Then, high school varsity football a gradual return to play should be used — starting with very little activity and games as well as CSUbuilding to more intense workouts. If addition of activity increases any symptoms Pueblo football games. such as headaches, loss of balance, or sensitivity to sound or light, the athlete It’s a FREE service to the should be reevaluated by a medical provider. schools, provided by For Patterson, her basketball concussion last summer was followed several St. Mary-Corwin. months later by a freak accident on the soccer field. Patterson, the team’s goalie, was hit in the back of the head when a huge wind gust took out the movable goalpost.

“I sat out for three or four weeks until Dr. Khosla cleared me,” she says. “One of the key things he was waiting for was for my headaches to go away. He wanted to make sure I didn’t still have a concussion while playing.”

And it’s not just the immediate concerns about second impact syndrome that athletes, parents, and coaches need to worry about, Khosla says.

There may be long-term effects of multiple concussions, such as cognitive difficulties or mood disorders.

Having ImPACT

Particularly for student athletes who compete in sports where concussion risk is high, it’s wise to have an Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT™) test before the season begins.

Then, if he or she has a concussion, the results of a follow-up test can be compared with the baseline.

“If the child is back to baseline, is having no symptoms, and has a normal physical examination, he or she can return to play,” says Khosla, a credentialed ImPACT consultant. “Without ImPACT data, there’s not a lot of hard, objective information.”

Over the past two years, Khosla and his team have administered close to 3,800 baseline tests to student athletes in the Pueblo and surrounding areas. He and his team have implemented concussion management safe protocols incorporating the ImPACT system in over 30 o schools going as far south as Trinidad and as far east as ons, La Junta. The benefit, he says, is that in many cases, terson, results of the ImPACT test have improved the way uard, medical providers have managed an athlete’s care.

Patterson, No. 34 on the court, says she plans g-term to play a little smarter to avoid future concussions. And, Khosla says, parents and coaches need to be For more smart — even overprotective — information and when it comes to concussions. concussion-related “I’d rather be wrong sometimes resources, please go and overdiagnose it than miss to concussion anyone,” he says. “It’s too consultants.org. important.”

Photo: HELMET ©istockphoto.com/sWillard; Books ©istockphoto.com/eyewave

 learn about concussions and how

to prevent sports injuries at a FREE sports specialists clinic. This half-day seminar is open to coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic directors. Coaches can earn their Jake Snakenberg certificate through this program. 

Date: Aug. 2 Time: 8 a.m. to noon; registration opens at 7:45 a.m.

Location: Sangre de Cristo Arts Center

RSVP: 719-557-5556 or charnellmayer@centura.org

Sports Education What you need to know to make sure your kids are ready for the new season

W

hen you hear about Peyton Manning training in preseason, you don’t think much about it. Of course, professional athletes train. Well, young athletes need to take precautions, too. Before starting competitive play, kids and teenagers need to make sure they’re ready.

Athletic injuries among young people are a huge problem, says Jennifer FitzPatrick, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

“It’s an epidemic,” she says, noting that sports medicine experts are focused on preventing these injuries because there’s more at stake for young athletes than just missing a few games. “Most of these injuries — people carry through their lives.”

She offers these tips for making sure your student athletes are ready.

1 Have the proper equipment.

Without the right protective gear for your sport, injuries can easily happen, FitzPatrick says. That means things like rightsized helmets, pads, and shin guards, as well as the right shoes for your activity, she adds.

2 Train in the off-season.

Taking a break — especially from a contact sport — is fine, but becoming a couch potato in the off-season can lead to injury later.

“One of the best things you can do to prevent injury,” FitzPatrick says, “is being in good physical shape before the season starts.”

When deciding when and how much to push to the next level, remember the 10 percent rule: Do not increase training activity, weight, mileage, or pace by more than 10 percent per week. This allows the body ample time to recover.

3 Focus on injury prevention.

Some formal programs focus on preventing injuries — particularly aiming to protect the ACL (a commonly torn ligament in the knee).

By using a dynamic warm-up (one that involves movement), strengthening the right muscles through jump training, and teaching kids proper technique, injuries can be prevented.

FREE PHYSICALS To ensure your kids are healthy before they compete, Southern Colorado Family Medicine (SCFM) is hosting their annual free sports physicals day for Pueblo City Schools and District 70 student athletes.

The sports physicals are available on Friday, July 26, 1-7 p.m., at the SCFM clinic at 902 Lakeview Ave., just north of the hospital.

Student athletes in the sixth grade and up to seniors in high school are eligible. Sports physicals are good for one year, so athletes who compete anytime during the school year will be covered.

4 Rehab old injuries.

If your child does get injured, make sure he or she fully recovers before going back on the court or field. “The biggest risk factor for an injury is a previous injury that was not fully rehabbed,” FitzPatrick says. stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

5

YOUR

H E A LT H

Driving On

One man battled stage III rectal cancer and won. Now he’s dedicated to helping others on their journey.

E

d Darchuk has been afraid of doctors ever since he was diagnosed with polio in early childhood. So when he began having rectal problems, the 68-year-old wasn’t in a hurry to see a physician.

“For two years, I self-diagnosed, and I was really just in denial,” he says. But the former appliance salesman had a favorite customer whose husband was a doctor, and one day he opened up to her about his symptoms.

She secured an appointment for him immediately. After multiple tests, he was diagnosed with stage III rectal cancer in May 2011.

Photo by STEVE BIGLEY

Ed Darchuk pays it forward after surviving rectal cancer by volunteering at the Dorcy Cancer Center.

Shared risk and symptoms

Colon and rectal cancers have common risk factors, says Joseph Edelson, MD, a gastroenterologist at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

“Being older — over age 50 — or AfricanAmerican puts you at greater risk,” he says.

“And a low-fiber, high-fat diet is also thought to be associated, as is heavy alcohol use, and being obese, sedentary, or smoking.”

Both cancers typically share common symptoms, too, Edelson says, including a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, persistent abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

Treatment for today — and tomorrow In July 2011, Darchuk began treatment with Geoffrey Johnson, MD, an oncologist at the Dorcy Cancer Center at St. Mary-Corwin. A port was surgically implanted in his chest to administer chemotherapy drugs, and he also underwent six weeks of radiation.

But with screening through colonoscopy, many people can avoid cancer and treatment altogether.

That’s because colonoscopy can catch precursors of the disease.

“Most often colon and rectal cancers start as small lumps of cells (or polyps),” which can be removed during a colonoscopy, Edelson says. “And we have about 10 to 15 years lead time before they become cancerous.”

Paying it forward

Darchuk’s disease has been in remission since January 2012, and he has since dedicated himself to supporting cancer causes and helping others. In fact, he regularly drives patients to treatment at the Dorcy Cancer Center.

“When I go in there, it’s almost like going home,” Darchuk says. “At least a couple of those technicians were with me every day, and I feel very blessed to be sitting here today.”

Lynch syndrome: What are the odds?

Lynch syndrome is an inherited predisposition to colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers, as well as endometrial and ovarian cancer.

Lynch syndrome puts a person at a 50 to 80 percent chance of developing colon cancer. In comparison, the average person with no risk factors has about a 5 percent chance.

At the Dorcy Cancer Center at St. Mary-Corwin, colorectal cancer patients are automatically screened for Lynch syndrome, which causes three in every 100 cases of colon cancer.

But other close family members — parents, siblings, and children, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews — also should consider screening, especially if their relative is affected at an early age or has more than one cancer, says Kate Crow, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor at St. Mary-Corwin.

“It’s always ideal to know what’s going on with the affected family member first, if possible,” Crow says.

“But if someone is worried about their family history, they can contact us for a family history analysis (also known as genetic counseling), and we can discuss the likelihood that something inherited may be in their family.”

 JOIN US for Saturday Colonoscopies! If you can’t take off work to get your colonoscopy,

St. Mary-Corwin provides colonoscopy appointments on one Saturday each month. To schedule an appointment, call 719-557-3660. You will need a physician’s referral and your insurance information.

Upcoming dates: Aug. 10 • Sept. 7 • Oct. 12 • Nov. 9 • Dec. 7 

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Cheers | St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center

WoRKING TOGETHER

Project Care...

E

ach year St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center associates participate in what is one of the largest employee giving programs in Pueblo — Project Care. Project Care is one big way we, as the community of St. Mary-Corwin, give back. This fund helps support: F ellow St. Mary-Corwin associates in need P atients who need financial assistance S pecial projects within the hospital T he United Way of Pueblo County This year our associates set a new record, raising $185,000! Why do we, as the community of St. Mary-Corwin, commit each year to helping our patients, our fellow associates, special projects in the hospital, and the community at large?

If you ask each donor to Project Care, I suspect you would receive a different answer from each. Philanthropy, the act of giving back, is a uniquely personal response of compassion to the needs of our community. But there is also a collective answer, rooted in the culture of St. Mary-Corwin. This tradition reaches back in time to the first stories of the nuns who traveled from Cincinnati to Pueblo to establish a hospital for the poor because the need was so great. The tradition reaches back to Dr. Richard Corwin, who was recruited to come to Pueblo to establish a hospital for the steelworkers and miners who were the backbone of this great community.

St. Mary-Corwin is a community of people who care for each other, for those who are ill, for those who are in need, and for those who need a helping hand to lead them out of darkness.

And today, one of many ways that commitment is realized is through Project Care. Project Care is simple and powerful. It is one of many ways we make a difference in our community.

Jayne Mazur President St. Mary-Corwin Health Foundation

 MAKE AN IMpACT. You don’t have to be an

associate of St. Mary-Corwin to support the foundation or any one of these great causes. The Pueblo community generously supports St. Mary-Corwin Health Foundation. To make a donation, please contact Jayne Mazur at 719-557-5298 or jaynemazur@centura.org. 

T hes e Hand s

Hannah’s Neighborhood

By Pam Keller, RN As I arrived for my shift on that crisp October morning, I prayed, “God give me the strength for this day.” I knew it would be a rough day. Hannah would be struggling for every breath, her small body limp with exhaustion, her giant heart still pulling us to her.

When Hannah was just 6 weeks old, she was diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffman disease, a type of spinal muscle atrophy with life expectancy that is often measured in months when it appears in such young infants. Hannah and her mom, Diane, had spent so much of Hannah’s life at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center that her patient room became her home, and the hospital became her neighborhood. To see a tiny baby with a disease so awful and a struggle so heroic opens people’s hearts. As months rolled by, the entire hospital adopted Hannah.

Although Hannah did not like being awakened for X-rays, lab techs managed to make it a game she delighted in playing. She’d leave for a procedure only to come back to find that housekeeping made her room sparkle. Respiratory therapy fought to keep Hannah breathing. Pharmacy dashed emergency medications to her. And Hannah giggled each time the dietary department sent up a surprise snack of french fries and ketchup — her favorite. Prayers sped toward Hannah on a spiritual care expressway.

Suddenly, four and a half years later, we were without Hannah. It was as though the entire hospital felt the exit of her spirit. The whole place seemed to go still and people just found themselves wandering toward “Hannah’s bedroom.”

The loss was profound, but what keeps me going is that over the past 20 years, I can think of many patients and families who were adopted by the hospital just like Hannah was. This is an astonishingly big-hearted community.

These Hands: Stories of Love and Compassion is a book of stories written by Centura Health associates. This story has been edited for space purposes.

ILLUSTRATION: HANDS by SUE LION

from the heart

stmarycorwin.org | Cheers

7

SUMMER EVENTS

In the Community

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center sponsors Colorado State Fair

B

efore Colorado became a state, people from throughout the region flocked to Pueblo to admire the horses at the Colorado State Fair.

Soon after, in 1882, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center opened its doors.

These two historic institutions are joining together to make the 141st annual fair a memorable one, offering up fun and healthy ways to spend a summer day.

“It really is a partnership that has been around for many, many years,” says Rochelle Kelly Wristen, spokeswoman for the hospital. “We are proud to be a part of the Pueblo community, and proud that we can be a part of events like this.”

As a fair sponsor, St. Mary-Corwin is bringing the MEGA Brain to the party on Aug. 31. When you need a break from roller coasters and cotton candy, be sure to explore the giant, inflatable brain. You’ll get an inside view of how the brain controls the body, and what it looks like when someone has a stroke. Then you’ll take a quick online test to learn if you’re at risk of a stroke, be able to speak with stroke victims, and learn tips for stroke prevention.

“The reason this is so important in our area is we have high rates of obesity and high rates of diabetes, twice the national average,” Wristen says. Obesity and diabetes are two major risk factors for stroke.

The Colorado State Fair will be held Aug. 23 through Sept. 2. In addition to the MEGA Brain, St. Mary-Corwin will host the First Aid Station to care for any medical concerns such as bug bites, heat exhaustion, and more.

 VISIT the MEGA Brain

at the Colorado State Fair on Aug. 31 to go inside the brain and watch what happens when a stroke occurs. Admission to the MEGA Brain is FREE with your fair ticket. 

F E AT URED P RO G R A M S Muffins, Music & Mammos Sat, Jul 27 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Spend a leisurely morning enjoying soft music, delicious muffins, a relaxing chair massage, and your annual screening mammogram.

Call 719-557-5054 for an appointment.

Sports Specialists Clinic Fri, Aug 2 | 8 a.m.-noon Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Ballroom Local sports coaches are invited to learn about sports injuries, injury prevention, and concussion management with St. Mary-Corwin orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians.

RSVP: 719-557-5556 Cost: FREE

Blood Drive Fri, Aug 16 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Bonfils Blood Center Bus, west entrance Did you know just one donation of blood can save up to three lives?

Call 800-365-0006 for an appointment.

Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer Tue, Aug 27 | 4 p.m.

Colorado State Fairgrounds Don’t miss the biggest event of the fair! The 7th annual Cowboys Kickin’ Cancer dinner, rodeo, and auction raises funds to support cancer patients.

Tickets include Colorado State Fair gate admission, the PRCA rodeo performance, a BBQ dinner provided

by Texas Roadhouse, and

all of the fun and excitement of the live and silent auction.

Register: 719-557-5247 Cost: $50 per person; $500 for corporate table of 8.

Walk With a Doc Sats, Aug 17 & Sep 14 | 8 a.m.

Lake Minnequa Walk with physicians from Southern Colorado Family Medicine while you explore your health questions. Meet by the Lake Avenue fire station.

Cost: FREE

Think Pink Thu, Oct 3 | 4-8 p.m.

Pueblo Convention Center The Think Pink Party for Breast Health Awareness is the hottest shopping and social party in Pueblo, where ladies can ultrapamper themselves with the utmost in superfab finds in beauty, health, and fashion! Proceeds benefit the St. Mary-Corwin Breast Center of Excellence.

Call 719-557-5249 for tickets.

Cost: $4

Photo: HAT ©istockphoto.com/skodonnell

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest health care network.

Centura Health complies with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in the provision of any care or service on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual preference, ancestry, age, familial status, disability or handicap. Copyright © Centura Health, 2013.

St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center offers a variety of FREE or low-cost classes, seminars, screenings, and community events.

For a complete calendar, go online to stmarycorwin. org/calendar.