In Good Health: CNY #289 - January 2024 by In Good Health: CNY's Healthcare Newspaper

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JANUARY 2024 • ISSUE 289

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER Doing Pilates

Growing in popularity, the practice can help keep you limber and strong

Meet Your Doctor RYAN M. WALKER MD New surgeon at Oswego Hospital, who specializes in breast surgery, says hospital wants to expand its minimally invasive surgery program and add a robotic platform as the next step P. 4 ALSO INSIDE

DOCTORS ARE EXCITED, CONCERNED ABOUT AI

COLD WEATHER RUNNING MAY BE EVEN HEALTHIER

VAPING NOW OUTSTRIPS SMOKING AMONG U.S. YOUNG ADULTS

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Because women deserve the quality care they strive to provide everyone else. In most households, women are the managers of their families’ health care needs.* Combined with the challenges associated with juggling child care and workplace demands – it can be a struggle to ensure women, quite literally, take care of themselves. FCMG can help. Available across CNY’s widest network of general practitioners and specialists – with short wait times, convenient hours and family-friendly offices – we make it easy to access a wide range of women’s care options, including: • Reproductive health care and gynecology, including ultrasound exams • Heart health, cholesterol management, and treatment of high blood pressure • Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes • Chronic care and pain management • Nutrition • Dermatology • Bone density, including diagnosis and care of Osteoporosis • Among others To learn how FCMG can address women’s health care needs – for women of all ages – contact us today. New patients and families are welcome!

Let our family care for yours! 315-472-1488 • fcmg.org * Kaiser Women’s Health Survey (2017) indicated that 79% of the time, women are the one who take charge of health care responsibilities such as choosing their children’s provider; that 77% of the time, women take children to appointments; and that 77% of the time, women follow through with recommended family care.

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Vaping Now Outstrips Smoking Among U.S. Young Adults Young adults are now more likely to vape than to smoke cigarettes, with more becoming addicted to nicotine through vaping than traditional smoking, researchers say. Nearly three in five young adults who vape (56%) have never regularly smoked cigarettes, according to data from an ongoing federal study of tobacco use. This is the first time that there are more young people who began to use nicotine through vaping rather than smoking, researchers said in a research letter published Nov. 13 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. “We now have a shift such that there are more 'never smokers' who vape than established smokers,” said researcher Benjamin Toll, director of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health Tobacco Treatment Program. “That is a massive shift in the landscape of tobacco.” “These 'never smokers' are unlikely to start smoking combustible cigarettes — they're likely to vape and keep vaping,” Toll added in a university news release. “And it's this group, ages 18 to 24, who are going to forecast future e-cigarette users.” E-cigarettes could be a less harmful option than smoking, but it's not harm-free, researchers said. Because of that, it's disheartening to see young non smokers begin to vape. “If you currently smoke and you've smoked combustible tobacco cigarettes for a few decades — those people are at very high risk of cancer, and so we want to help them to get off combustible cigarettes. Ultimately, we'd like to help them to quit tobacco altogether, but if they're not ready for that, switching to e-cigarettes is at least a partial win,” said co-lead researcher Naomi Brownstein, an associate professor in the MUSC Department of Public Health Sciences. "Now, if you are an 18-yearold and your friends are like, 'Hey, let's vape some banana bread nicotine,' and you've never smoked, those are the people for whom we think starting vaping is a problem,” Brownstein added.

New surgeon at Oswego Hospital, who specializes in breast surgery, says hospital wants to expand its minimally invasive surgery program and add a robotic platform as the next step Q: How long have you been a general surgeon with Oswego Health? A: I started in May [2023]. Q: You’re coming from Albany? A: Yes, I had been in and around the Albany area since I got out of training around 2013. So I was working there for about 10 years. Q: What attracted you to a smaller hospital in a small city? A: I’ve always liked smaller community hospitals. My first job out of residency was a smaller community hospital, so that was my first draw. Meeting the administration and their vision for where they want the hospital to go, particularly with its general surgery service, was key for me. The icing on the cake is the lake. I had my boat on the lake all summer. I’ve been fishing in the Salmon River this winter. So those are added benefits of coming up here. But really, it started with the size of the hospital and the commitment to grow and expand the general surgery service, which is great for me. Q: What’s the patient volume been like? A: It’s been very steady. It’s been a good practice. We were basically up and running the minute I got here. There are a lot of patients, a lot of demand, probably more patients than we can take care of. We were building the practice all summer long and into the fall. We just keep getting busier and busier. We add more office hours and OR time. The plan is continued expansion for me and add-

Page 4 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

ing more general surgeons over the next year. Q: What conditions do you generally treat at Oswego Health? A: The practice is truly a breadand-butter general surgery practice. A lot of hernias of all varieties. A lot of gall bladders, appendectomies when we’re on call. Some colon surgery. Some breast surgery. We do lots of lumps and bumps in the office. Those are the most common things. The direction of the general surgery office overall is to increase our numbers, to expand our services. That includes more breast care. In particular doing our own breast biopsies. In the future, more endocrine surgery, in particular thyroid surgery. A bit more of what we call foregut surgery, which includes hiatal hernias and more reflux-type surgeries. And next year we’re hoping to expand our minimally invasive surgery and add a robotic platform as the next big step. Q: Does the weather in Oswego County affect what the general surgery department has to be prepared to deal with, in the event that a more complex case can’t be easily evacuated to a bigger city? A: Absolutely. The community is used to it. I’m born and raised in Upstate New York, so I’m kind of used to it. But on really bad snow days there might be patients who miss their scheduled elective surgeries or miss office appointments. It’s a factor, but I think by and large people are used to it. From the perspective of the hospital, of course, the

more services we’re able to offer locally, the happier everyone is. The community really likes Oswego Hospital. It’s their hospital; they want to do as much as they can within the hospital and the system if possible. Part of that may be the weather conditions, and part of that is they like their town and their hospital. And that’s great for practicing physicians here. Q: You’re a general surgeon of course, but are there any procedures you do that you would classify as a specialty in the informal sense? A: For me the big one, and I think it’s a big part of why I was brought in, is the breast surgery side of things. We’re trying to make some arrangements, purchase some new equipment and build some new facilities so that we can offer breast biopsies here in town that in the past were all performed in Syracuse. So that’s a skill set that I have that we’re looking to take advantage of. The second one is that I had been on the robotic surgery platform for six years before coming here. It’s an amazing device, particularly for hernia repair. So I’m looking forward to seeing that come to Oswego Health, ideally next year, sometime in the summer. Q: I notice you have some background in wound care too. A: Correct, I did that for a little less than a year between general surgery jobs. We have a wound care center in the hospital that does a terrific job. There’s a little bit of overlap. We help out and do some of that on the inpatient side, but long-term they get plugged into the wound care center. As a surgeon, I think it was a great skill set to learn and utilize, since we do end up having to do some of that on the inpatient side. Q: This is less stitching up someone who comes into the emergency room and more long-term wound care, I assume? A: Yes, these are more chronic wounds, like foot wounds and ulcers, vascular wounds. In the nursing home population, unfortunately, this may include bed sores. And of course we are surgeons who create wounds, so sometimes we help out making sure those heal well.

Lifelines

Name: Ryan M. Walker, M.D. Position: General surgeon at Oswego Health Hometown: Wappingers Falls Education: Ithaca College (bachelor’s degree); American University of the Caribbean (medical degree); York Hospital in Pennsylvania (post-graduate and residency training) Interests: Breast surgery, colorectal surgery, gallbladder surgery, and hernia repairs, with an emphasis on utilizing minimally invasive techniques. He is also a DaVincicertified robotic surgeon. Affiliations: Oswego Health Recent positions: Practice for over 10 years at both St. Peter’s Heath Partners and St. Mary’s Healthcare in the Albany area Organizations: American College of Physicians Family: Wife, two cats Hobbies: Fishing, boating, skiing

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Doctors Are Excited, Concerned About AI

merican physicians have flow efficiency during their busy mixed feelings on the advent days; another 54% said they were of artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiastic about AI that might ease into mainstream medical practice, a the burden around "documentation;" new survey shows. and another 48% hoped it might cut The survey of nearly 1,100 down on the red tape of prior authodoctors, conducted by the American rization for insurance coverage. Medical Association (AMA) in AuAs for actual patient care, 72% gust, found 41% of physicians saying thought AI could be helpful in better they were "equally excited and condiagnosing patients, and 61% hoped cerned" about AI in the workplace. it might help improve clinical out“Physicians are optimistic aboutHCG comes for patients. the advantages that properly deWorries around AI centered on signed AI-enabled tools can have for its impact on patient-doctor interacFIND YOUR COMMUNITY. patient care, and nearly two-thirds tions, with 39% of doctors concerned Y. of physicians see an advantageFIND to AI YOUR the technology might harm that relaif key requirements are met,” AMA MEMBERSHIPtionship. FOR ALL Another 41% had concerns President Jesse Ehrenfeld said in about AI's impact on patient privacy. an AMA news release. “The AMA AI is already making inroads PROGRAMS AND SERVICES survey illustrates that physicians' in hospitals and doctors' office, the Swim lessons • Aquatics • Group greatest hope for AI restsExercise in reducing AMA survey found: More than a • Gymnasiums • Chronic the crushing administrative burdens third (38%) of physicians said they Disease Support • And More... that plague modern medicine, which were already using it. drain health care resources and pull While only 11% said they'd used physicians away from patient care.” it to so far to help with diagnosis, That's the "up" side, according to larger percentages said they'd used the poll: Sixty-nine percent of doctors AI to help with office paperwork or www.auburnymca.org thought AI would help with worktranslation services.

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January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 5

Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman

Repeal the Affordable Care Act? Please Leave it Alone

wo Republican presidential candidates — so far Trump and DeSantis — are, for some inexplicable reason, pledging to get rid of the ACA, often referred to as “Obamacare.” Trump calls Obamacare a “disaster” and “terrible healthcare.” There have already been more than 40 exhausting, politically motivated attempts to repeal the widely popular ACA. So this begs the question, who is lobbying and pressuring the presidential candidates to get rid of this “disastrous” program? Interestingly, neither candidate refers to the historical health insurance act as the “Affordable Care Act” because they are deliberately politicizing and confusing the issue by referring to it as “Obamacare.” They won’t call it the “ACA” because it is widely popular, in both red and blue states, especially for those who are covered by it. By calling it “Obamacare” they are hoping to dredge up some lingering antipathy toward the former president and grab some misinformed votes. Past surveys have confirmed the confusion. When asked should “Obamacare” be repealed, many people’s knee jerk response was “yes.” But when asked if the “Affordable Care Act” should be repealed, the same people thoughtfully answered “no.” The ACA has been law for 13 years and has grown in popularity every year. As of the end of 2023, 40 million people are covered by the ACA either by qualifying for expanded Medicaid or qualifying for discounted premiums based on household income.

The ACA has decreased the percentage of us without health insurance from around 15% to around 8%. I can’t imagine it’s the very people that rely on the ACA for coverage that are trying to get rid of it. Maybe it’s the insurers? The ACA is administered by some of the same commercial carriers that cover those fortunate enough to be covered by employer-sponsored health insurance, mostly paid for by employers. Granted, commercial carriers have opted in and out of the ACA market every year, but insurance companies do that in all their markets. It’s not just the ACA. Carriers are prone to exit a particular market

for care; they don’t provide care.) Fact is, I have not heard or read that any of the various medical associations (AMA, AHA, ANA, etc.) expressing their displeasure on behalf of their members with the ACA, per se. If there is any displeasure among providers, it is with all payers. So, you can’t single out the ACA. Thanks to the ACA, hospitals and physicians worry far less about uninsured patients (less than 8%) unable to pay for their care. (Early critics and naysayers of the ACA, back when it was first being proposed, predicted it would create pure hell — vandals at the gates — for providers because their offices, ERs and operating rooms would be flooded with people with years of pentup medical problems, Never happened.) Without the ACA, more hospitals, especially rural ones, would have eventually closed under the weight of unreimbursed care. The ACA is popular in both red and blues states with the former probably having more rural hospitals. The ACA also made deciphering dozens of insurance plans and making valid comparisons, far easier. (Just ask anyone in human resources.) The ACA created three levels of insurance with increasing amounts of mandated coverage: bronze, silver and platinum. Most employees are covered by a medium priced “silver” level. An individual who purchases health insurance on the exchange would have the same three coverage options. When considering either BlueCross silver or Aetna silver for

‘The Affordable Care Act has been law for 13 years and has grown in popularity every year. As of the end of 2023, 40 million people are covered by the ACA. It has decreased the percentage of us without health insurance from around 15% to around 8%.’

because of low enrollment or low profitability. Most states have around five carriers involved in the ACA. I don’t think insurers are too upset with the ACA. Maybe it’s the providers. Hospitals, physicians and nurses must be behind the idea of nixing the ACA. And to show their utter dissatisfaction, they single out their patients covered by the ACA and provide them with “terrible” sub par healthcare. When someone claims the ACA provides “terrible healthcare” they are insulting every hard-working physician, nurse and hospital in the country. (Insurers, like the ACA, pay

Page 6 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

‘Most importantly and now taken for granted, the ACA finally ended the infamous preexisting condition clause in insurance contracts that basically prevented anyone with a “preexisting condition” from switching plans because any new plan would refuse to cover the condition.’

example, it is apples to apples. Of course, insurers can “spice up” their plans to attract more members, but they must include the minimum mandated benefits for the level. Most importantly and now taken for granted, the ACA finally ended the infamous pre-existing condition clause in insurance contracts that basically prevented anyone with a “pre-existing condition” from switching plans because any new plan would refuse to cover the condition. Pre-existing conditions could include cancer, AIDS, pregnancy, cardiac disease or even hypertension. Pre-existing conditions virtually locked employees into their place of employment. Some people would have to refuse a better job offer at another employer for fear of losing coverage if the new employer offered different insurance. So, I cannot fathom which of the four major stakeholders in the ACA (insurers, hospitals, physicians, patients) are pressuring the two presidential candidates to get rid of the “terrible healthcare” paid for by “Obamacare.” Surveys show there are far bigger challenges on voters’ minds like immigration, climate change, inflation, national security, voter rights and reproductive rights to name a few. Surveys do indicate however that voters are dissatisfied with the expense of healthcare in our country and rightly so. If you want to campaign on healthcare, our entire system needs a fix. Just don’t single out the ACA as the problem.

George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

In This New Year, Resolve to ‘Let it Go’

re you convinced you’ll never find love again? Or regret the way you behaved in your marriage? Still angry at your ex? Or yourself? Holding on to past hurts, slights, negative thinking or lost opportunities can compromise your sense of well-being and ability to be alone and content. Whereas “letting go” can be the catalyst for a fulfilling and enriching solo journey. As someone who’s walked this path, I’ve discovered that letting go isn’t just a phrase; it’s a powerful resolution, especially for those navigating life alone after a divorce or the loss of a spouse or partner. And it isn’t about erasing the past; letting go is about releasing the grip of memories, fears and limiting beliefs that keep us from leading our best lives. In contemplation of this column, I reached out to several divorced and widowed friends and asked what keeps them stuck in unwelcome thought patterns and behaviors. Below, I’ve shared their very personal and, in some cases, heart-tugging issues, many of which I’ve struggled with myself. As uncomfortable as it can be, I’ve found that sitting with and reflecting on my issues has been liberating and life-giving. Under each issue, you’ll find some probing questions that may help you move through the letting go process. It might be euphoric recall, but I can’t let go of memories of my past family life when we were all together. I worry I’ll never feel that joy again. • Are you idealizing those past times or not allowing room for new, different kinds of joy in your current life?

• What specific qualities or experiences in that former family life do you miss the most? • What new activities, connections and traditions could you create in your present situation that would bring you similar joy? I can’t let go of feelings of insecurity about making big life decisions on my own, decisions such as whether to move or buy a new car or renovate my kitchen. • What positive experiences have you had in making decisions on your own? Your past experiences can point to successful outcomes! • Are there resources and experts you can consult when making significant life decisions? • Can you embrace the freedom and empowerment that come with making decisions independently? I’m having a hard time letting go of the anger I feel toward my spouse for his betrayal and the upending of our life together. • How does holding onto this anger impact your mood, your relationships and your quality of life? • Have you been able to express your anger in healthy ways, either through therapy, writing or other outlets? • Can forgiveness, for your own peace, be part of your healing journey? Where did my courage go? I love to travel, but the idea of traveling alone scares me to pieces. I can’t let go of that fear. • What exactly are you afraid of — is it the logistics of travel? Safety? Social concerns? • Would talking with or reading articles or blogs from solo travelers help you reframe solo travel as an

Spotting Epilepsy in Kids Isn't Always Easy: Know the Signs

eurologist Deborah Holder says she often has parents come to her with kids who've experienced what they call "funny spells." “Sometimes I start talking to a parent and find out the parent has [also] had 'funny spells' for years, but had no idea they were epileptic seizures," said Holder, who practices at Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's Hospital in Los Angeles.

She believes that epilepsy in kids is too often missed as a diagnosis, interfering with a child's learning and development. Why? Parents believe seizures have to be far more dramatic than they typically are to be deemed to be epilepsy. Often, according to Holder, a seizure can simply be a child seeming to be unable to talk for a few seconds. Childhood epilepsy seizures can also

Page 8 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

opportunity for personal growth and discovery? • Can you start small, maybe with a day trip or weekend trip alone to test the waters and build your confidence? Do it; pack your bags! I live in constant fear of the future, especially when it comes to money matters. My husband (rest his soul) took care of everything. • What is the source of your financial insecurity? Is it lack of experience or knowledge or is it more about your own self-doubt? • Could you ask advice from a friend in a similar situation who has successfully managed her finances alone? • How about seeking the advice of a financial adviser? Your friend may be able to recommend someone. I fear I will be forgotten. I live alone now. Who will be here to care for me if I get sick or feel lonely? • What can you do to build a support network or community that you can rely on in times of need? • How can you cultivate meaningful connections and relationships that transcend your fear of being forgotten? • What steps can you take to maintain your health and well-being, such as exercise and a healthy diet, to reduce the likelihood of needing extra care? I’m consumed with regrets. Should I have worked harder to save my marriage? Why didn’t I see trouble brewing? Why did I let myself go? Help! • How does dwelling on your regrets hinder your ability to move forward? • Are there any steps you can take to forgive yourself for past mistakes or regrets, such as acknowledging that you were doing the best you could at the time? • Can you reframe past experiences as life lessons that have shaped who you are today and offer the promise of a fulfilling future? I worry I’ll never find love again, especially at my age. Negative beliefs about myself and my aging body have taken up permanent residence in my head.

be confused with other conditions. “Sometimes children experiencing seizures will see flashing lights or have temporary blurred vision, which leads them being misdiagnosed with migraine,” Holder explained in a Cedars-Sinai news release. About one in every 26 Americans ends up being diagnosed with epilepsy, which is characterized by seizures and abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Holder offered up some key facts on epilepsy. First off, a seizure can take many forms, including: • A few seconds of quiet staring (this is the most common form of epilepsy seizure) • Moments where speech/language is tough to process or sounds garbled • Uncontrolled motor activity, such as a twitching arm, leg or one side of the face. This might last for 30 seconds or so • Numbness or tingling in a part of the body, or sensations such as weird smells or tastes in the mouth that come and go.

• Do you have any examples of older people in your circle of friends who have found love later in life? It could be helpful to chat with them about their experiences. • What qualities and strengths do you possess that you believe are attractive to others, regardless of age? • Would you consider affirmations or a meditation practice to help you cultivate self-love and acceptance? You’re worth it! Letting go isn’t a one-time event; it’s a continuous process of self-reflection, growth, and liberation. By probing these personal issues and asking ourselves these tough but empowering questions, we can pave the way for a life and a future filled with purpose, joy, and connections. I wish you and all my readers a Happy New Year. Let it go . . . and let the party begin! Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content empowerment workshops for women (now on hiatus) and the author of "Alone and Content: Inspiring, empowering essays to help divorced and widowed women feel whole and complete on their own" To contact Voelckers or purchase her book, visit www.aloneandcontent.com • Convulsive seizure, where the person falls to the ground and their whole body convulses. That's the rarest form of seizure, Holder noted. According to Holder, once a child suspected of epilepsy is brought to a doctor, diagnosis is often relatively easy, based on symptoms. Sometimes an EEG (electroencephalogram) is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Family smartphones can help, as well. Often, parents will use the phone to record an episode a child might have at home, and play it later for the physician, Holder said. "I advise families, if you see a child having a funny spell, get it on a video camera. We are very good at being able to tell by looking at the recording if the event is a seizure or not," she said. If epilepsy is diagnosed, the condition can often be managed with medications. Tests are pinpointing the genes that drive epilepsy, and in some cases genetic testing can help doctors decide which medications can work best to curb a child's seizures. In many cases, kids will outgrow epilepsy, Holder noted.

Q: You mention community partners. Can you give me an example? A: Upstate [Medical University] is a great community partner here locally. Crouse is a great community partner, St. Joe’s and in the Watertown area, Samaritan Hospital. For a lot of our veterans, sometimes based on their health situation, those community partners are there to catch them, take care of them and help us manage their care.

Q A &

with

Mark Murdock

Syracuse VA Medical Center’s new director and CEO was born in Watertown he—wants to make it easier for veterans to receive care in the community By Mary Beth Roach Q: In what branch of the military did you serve? A: I served in the United States Air Force from 1981 to 1999. Q: What are your chief responsibilities as head of the VA Medical Center? A: My chief responsibility is to lead more than 1,800 employees to partner with more than the 40,000 veterans that we take care of to try to optimize their health and their life. It’s really a partnership. We provide a full portfolio of services, from primary care to mental health to surgical care, specialty care, acute inpatient care, long term care, rehabilitative care — a pretty broad spectrum of healthcare services that we provide for our veterans. Q: What is the coverage area for the VA? A: We go all the way up to the Canadian border down to the Pennsylvania border. Q: What is the budget that you work with at the VA? A: Our budget is approximately about $375 million and usually what happens over the course of the year, between capital projects and maybe some other program programmatic adjustments that happen, we’re probably over about $400 million this year. Q: You came from the Dayton VA Medical Center. Were you assigned here? A: There was an opening and I applied. I was born in Watertown and raised in Sackets Harbor and it gave me an opportunity to come back to the area. I always think about my hometown and put my home-

town in my bio. It means a lot to me. My father was a Navy veteran. He was from Syracuse and probably one of the first patients here at the Syracuse VA in the 1950s. Q: What do you see as the challenges that the VA hospital face? A: I think one of the challenges for us — with the legislation [the VA MISSION Act] that came about in 2018 — is making it easier for veterans to receive care in the community. This is driven by a couple of things. The drive times for some of our rural veterans — how far away they are from services — and wait times. I think one of the big challenges that we have is to continue to work strategically on what services we do within the confines of the VA and what services we use our great community partners to help us. We went straight from that legislation right into COVID. So, we really didn’t get an opportunity to be as strategic about that as we should be. And we’re really trying to make some of those decisions and do that analysis right now. I think veterans are in the best situation that they’ve been in probably in my lifetime, as far as the delivery of care and the services that are provided. We’ve made a lot of great strides in our trust with our veterans and the services we provide. The VA has come a long way and we’re very proud of that. We try to learn and improve every day. Using our community partners effectively and making good decisions about the services that we provide within the brick-and-mortar of the VA are some of our biggest challenges moving forward.

Q: What are some of the benefits of working for the Syracuse VA Medical Center? A: It’s got a phenomenal tradition. I think the partnership is very special when you take a look at our community partners and the geographic location of them, with Upstate right here, with Crouse right here, with St. Joe’s so close. I think veterans and the community itself are well-served by the healthcare resources that we have. We’ve got the Institute for Veterans and Military Families here, which is awesome. We’ve got some other partners — Clear Path for Veterans and all of our county veteran service agencies. I think veterans are very well appreciated, loved and taken care of in this area. Q: Do you have any plans or initiatives you’d like to put in place in the future? A: Our goal each day is to do the very best that we can from the standpoint of access to care for our veterans, and from a quality perspective. The drivers for us are the veterans’ satisfaction with the care that they receive and our employee satisfaction, as far as this being a great place for them to work. That partnership between our veterans and employees is really where we improve health outcomes. We really try to partner to improve the lives of our veterans. A lot of that is through whole health initiatives. We want veterans to do as much for themselves as they can, owning their own health and helping make the life decisions that give them the very best lives that they can have. There’s a lot that we try to teach our veterans that they can do for themselves as well. Ultimately as a healthcare system, we’re very uniquely positioned. There’re a lot of things that we’d like to do less of — we’d like to write less prescriptions, we’d like to have people optimize their health and have less days in the hospital. Whole health is very important to us as an organization. Q: Is there anything you’d like to add? A: Just how grateful I am to be here and that we have a phenomenal team of leaders in our organization. I think COVID hit this part of the country and Central New York pretty hard. I think we saw a lot of folks that have left healthcare during that time period. We are really getting our legs underneath us again from a staffing standpoint, especially with nursing. Very grateful to the team that we have and the leaders that we have to partner with our veterans and very grateful for the service of all of our veterans of all eras.

Mark Murdock took over as director/chief executive officer of the Syracuse VA Medical Center on Aug. 1, 2023. For more information on the VA, visit www. va.gov/syracuse-health-care.

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January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 9

Wellness & Fitness

ARISE & Ski Teaches Skill, Boosts Confidence Program offers lessons to anyone with a disability, regardless of age By Mary Beth Roach

hrough the ARISE & Ski adaptive ski program, Mason and Trevor Wallen, brothers who are on the autism spectrum, have not only learned to ski, but they have also gained a greater sense of confidence. Their mom, Agatha Wallen, said for Mason, 16, and Trevor, 14, participating in the program offered a unique experience. “It’s a lot of growth, and it’s not just growth in skiing. It’s growth in confidence. There’s a community of people, people who are there volunteering their time to actually assist them and get to know them,” she said. The instructors, she added, gear the lessons to each of her sons’ needs. It has also enabled Agatha, and her husband, Jason, both avid skiers, to create a family activity with their sons. The Wallen brothers, of Manlius, are just two of several dozen individuals who take part in the program each season, which is a partnership between ARISE, a Syracuse-based organization that advocates for people with disabilities, and SkiCNY, which serves as host. The two-hour lessons, in both skiing and snowboarding, are offered on six weekends through January and February at Labrador Mountain in Truxton. There is a morning session and an afternoon session each day. The six-week session is $250. The key is that these lessons are adaptive and that anyone with a disability regardless of age can participate, according to Mary Schwanke,

manager of the respite and family support services with ARISE. At the first lesson, participants are evaluated to determine their level and equipment needs. The gear is provided by ARISE and SkiCNY. The lessons are provided by ARISE’s educational staff, who are certified by the Professional Ski Instructors of America and have special training in adaptive skiing. They are assisted by a team of volunteers, who are experienced skiers, and receive additional training. Helping a participant down the hill, the volunteers, for example, may hold either end of a long pole, with the skier in the middle. Other participants can use the sit-ski equipment, in which the skier sits in a specially-equipped chair and is guided down the mountain with the help of the volunteers and staff. Because the participants are matched with volunteer instructors, the number of people that ARISE can accept into the program is based on how many volunteers they have. For example, Schwanke said, last year they had 81 applications, but they could only take 43 skiers. There were 82 volunteers last year. Pre-COVID, Schwanke said, those numbers were closer to 120. Participants apply for spots in the program through ARISE’s website — ariseinc.org — during late fall, so the program is full at this time for the 2024 season. Those interested in volunteering can also find applications on the ARISE website. They must be experienced skiers. They will receive

ARISE & Sky instructor helping Trevor Wallen of Manlius learn to ski. Since it started in 1996, ARISE & Ski has given hundreds of participants the opportunity to enjoy the winter season. annual training both on and off the mountain. Off-the-mountain training takes place on a weekend in December. They would only need to attend one day, but the training is offered both Saturday and Sunday, Schwanke said. On-hill training needs to be completed when the mountain is open for skiing, so that can vary from year to year. Like Mason and Trevor, many of the participants gain a greater sense of confidence. “We have had a lot of participants that have learned how to ski so well that they are now a volunteer for us, and they’re on the mountain teaching other people how to ski,”

Schwanke said. But there’s more — there’s a feeling of independence, she said. Since it started in 1996, ARISE & Ski has given hundreds of participants the opportunity to enjoy the winter season with others and experience the exhilaration and freedom that can come with skiing. “When you’re on the mountain flying down the hill with other skiers — yes, you’re using a special piece of equipment — but you’re still going at the same speed as everyone else,” Schwanke said. “We have a lot of people that say, ‘I have a need for speed and ARISE & Ski helps me do that.’”

Cold Weather Running May Be Even Healthier

reary, chilly winter days might cause some year-round runners to think twice about their jog, but recent research suggests the benefits of cold weather running outweigh those of running in warmer conditions. Specifically, cold weather can help runners burn more bad fat, lose more weight and feel healthier overall. “Cold weather doesn't have to force runners indoors and I encourage my patients to continue safely running outdoors,” said physician Joshua Blomgren, an assistant professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “Exercise is medicine, even in the winter.” Running in cold weather produces less heat stress on the body, which can make a winter jog easier than one

in the summer, Blomgren said. Higher body temperatures are associated with increased exertion and strain on the heart, lungs and metabolism. On the other hand, winter running can boost your metabolism at a time when cold temperatures are causing your average metabolism to slow down in an attempt to preserve fat, Blomgren explained. Cold weather jogging tricks the body into stopping that slowdown, helping you maintain a healthy weight. Scientific evidence also suggests that exercising in cold temperatures can help convert “bad” white fat to “good” brown fat, Blomgren said. White fat can cause inflammation and insulin resistance, while brown fat is metabolic tissue that helps burn calories.

Page 10 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

Blomgren does issue some cautions to folks who choose to run in the cold, however: • Dress in appropriate layers • Wear sweat-wicking fabrics rather than cotton or wool • Wear a head covering • Drink lots of water before and after a run • Keep an eye out for hidden ice on running paths • Don a nose and mouth covering to warm the crisp air, making it easier to breathe But even the hardiest cold weather runners should consider staying indoors during sub-zero cold waves, and always remain alert for any signs of frostbite while outside, Blomgren added.

Wellness & Fitness Valerie Patrick, owner and teacher at Core Pilates & Yoga in Cicero, shows some Pilates poses.

Owner Valerie Patrick practices on a machine at Core Pilates & Yoga in Cicero

Why You Should Consider Doing Pilates

Growing in popularity, the practice can help keep you limber and strong By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

opular through studios, videos and online, Pilates provides a system of strength training that helps participants gain muscle and recover from injuries or surgery. In fact, Joseph Pilates developed the practice in the early 1900s to help bedridden patients develop better strength through breathing exercises and by using springs affixed to their hospital beds. That rudimentary apparatus became the Pilates Reformer, equipment that current practitioners use. Numerous styles of Pilates have developed since its founder introduced it. “Pilates is similar to functional resistance training,” said Ashley Capenos, nationally certified Pilates trainer at Metro Fitness Downtown in Syracuse. “We use springs instead of weights. It’s balanced with your intrinsic and extrinsic muscular systems. It’s focused on the core, but that helps stabilize all other parts of your body. “The equipment can cater to whatever the body’s level or person’s goal, whether it’s someone who’s

a Division 1 college athlete in their prime or someone off a double hip replacement. Their workouts will look different, but they can benefit from Pilates as a whole.” Working with a certified instructor one-on-one can help modify Pilates movements to accommodate injuries. Valerie Patrick, owner and teacher for about 30 years at Core Pilates & Yoga in Cicero, considers Pilates a mind-body exercise, breathing-based, and focused on stretching and strengthening. In those aspects, it’s similar to yoga, but “Pilates works more on core stability and strength.” “A lot of people think it’s only for dancers,” she added. Because Joseph Pilates’ studio was located near a dance school, many dancers came to him to help them recover from injuries. This early association has caused many people to think that Pilates is a “woman’s activity,” stereotype with which Patrick disagrees. “It was developed by a man, for men,” she said. “Joseph Pilates worked with the British Army to

rehab soldiers.” Much of the equipment used in Pilates is proprietary, such as the Reformer. There’s also the “Cadillac” (also known as the trapeze table). The raised mat — complete with a framework, springs and other apparatuses — allows instructors to not have to get down on the floor with each student to adjust and correct them. The apparatuses aid students who need to improve their physical condition and resistance to challenge them. Students perform movements on an exercise mat also. Patrick said that practicing Pilates helped with her congenital back condition. “I took Advil every day for the pain,” she said. “Once I started doing Pilates, it was the only thing that helped me and I now live pain-free. I have had many students who came to me with different health conditions. I’ve seen so many success stories from those students due to the benefits of Pilates.” One way in which Pilates is different from other types of exercise is that it works small, connective tis-

sues are often overlooked with other activities. Pilates also builds range of motion within the joint itself, which is different and more difficult that stretching before a workout. By strengthening the core, Pilates helps people improve in many types of athletic pursuits. “Pilates is known to be a great way to build core strength,” said Jill Murphy, certified personal trainer and co-owner of Mission Fitness in Syracuse. She added that Pilates also helps build overall stability. “Pilates challenges people physically in ways that other exercise does not, and also helps increase flexibility,” Murphy said. “Although some may use it to try to build strength, proper resistance training would be superior to building muscle the most efficient and effective way possible.” This may include athletes who want to improve to people recovering from surgery, sedentary lifestyle or an injury. And in any case, Murphy believes that Pilates improves mobility for supporting day-to-day activities.

January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 11

Wellness & Fitness

Benefits of Chair Yoga

Although mostly a seated activity, chair yoga promotes good health By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

or people with limited mobility, practicing yoga seems unattainable. But chair yoga may offer an entry point. Chair yoga is an informal term that may refer to practicing yoga, including some modified poses, entirely while seated or it can also refer to using a chair more like a yoga prop for people capable of standing but who need support.

“You can make it as strenuous and vigorous as participant can tolerate,” said Shannon Loughlin, certified therapeutic recreation specialist. “If you have decreased mobility or decreased cardio endurance, you can also slow it down and make it more purposeful movement. It helps increase your muscle strength and muscle tone. You can move from pose to pose to improve your special

awareness.” Loughlin directs life enrichment and recreation at The Nottingham in Jamesville and leads chair yoga classes throughout the continuum, from independent living to skilled nursing. People who are capable of standing can use the chair to help them balance better. Loughlin also said that people recovering from surgery or injury find chair yoga helpful for reducing the risk of hurting the injured area again. “Just that stretching alone helps increase blood flow which helps the healing process of the injured area,” she added. By making yoga available for any person, chair yoga helps more people access the stress-reducing aspects of practicing yoga, even if their poses are modified in some way. The breathing and meditation aspects of yoga contribute to this effect. “We live in a stressful society,” Loughlin said. “Chair yoga helps distract you for a short time about those stressful things going on in your life. It’s good for decreasing blood pressure, anxiety, inflammation and chronic pain. “Overall, it helps promote cognitive, physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. It doesn’t have to be vigorous. You can do it. You have to work through and push yourself. The more you move, the better you feel.” Valerie Patrick, owner of Core Pilates & Yoga in Cicero, likes that chair yoga can be for anyone. She has taught corporate classes, gentle yoga for older adults and has instructed a student who used a wheelchair. “We’d do upper body things and we worked around what she

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Page 12 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

could and could not do,” Patrick said. “Even if you use a wheelchair, if you have upper body movement, it can be very beneficial, especially the mind body connection and the breath work. “It’s great for the older generation. Our balance isn’t as good as it used to be and our bones are brittle. We want better balance so we don’t fall and want better strength so we can catch ourselves. A broken hip or pelvis can be detrimental to someone’s health. Chair yoga is weight bearing so it helps with osteoporosis.” Chair yoga can also help people who have deconditioned and want to become fitter. Jill Murphy, certified personal trainer and co-owner at Mission Fitness Syracuse, had a client who was unable to walk or spend much time on her feet. “She would do exercises in the chair using a home workout video that would guide her on working out,” Murphy said. “It definitely helped her lose weight and helped her burn body fat so she could work towards getting to a place of overall health.” She views chair yoga as a way to help keep participants safer, more active and able to explore their potential. Even if a pose isn’t perfect or traditional, it keeps participants moving. Chair yoga may be helpful for people who have sedentary work. Rolling out a yoga mat in one’s cubicle isn’t practical, but learning a few chair yoga moves can help deskbased workers breathe deeper, relax, stretch and strengthen.

Wellness & Fitness

learn through the Alexander Technique are involved in music performance, acting, dance or other performing arts because of the toll these careers take on the body. Kathryn Miranda began studying Alexander Technique 38 years ago and became certified to teach it 35 years ago. She operates Alexander Techniques of Syracuse and teaches at SU in the music and theater departments.

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osture habits affect how your body moves and can cause stiffness, tension and stress. The Alexander Technique, developed a century ago by F.M. Alexander, teaches students about how to improve and self-correct their posture to foster proper movement, improve performance and alertness and relief chronic issues caused by poor posture. Many of the people seeking to

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The Alexander Technique

“It’s all about becoming aware of habits that interfere with our nature as living organisms that has systems to help us be upright and well with breathing, good movement patterns that aren’t going to add up to stress,” Miranda said. “It is so foundational how we move and how we respond to a gravitational field to keep all those parts in good relationships with each other. It takes a brilliant brain, which we have. But it’s a social brain.” This means that people pick up bad movement and posture habits like slouching, standing asymmetrically, squinting the eyes and sitting in chairs that do not fit the body well. Instead of positioning the body in a stiff postural position, students are free to move and without effort. It’s similar to how young children move freely and without effort or thought about posture. Self-awareness is the first step in AT as students focus on how they’re breathing and how they’re positioned while typing, playing an instrument or doing anything at all. A student may notice he’s holding his breath, tapping a foot or suspending his shoulders. Making the posture more comfortable and easier is the next part of the lesson, along with developing a helpful and healthful habit that holds the body comfortably and without causing problems. Miranda helps students find the helpful positions and develop the healthful habits. “If the person gives mindful attention and has an intention to allow change, that’s huge,” she said. “That involves the retraining of the brain

and that’s where changes will be much more lasting. With my hands, I encourage and invite muscles to release and lengthen. That’s an experience they get but that doesn’t take them forward into changing their life as much as what they learn to do for themselves.” As students continue to learn, they apply AT to other things they do all day, such as sitting in an armchair, walking across the room, standing at the kitchen sink to wash dishes. In addition, musicians and athletes often come in to improve their performance. And like their professional pursuit, it takes practice to improve in AT. But AT is a way of approaching everyday movement, whether sitting, standing, walking, riding a horse, washing dishes or anything else. This may include tightening, bracing, straining, generally making things harder than they need to be. These responses are often evident during stressful times but can surface at any time. “A lot of times, I start off not with the technique, but to find out their issues,” said Victoria Quesada, certified Alexander Technique instructor in Hamilton. “Is it pain, a performance issue or posture? What’s the reason they’re coming? Then we talk about the technique.” She teaches people to “move from the inside out” based upon their awareness of postural and movement inconsistencies and shortcomings. One example is a student who tilter her head because she believed her nose looked better at that angle. The habit unknowingly caused her to experience neck pain. “The body was designed a certain way and if you use it that way, you optimize your health,” Quesada said. “Posture is sort of an end product, not the goal. The goal is to use your body the way it was designed. Some people come to it for posture, but most because they have a pain issue. I’ve had musicians and other performers come. Some have come for appearance. It improves your appearance. If your body is lined up the way it’s supposed to be, you look taller and thinner.” Eventually, good movement and posture habits become second nature so that those using Alexander Technique don’t even think about it. But Quesada said that they have to be committed to making the change.

January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 13

My Turn It’s Cold and Snowy Out There: Beware of Winter Heart Attacks By Eva Briggs, MD

s I write this in early December, winter really hasn’t arrived full force. But here in Central New York we are bound to get some cold weather and snow — which brings the risk of winter heart attacks. First a review of what constitutes a heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction. Your heart is mostly muscle which contracts to circulate blood to the body. And just like your biceps, triceps and quadriceps, your heart muscle needs a steady supply of blood to keep working. The coronary arteries supply that blood. If the coronary arteries are narrowed, they may deliver enough blood to the heart muscle when you are sedentary. But when the heart is working harder and narrowed arteries can’t supply sufficient blood to meet demand, that’s called ischemia. Common symptoms are angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath. If the artery becomes completely blocked the heart muscle dies. That’s an infarction or heart attack. Several factors contribute to the risk of heart attacks in the winter. First is cold. It constricts the blood vessels. This raises the blood pressure making the heart work harder. And it diminishes blood flow to the

heart. Your body must work harder to maintain its temperature especially when it’s windy. Increased physical activity makes the heart work extra hard. Shoveling snow, slogging through deep snow, scraping ice off your car put extra demand on the heart, especially if you are out of shape. The emotional stress of holidays increases the production of stress hormones and raises the risk of heart attacks. You can reduce the risk with some commonsense measures. • Dress for the weather. Choose clothes made from materials like wool, polar fleece, down or down alternative insulation. Wet cotton becomes heavy and loses all of its insulating power. Dressing in layers is warmer and allows you to adjust your clothing more easily. As you heat up you can remove layers to avoid drenching your clothes in sweat. When you cool down you can add layers back. • Come indoors for a break to warm up when you are cold. • Avoid excess alcohol. It makes you falsely feel warmer. • Don’t shovel for long periods of time. Check with your doctor as to whether it is safe for you to shovel snow at all.

• Follow measures to reduce the chance of respiratory illness, which is a risk factor for heart attacks. Keep away from sick people, stay home if you are sick and wash your hands frequently. • Seek immediate medical care if you develop symptoms of a heart attack; even if it is night or a holiday. The more time you delay, the more heart muscle damage you develop.

Signs of a possible heart attack • Acute severe chest pain. People often describe it as a weight or tightness. It can be in the center of your chest, the left side, the right side or even upper abdomen. It may spread to the shoulder, arm or jaw. It’s possible for a heart attack to cause pain in these locations without chest pain. Other possible heart attack symptoms: • Nausea or vomiting • Dizziness • Shortness of breath • Pain, numbness, or tingling in the jaw, back, neck or shoulders • Cold sweat • Heartburn • Sudden fatigue If you think you or someone you are with might be having a heart

UPSTATE CARDIOLOGY CONTINUES TO GROW

attack, calling 911 and going to an emergency room is the safest option. The patient should never drive him or herself. If you have no contraindication to aspirin, it’s OK to take a dose. The correct dose is 324 mg of chewable aspirin which equals four baby aspirin. If you take aspirin, still go to the ER. Don’t wait around to see if the pain goes away. Aspirin acts as a blood thinner and can buy time, but aspirin alone is NOT a cure or the only needed treatment. Don’t go to the urgent care or a doctor’s office if you have heart attack symptoms. These locations lack the resources to diagnose and treat heart attacks! Stay safe and enjoy winter. By the time this article appears in print the days will be getting longer.

Eva Briggs is a retired medical doctor who practiced in Central New York for several decades. She lives in Marcellus.

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Page 14 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

SmartBites By Anne Palumbo

Helpful Tips

The skinny on healthy eating

For maximum vitamin retention—whether fresh or frozen— use quick-cooking methods that don’t include water (or very little): steaming, microwaving, stir-frying or sautéing. Frozen spinach retains more of its nutrients for a longer time than fresh spinach because of the lower temperatures at which it is kept. Lastly, check with your doctor before consuming spinach in any form, as its nutritional profile is not for everyone.

What Gives Spinach its ‘Superfood’ Status?

never liked spinach as a kid, despite my crush on Popeye. But now that I have more candles on my birthday cake, enough to cause a divot, I’ve developed a true fondness for this leafy, green vegetable. Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, spinach benefits the body in so many ways, it’s often referred to as a “superfood.” My devotion to this tasty green ramped up when a scan showed bone loss, and I was advised to increase my consumption of bone-strengthening vitamin K and calcium. Although spinach has negligible amounts of calcium, it’s a vitamin K superstar, surpassing recommended daily needs in one cup. Vitamin K also helps blood clot properly. Spinach packs high amounts of vitamin A. This workhorse nutrient may lower your risk of certain cancers, helps keep your immune system humming, reduces the risk of acne, and works hard to preserve your eyesight. Ever experience night blindness? It’s frightening! More spinach, please. A diet rich in spinach also helps fight oxidative stress, an unhealthy condition that triggers accelerated aging and increases your risk of can-

cer, heart disease, diabetes and more. Spinach’s myriad of antioxidants— from its vitamins A and C to its many plant compounds—helps reduce the damage oxidative stress causes. More good news: a recent study found that healthy seniors who had daily helpings of leafy green vegetables had a slower rate of cognitive decline, compared to those who ate little or no greens. Lastly, spinach is an excellent source of folate, an essential B vitamin that is crucial for promoting a healthy pregnancy, turning carbs into energy, and synthesizing serotonin and dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitters that keep us happy. So long, cabin fever!

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

HEALTHY SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP Serves 6-8

½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt 1/3 cup fat-reduced cream cheese, softened 1/3 cup fat-reduced mayonnaise 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ¼ cup Parmesan cheese 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon cumin ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional) ½ teaspoon Kosher salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper 8 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained 14 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped ¾ cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese pita chips, crackers or crusty bread for serving

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Whisk the yogurt, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and lemon juice together until smooth. Stir in the Parmesan, garlic, and spices until well mixed, then stir in the spinach, chopped artichokes, and mozzarella. 2. Place mixture in blender or food processor and gently pulse until it reaches desired consistency. Spread the dip in an oven-safe baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. 3. Serve warm with crackers, chips, or crusty bread.

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January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 15

Parenting By Melissa Stefanec MelissaStefanec@yahoo.com

Resolution: Mommy Is Going Elemental

ne of my favorite ways to nerd out is to dig into some etymology. I love learning how words form and evolve throughout the ages. In honor of a new year, I’m going to dissect the word “resolution.” Collectively, we throw that word around a lot in January, but most of us, myself included, probably haven’t dug into how the word resolution came to be. Turns out, it was born in Middle English. It’s derived from the Latin word “resolvere,” which means to loosen, release or break something down into simpler parts. In the 1500s, resolution came to mean the solving of a problem; one who had resolve could figure things out. When I put that historical context on it, resolutions start making a lot more sense. Perhaps, resolutions are nothing more than simple solutions that one resolves to accomplish. If I take a cue from the word’s Latin roots, my resolutions should be elemental solutions for everyday

problems. Instead of big, lofty goals that I don’t have the energy or time for, I need to think about simple things I can do that will effect meaningful change. In that thread, this piece will focus on my simple resolutions to help me be a better parent. To be a better parent in 2024, I will listen, play and understand. More specifically, I want to listen better and more intently, play more often and better understand my own emotions and reactions (and help my kids understand theirs). I’ve broken my resolutions down into categories, because “resolvere” tells me to be successful that I should break things down. Play: I will play more of the games my kids want to play. The adulting to-do list never ends. Many times, when my kids ask me to play with them, I tell them I will play later because I am busy. Sometimes, later never happens. Sure, I have responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take 10 minutes

to throw a football in the yard or draw in the driveway with chalk to make my kids feel important. Listen: I will look my children in the eye when they talk. When my kids are talking to me, I’m often doing something else. Whether that something is stirring dinner on the stove, making a shopping list, coordinating an activity or gathering laundry, they often don’t have my full attention, even if I am listening. Wouldn’t it make my kids feel more valued if I paused, made eye contact and let them know they are the only thing in my world for a few seconds? Listen and Understand: I will be less dismissive of my kids’ feelings. I’m usually pretty good at this one, but it’s so easy to be dismissive. I have to remind myself that all human feelings are real. Kids don’t have fake emotions while adults get to have real ones. Although their feelings may not always make sense to me, I will let them feel those things and not talk them out of their own emotions. Listen and Understand: I will intently listen to their stories. Sometimes, I think adults find the wrong things interesting. There is so much more to a child’s story than meets the eye. When my kids tell me a story about school, a game or an interaction, they are giving me cues. They’re sharing what interests, bothers or stimulates them. If I listen intently, I will better understand my kids and make them feel more understood. Understand: I will work on how annoyed I get. How do I get annoyed? Let me

Build Social Connection. Prevent Loneliness. We may not think of loneliness as posing serious health risks, but if feelings of loneliness are not addressed, they can significantly impact our health. There are ways to help prevent loneliness and the resulting health impacts. If you’re feeling lonely, consider the following: • Seek support: Reach out to friends, family or a therapist. Support groups can also foster a sense of community and understanding. • Volunteer: Helping others can boost self-esteem and foster meaningful relationships. • Take up a hobby: Engage in activities that bring you joy. Join a club or group with shared interests to meet new people and build relationships. • Practice self-care: Maintain a healthy diet, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and practice mindfulness and self-compassion. • Try something new: Step outside your comfort zone. It can be intimidating but can also lead to new connections and relationships.

Listen to our episode, “The Loneliness Epidemic” on the Community Check-in to learn more about this issue and who is most at risk. A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Page 16 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

count the ways. Dirty clothes on the bathroom floor again. Tiny milk puddles on the table. Bickering. Trash on their bedroom floors. Countless water bottles rolling around my backseat. Socks under the couch. Asking for something to be done five times. When I get annoyed at this stuff, I’m just teaching my kids to be annoyed by the little things. Instead of being annoyed, I can just be consistent, direct and kind when setting expectations for them. Play and Understand: I will take them to smell the flowers. I get my family outside a lot, but we often are rushing, even when we’re outdoors and relaxing. I resolve to get my family outside more and give them the time to wander aimlessly. I will do the same. That way, we have time to count the stripes on a bee and notice how many colors there are on a single flower petal. Listen and Understand: I will listen to their music. We are big music fans in our house, but my kids’ selections don’t always make the family playlist. I want to give them more time to DJ. I want to dig into what they love about their favorite songs. I want to engage with them and show them I value their tastes and preferences. So, there it is, my list of simple actions that will help me be a better parent in 2024. For the sake of myself, my husband and my kids, I resolve to play, listen and understand. I plan to do that with some simple actions that I hope will really add up. Wish me luck, because the simplest goals are the hardest to keep.

OMEN'S HEALTH

Thyroid Disorders Can Affect Women’s Health in a Big Way Women are nine times more likely to have a thyroid disorder By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

hyroid disorders are important to treat as this small gland at the base of the neck below the Adam’s apple controls numerous bodily functions. Without its proper function, people can become more likely to experience potentially deadly blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart issues. In addition to regulating aspects of the autonomic nervous system for either gender, the thyroid also affects women regarding menstruation, ovulation, cyst development, pregnancy and postpartum complications and early onset menopause. In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid makes too much thyroid hormone; in hypothyroidism, the thyroid makes too little. Since it increases the body’s metabolism, hyperthyroidism typically causes weight loss, hand tremors and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Those with hypothyroidism may notice fatigue, feeling cold, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, puffiness in the face, hoarseness, coarse and thinning hair, muscle weakness, muscle aches, muscle stiffness, irregular or heavier menstrual cycles, slower heart rate, depression and memory problems. Because many of these symptoms can be attributed to many other causes, Az Tahir, physician, practicing in functional medicine in Syracuse at High Point Wellness and in Henrietta, advises people experiencing these symptoms to seek a blood test.

“Most doctors are not attentive to these issues,” Tahir said. “The main problem in modern medicine is because a doctor isn’t thinking about the thyroid, when a patient says, ‘I’m tired, I have constipation, my periods are irregular and my skin is dry,’ they will give other tests and not test the thyroid.” About 12% of US adults will develop a thyroid disorder during their lifetime and about 20 million currently have a thyroid disorder, according to www.thyroid.org. Women are nine times more likely to have a thyroid disorder, likely because Hashimoto’s syndrome, a precursor of hypothyroidism, is more common in women. It’s an autoimmune disorder, a category of diseases to which women are more prone than men. Tahir said that even among physicians who test the thyroid for their patients, they tend to overlook the need for treating them for thyroid issues if their test results are borderline, even if they experience classic hypo- or hyperthyroid symptoms. The test measures thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood stream. “They’ll say your TSH is normal, but it’s not actually normal,” Tahir said. “They won’t listen to the patient and that’s the basic principle of medicine. Hippocrates said to listen to the patient and the patient will tell you the diagnosis.” He uses a compounding pharma-

cy as needed to ensure he can make available to patients the formula that best meets their needs. Tahir also thinks that although medication is necessary, physicians tend to fixate on medication only without giving enough merit to overall lifestyle. In addition to medication to help control the problem, Tahir recommends improving diet. “A number of studies link Hashimoto’s with leaky gut,” Tahir said. “I make sure the gut is strong.” He recommends bone broth for chicken soup to improve gut health, along with foods such as yogurt, kefir and kimchi. Enough water and fiber are also necessary. Tahir said that clear urine that’s not odorous indicates sufficient hydration. Foods that can support thyroid health includes Brazil nuts; turmeric; garlic, ginger; mushrooms; berries; fish such as yellowfin tuna, halibut, sardines and salmon; meat like ham, pork, beef, and turkey; poultry; eggs and breads and grains, especially those enriched with selenium. “I advise patients to try to not eat out; cook at home, especially when they’re sick,” Tahir added. “They know the ingredients and eat the least ingredients.” He also promotes tea made with turmeric, ginger, milk thistle, dande-

lion root, echinacea or rosemary. Ajay Chaudhuri, physician, division chief endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at UBMD Internal Medicine and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo advises diagnosed thyroid disorder patients to eat a healthful diet and to exercise to support overall good health. Beyond prescribed medication, “there’s no real evidence out there if there are other things that can help,” he added. “Selenium, a trace element, has been shown to have some effect but there’s no scientific evidence. People often ask if they can change their diet to correct it.” Chaudhuri warns women planning to get pregnant to have their thyroid level checked first and also early in the pregnancy because babies rely upon the mother’s level of thyroid early in the pregnancy. “It may not be causing any symptoms, but you don’t want an underactive thyroid while pregnant,” he said. He also tells patients about to test for thyroid and those who have been diagnosed that they should tell their provider about any other medication and supplements they take, as these can affect the efficacy of their thyroid medicine.

weight and admission to a NICU. Twenty of the studies measured the association between cannabis exposure and the risk of preterm delivery. In these, the combined results showed that pregnant women using cannabis were over 1.5 times more likely to have a preterm delivery, compared with women not using cannabis during pregnancy. Meanwhile, 18 of the studies measured the risk of low birth weight. There, investigators found that women using cannabis during

pregnancy were more than twice as likely to have a low-birth-weight baby compared with women who didn’t. Last but not least, 10 of the studies measured the risk of needing NICU admission. In these, exposed newborns were more than twice as likely to require NICU admission as non exposed newborns. The studies in the meta-analysis were published between 1984 and 2023 in a wide range of countries.

Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Ups Risk of Premature Birth

sing cannabis during pregnancy may not be as benign as some think, with a new review showing it raises the risk for both premature and low-birth-weight newborns. In turn, that raised the chances of these infants winding up in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for special care. There was reassuring news in the analysis, published Nov. 16 in the journal Addiction: Exposure to cannabis while in the womb did not translate into a higher risk for birth defects, death within one year or death from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Some moms-to-be turn to weed for help with morning sickness or general malaise, but the researchers noted that may be a dangerous decision. “The global increase in cannabis

use among women of reproductive age also extends to pregnant women,” said study first author Maryam Sorkhu, at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. “We know that THC, the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis, can cross the placenta from mother to fetus and bind to receptors in the fetal brain,” Sorkhu said in a news release from the Society for the Study of Addiction. “Our study adds to that knowledge by showing that prenatal exposure to cannabis heightens the risk of several adverse birth outcomes.” In their review, the investigators pooled the results of 57 published studies that involved a total of nearly 13 million infants, almost 103,000 of them exposed to cannabis. Three different outcomes were measured: premature birth, low birth

January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 17

OMEN'S HEALTH

9 Women’s Health Myths Do you believe any of these? Really? By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Maybe it was information passed down to you. Or perhaps you always assumed something to be true. But it’s time to clear up a few myths about women’s health. Myth: Working out is always unpleasant and usually painful if you want to see results. Truth: “We’re encouraging people to have a positive outlook on exercise and to have a reasonable expectation,” said Kevin Gretsky, a physical therapist at Brighton Physical Therapy in Syracuse. Myth: Exercising hard is the only way to be healthy. Truth: “‘More’ isn’t always ‘better,’” Gretsky said. “Fitness should be built around your goals.” A personal trainer or physical therapist can advise on what you should do and how hard you should work out to reach your goals. Myth: Aerobic exercise is all you need to be healthy. Truth: “Aerobic exercise, weight training and all of it is important and doing it under the guidance of a professional,” Gretsky said. “Thinking about fitness and wellness and weight loss, is important to have a multi-disciplined approach.” Myth: You should be the only one responsible improving your health.

Truth: “Have a physical therapist for injuries, a nutritionist for diet, a doctor monitoring your blood pressure and how it’s responding,” Gretsky said. Working with a health team is important because it helps improve both the safety and efficacy of making healthy lifestyle choices. Myth: I can’t work out because I’m not in good enough shape. Truth: “That’s untrue. You don’t have to be in good shape to start,” said Ashley Capenos, nationally certified Pilates trainer at Metro Fitness Downtown in Syracuse. “I’ve seen people with MS, ALS, scoliosis and older people who had polio as a kid with different sizes of legs.” Selecting a form of exercise or physical activity that works for you and your goals matters the most. Myth: The number on the scale is the most important metric for health. Truth: “When people start working with me, they think they’ll see weight loss,” Capenos said. “I tell them to throw the scale away. Weight is not a value correlating directly with their health. What you’re looking for is how you’re feeling, your mood and how your clothes are fitting. If you have the energy to keep up with two children under three, you’re probably in good shape. Weight is not an indication of overall

health and wellbeing. The BMI chart has warped us all.” Myth: Only skinny women are healthy women. Truth: “They could be ‘skinny fat,” Capenos said. “That person could be struggling with eating disorders and mental health. The body is deteriorating, but they look great. Women especially see it as they’re struggling mentally and losing weight.” Weight also may not reflect the amount of muscle a particular person carries. A lighter person the same height may have less muscle and be less healthy. Myth: Making small lifestyle changes won’t make a difference in my overall health. Truth: “Your healthy lifestyle choices all add up,” Capenos said. To make a difference in both short-term and long-term health, drinking more water instead of sugary beverages; eat more nutrient-rich produce instead of processed foods; get sufficient rest; take more time for self-care and stress management; and exercise regularly while incorporat-

ing more movement each day. “If you’re looking to set a serious change, schedule 30 minutes of ‘me’ time,” Capenos said. “Do something until the alarm goes off. Don’t let yourself get up and change the laundry over. There will never be a day we don’t have laundry. I look at fitness as a ‘care task.’” Myth: Women who lift weights will look bulky like a man. Truth: “Because women have a different hormone base than men, having much less testosterone than men, they will not get big and bulky through resistance training,” said Jill Murphy, certified personal trainer and co-owner of Mission Fitness in Syracuse. “The only way they would get bigger is if they were doing resistance training and building muscle, but not doing the proper diet and gaining body fat around the muscle causing it to look bigger. But again, they’re never going to get big and bulky like men, even if they train in the same manner. They don’t have the hormones that men have to do so.”

Auburn’s YMCA: ‘More Than ‘Gym and Swim’ By Joe Sarnicola

hen Laura Clary was a cheerleader at Ithaca High School, she never imagined that eventually she would be the health and wellness director of the Auburn YMCA. She felt that cheerleading was not being recognized as an athletic endeavor. So she developed workout and resistance exercise for her teammates, which fostered a love for the teaching and promotion of fitness. In the mid-1980s, Clary was married with two young children and living in Auburn. After becoming a member of the Auburn YMCA, she was asked to start teaching other members, beginning with stretch and tone and pregnancy fitness. As she added certifications to her resume, she was able to teach a wide range of classes, such as Zumba and active older adults and she is certified as a personal trainer by the National Exercise Trainers Association. One of the programs Clary is most excited about is Livestrong at the YMCA, which was developed by the Livestrong Foundation to help cancer survivors improve the quality

of their lives, manage certain symptoms and side effects of treatments and connect with other survivors. “This is the most important program I have been involved with,” she said. “The classes are deliberately kept small and it is great to see so many friendships develop.” According to Livestrong.org, the program typically lasts 12 weeks, with two 75-90-minute sessions per week that include cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, balance and flexibility exercises. In Auburn Clary and her co-facilitator, Wendy Vitale, conduct fitness and quality of life assessments before and after participation. The program requires referral and medical clearance from a physician. More than 75,000 people have completed this program nationwide, with nearly 800 YMCAs participating. This is a free program and participants are given a free three-month YMCA family membership while in the program at Auburn. The Auburn YMCA was organized in 1859, making it one of the oldest in the United States. Build-

Page 18 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

ing on the history of the organization, Clary said new programs are planned for the future. “My niche has become our evidence-based chronic disease programs. These are developed by medical professionals and then reported to the CDC to show their validity,” she said. She is the program manager for enhance fitness (an arthritis management program) and the blood pressure self-monitoring program, a new program to help people manage their blood pressure that will launch in January 2024. In addition to the classes, pro-

grams, and equipment available to members, the YMCA offers an onsite pre-school program and operates before- and after-school programs at several local elementary schools, a summer program for youth at Camp Y-Owasco on Owasco Lake, a beforeand after-school program at several local elementary schools and a school and community-based program for at-risk youth call Y-Pals. Clary summed up her feelings about the Auburn YMCA with a simple sentence: “What sets our Y apart, besides its history, is what we offer. We are much more than ‘gym and swim.’”

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Crouse Adds Advanced Mako SmartRobotics to its Surgery Program

Innovative robotic technology allows orthopedic surgeons to personalize total knee, partial knee, total hip procedures to each patient

uilding on its regional leadership and experience in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery, Crouse Health has recently added the MakoSmartRobotics technology for total knee, partial knee and total hip orthopedic procedures. The Mako robotic technology can relieve painful arthritis in knees and hips, and it’s been associated with less pain, less need for pain medication, reduced hospital stays and improved knee flexion and soft tissue protection. Mako does not perform the surgery, make decisions on its own, or move without the surgeon guiding it. It’s the surgeon who guides Mako’s robotic arm during the surgery, and it’s the surgeon who is able to make adjustments to the plan at any time as needed. Mako’s 3D CT-based imaging, coupled with technology that provides more accurate and precise maneuverability, results in improved outcomes, such as less pain and quicker recovery times compared to manual surgery, helping patients get back to the things they love quicker. “As the market leader in robotic surgery, Crouse is pleased to offer Central New York orthopedic patients the Mako robotic technology,” says Crouse President and CEO Seth Kronenberg, MD. “Our surgeons have been pioneers in robotic-assisted surgery for 15 years. We’re proud of the program we have built in collaboration with many of the region’s top surgeons and are excited to be adding the Mako orthopedic technology to our comprehensive robotics program.” Patient benefits of the Mako advanced technology: • Less pain and faster recovery: Mako robotic surgery can reduce the amount of bone and soft tissue that is removed during the procedure, which can lower the risk of complications and infections. Mako surgery can also improve the alignment and placement of the artificial joint components, which can enhance stability and mobility. • More precise and consistent results: Mako use advanced technology which provides tactile, visual and auditory feedback to the surgeon during the procedure. This helps the surgeon achieve the desired orientation of the artificial joint components, which can improve their performance and durability. • Less damage to healthy bone:

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Mako surgery guides the surgeon’s movements with a robotic arm, which ensures that they follow the plan exactly. This can help preserve more healthy bone tissue around the joint area, which can reduce the need for additional bone grafting or revision surgeries in the future.

Crouse’s Role in Robotic Surgery Since launching its robotic surgery program in 2008, Crouse surgeons have performed over 16,000 robotic-assisted procedures. The program has expanded to include seven da Vinci XI systems and the latest addition of a da Vinci Single Port (SP) system, the only one in Central New York. The program’s 27 surgeons provide procedures that support a variety of medical conditions in a wide range of specialty areas, including general, bariatric, colorectal, thoracic surgery, GYN oncology, gynecology and urology. “This addition to our robotics service line reflects our ongoing commitment to providing the community with outstanding, comprehensive healthcare,” says Kronenberg.

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By Warren Beck Social Security District Manager in Syracuse.

ocial Security programs touch the lives of more than 71 million people. We work hard to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible to you. Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with Social Security online. This begins with creating your free and secure personal My Social Security account at www.ssa. gov/myaccount. Once you create an account, you can: • Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits. • Apply for Medicare. • Check your application status. • Request a replacement Social Security number card. If you do not receive Social Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to: • Get personalized retirement benefit estimates. • Get your Social Security Statement. • Get estimates for spouse’s benefits. • Get instant proof that you do

Q& A Q.: How do I change my citizenship status on Social Security’s records? A.: To change your citizenship status shown in Social Security records: • Complete an application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5), which you can find online at www. ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html. • Provide documents proving your: – New or revised citizenship status (We can only accept certain documents as proof of citizenship. These include your U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social Security will ask to see your current immigration documents). – Age. – Identity. • Next, take (or mail) your completed application and documents to your local Social Security office. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. For more information, visit www.ssa.gov/ssnumber. Q.: A few years ago, I lost my Social Security card. Now my credit report shows that someone might be using my Social Security number. I’m afraid they might

not receive benefits. If you receive benefits, you can use your personal My Social Security account to: • Change your address (Social Security benefits only). • Set up or change your direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only). • Instantly get proof of benefits. • Print your SSA-1099. Your personal My Social Security account has a secure message center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustments and the Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt-out of receiving notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices. Your personal My Social Security account offers easy access to features that save you time when you do business with us online. Check out our other resources available at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices for your convenience. Please share this information with your friends and loved ones who may need it.

ruin my credit. What should I do? A.: Identity theft and fraud are serious problems, not just for you, but for the financial integrity of our agency. It also puts our national security at risk if someone dangerous is using your number to obtain other forms of identification. It’s against the law to use someone else’s Social Security number, give false information when applying for a number or alter, buy or sell Social Security cards. Keep in mind, you should never carry your Social Security card with you. If you think someone is using your Social Security number fraudulently, you should report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) right away. You can report it at www. idtheft.gov or you can call FTC’s hotline at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-4384261) TTY (1-866-653-4261). Q.: I haven’t received my Social Security statement in the mail the last few years. Will I ever get one again? A.: We currently mail Social Security statements to workers age 60 and over who aren’t receiving Social Security benefits and do not yet have a My Social Security account. We mail the statements three months prior to your birthday. Instead of waiting to receive a mailed statement, we encourage people to open a My Social Security account at www.ssa. gov/myaccount so they can access their Statement online, anytime.

By Jim Miller

Tips on Caring for an Aging Parent Dear Savvy Senior,

to do for you. Then list the types of care needed, such as simple companionship or doing active chores, like shopping or running errands. Once you determine this, here are some tips and places you can reach out to for help.

Where can I turn for caregiving help? I help take care of my 80-yearold father and work too, and it’s wearing me out. Worn Out Wendy

Care Helpers

Dear Wendy, Taking care of an aging parent over a period of time — especially when juggling work and other family obligations — can be exhausting. But help and resources are available. Here’s what you should know.

Identify Your Needs To help you determine and prioritize the kinds of help you need, a good first step is to make a detailed list of everything you do as your dad’s caregiver and the amount of time each task takes. Identify the times when you need help the most and which tasks others might be able

If you have siblings or other loved ones close by, start by asking them if they could come and help with specific tasks. And see if friends, neighbors or faith group members could help too. You also need to check into local resources that may be available. Many communities offer a range of free or subsidized services that help seniors and caregivers with basic needs such as home delivered meals, transportation, senior companion services and respite services, which offers short-term care so you can take an occasional break. Call the office of the aging in your county for referrals to services.

There are also a bevy of online services you can use to help you save time on certain chores. For example, online grocery shopping and home deliveries, and online pharmacy medication refills and deliveries. You can also order meal-kits or pre-made meals online through numerous meal service delivery companies and arrange needed transportation with ride sharing services like Lyft or Uber. Or, if you can afford it, you may want to consider hiring someone a few hours a week to help with things like cooking, housekeeping or even personal care. Costs can run anywhere from $12 up to $25 per hour. Care.com or CareLinx.com are two good websites to help you find someone, or you can work with a local home care agency.

Financial Aids If you’re handling your dad’s financial chores, make things easier by arranging for direct deposit for his income sources, and set up automatic payments for his utilities and other routine bills. You may also want to set up your dad’s online banking service, so you can pay bills and monitor his account anytime. Or, if you need help, consider hiring a bill paying service like Silver Bills (SilverBills.com), which charges a flat fee of $150 per month. BenefitsCheckup.org is another excellent tool to look for financial assistance programs that may help your dad, particularly if he’s lower income.

dad when you are away at work or if he lives alone, there are affordable technology devices that can help. For example, there are medical alert systems and smart speakers that help with communication and allow him to call for help if needed. Home video cameras with two-way speakers that allow you to monitor and talk to him when you’re away. Electronic pill boxes that can notify you if he has taken his medications. And to help you coordinate his care with other members of his care team there are websites like LotsAHelpingHands.com.

Other Resources There are also a number of other organizations you can draw on for additional information like the Family Care Alliance (Caregiver. org), which provides a state-by-state listing of caregiving programs and services; the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org/help-support/caregiving) that provides information unique to the challenges of dementia caregivers; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Caregiver.va.gov), which offers caregiver support services to veterans and spouses.

Technology Solutions To help you keep tabs on your

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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NUNNSHME.COM January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 21

Health News Medical Staff at Oswego Hospital Appoint New Leadership The medical staff at Oswego Hospital recently appointed new leadership for 2024-2026. Physician Wajeeh Sana has been selected as president of the medical staff. He leads the team of providers as the medical director for the Wajeeh Sana Oswego Hospital emergency department and both Fulton and

St. Joe’s welcomes new cardiologist to its team St. Joseph’s Health recently gained cardiologist Alisha Khan to St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Institute. Khan is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Health, Alisha Khan she completed a cardiovascular disease fellowship at SUNY Upstate Medical University. “I am thrilled to join a team of cardiac professionals with national recognition,” said Khan. “It is very rewarding to be a part of an integrated partnership, deeply committed to delivering the highest quality of cardiac care in our community.” Khan earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada and completed her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiovascular disease at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Khan is well-published, most recently coauthoring “Heart Failure as the Initial Presentation of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery.”

Upstate’s doctor to lead facial plastic surgeons’ trade group Physician Sherard Tatum, profes sor of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery and professor of pediatrics at Upstate Medical University, has been installed as president of the 2,200-member American Academy of Facial Plastic and Sherard Tatum Reconstructive Surgery (AAF-

Central Square urgent care centers. He earned his medical degree from Allama Iqbal Medical College in Pakistan. He has been a member of the medical staff at Oswego Hospital since 2013 and as the newly elected president he will also serve as chairman of the medical executive committee and as a member of the Oswego Health board of directors. In this role, Sana is responsible for communicating and representing the opinions and concerns of the medical staff and its members on organizational and specific matters affecting hospital operations to the board. He will also oversee compliance on the part of the medical staff with the procedural safeguards and rights of its members in all stages of the Hospital’s credentialing process. Physician Nicholas Runeare has been selected as vice president.

Runeare earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2017 from SUNY Upstate. There, he completed his residency in internal medicine in 2020 and his chief residency in quality and safety (CRQS) at the Syracuse VA in 2021. As hospitalist medical director, Runeare is responsible for the oversight of all delivery and coordination of care to hospitalist medicine patients including overseeing the quality of care and serving as the principal clinical liaison with the members of the Nicholas Runeare delivery system. He joined the

medical staff in 2021. As vice president of the medical staff, he will chair the Oswego Health quality assurance and process improvement committee and will also serve as a member of the medical executive sommittee. “We are fortunate to have both doctors Sana and Runeare leading the medical staff here at Oswego Hospital”said Michael C. Backus, president and CEO of Oswego Health. “Their commitment to safety and quality of care is exemplary as we know they both take immense pride in caring for our community. We look forward to collaborating with our medical staff as we transform healthcare locally.” The Medical Staff at Oswego Hospital includes over 270 providers representing multiple specialty services across Oswego County.

PRS) and its educational and research foundation Oct. 28. The academy is the trade organization for facial plastic surgeons nationwide. Tatum has been a member of the Upstate faculty for more than 30 years serving on numerous committees, including the cancer and trauma committees, several chair search committees, the medical student adviser program, and as a scientific reviewer for the Institutional Review Board. In November, Tatum traveled to Ukraine to perform facial surgeries on civilians and soldiers injured in the war with Russia. He made a similar trip in fall 2022. The trips were coordinated through AAFPRS’s face to face program.

of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, Besa went on to earn his doctorate in physical therapy in 2018 with geriatric certification from the Evidence in Motion Institute of Health Professions, San Antonio, Texas. A member of the American Physical Therapy Association and its New York Chapter since 2008, Besa is also a certified lymphedema therapist since 2015 from the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy, where he passed both the written and practical exam held at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo. Currently, Besa is pursuing on renewing his certification in vestibular therapy from the American Institute of Balance, Tampa Bay, Florida.

of the community but also contributing to substantial cost savings for Medicaid and Medicare funds,” according to the practice.

St. Luke appoints director of rehab therapy services

Caring Family Health celebrates 100 days of care

Physical therapist Chuck Besa has been appointed as the new director of the rehabilitation therapy department at St. Luke Health Services in Oswego. Besa will oversee a staff of physical, occupational and speech therapists at the Chuck Besa healthcare facility who provide comprehensive sub-acute services. Besa is a Montero-certified skilled nursing facility manager with over 19 years of experience as a physical therapist from acute care to long term care. He also had the experience of managing an out-patient clinic in memory care, independent living and assisted living facilities. “We are pleased to welcome Mr. Besa to lead our rehab team here at St. Luke,” said Shelly Youngs, St. Luke’s administrator. “Chuck brings a wealth of experience and will share his expertise with dedicated professionals who share his philosophy of person-centered quality care, by treating everyone with compassion and respect.” A 2004 graduate with a Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from the Pontifical and Royal University

Caring Family Health, a beacon of primary care excellence in North Syracuse, is commemorates its 100th day since opening on Sept. 6, 2023. In this short span, the clinic has witnessed remarkable growth and garnered overwhelming support from the community, according to a practice news release. With an impressive patient count surpassing 500, Caring Family Health has emerged as a vital healthcare resource. The clinic’s commitment to comprehensive care is evident in the expansion of services, now encompassing blood draws, COVID-19, flu, and strep tests, pregnancy tests and immunizations. “However, beyond the statistics, what truly resonates with the team at Caring Family Health is the positive impact made in people’s lives on a daily basis,” according to the company.” Caring Family Health is not only filling the gap for those seeking primary care providers but is also revolutionizing healthcare economics. “A significant portion of our patients had previously relied on urgent care or emergency rooms due to a lack of established primary care. The common refrain, ‘I haven’t gone to the doctor for a long time,’ is a sentiment often expressed by our new patients. By providing accessible and timely care, Caring Family Health is not only improving the overall health

Page 22 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • January 2024

Bryant & Stratton’s nursing program gets accredited The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has granted accreditation to the baccalaureate degree program in nursing at the Bryant & Stratton College, Liverpool campus. According to the school, this makes Bryant & Stratton College the only accredited institution in Syracuse offering a pre-licensure (entry-level) nursing program leading to a bachelor’s degree. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the national licensing examination (NCLEX-RN) to become registered nurses. “Being accredited by CCNE ensures that our nursing program meets the rigorous standards set by an impartial, third-party credentialing community. This benefits our students by ensuring the quality and integrity of our program,” said Kara Evans, nursing program director at Bryant & Stratton College. According to a 2020 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) report, 41% of hospitals and healthcare facilities require nurses to have a bachelor’s degree and 81% strongly recommend it. In New York State, students are required to get a bachelor’s degree within 10 years of initial licensure. “Our students achieve this requirement in less than three years,” Evans said. “The advantage to the Bryant & Stratton College Nursing program is our small, personalized cohorts that stay together through the entire program. Our faculty have extensive nursing and education experience and are committed to our student’s growth and success. It is a very hands-on individualized student experience,” Evans said. “When students are accepted, they are admitted directly into the nursing program. With three semesters per year, students have more options to start the program. Students are enrolled in their first nursing course in their second semester.”

Liberty Resources celebrates achievements Liberty Resources is pleased to announce that it has been granted two prestigious federal designations — Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHC-LAL) from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration (CCBHC-D) from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Being awarded both FQHC and CCBHC designation is particularly noteworthy as there are only 62 organizations in the country to receive dual-designation. Both recognitions signify the agency’s commitment to delivering mental health, substance use and primary care services in an integrated model that coordinates care to enhance quality and efficiency. These services are available to everyone who needs them regardless of ability to pay at two of the agency’s integrated health clinics — its Syracuse location at 1045 James St. and its Fulton location at 14 Crossroads Drive. “This milestone is a testament to

our unwavering commitment to equitable healthcare access,” said Carl Coyle, CEO of Liberty Resources. “Providing our community with certified community behavioral health clinic services at federally qualified health center ensures that all Central New Yorkers, regardless of their circumstances, receive the quality and compassionate care they deserve. That is our vision for wholehearted health.”

Loretto CEO makes national fist for adding jobs Kimberly Townsend has been named a 2023 Nonprofit Power Player by PoliciticsNY & amNY Metro, a Schneps Media publication. The “Nonprofit Power Player” list released recently features “New York State public Kimberly Townsend

officials, business executives, and community leaders shaping the future of their city and New York state.” As the CEO of the forth-largest health system in Central New York, Townsend is known for her strategic thinking and innovative approaches to significant challenges. For example, her workforce development initiatives to address staffing shortages has resulted in over 350 people joining Loretto in 2023 alone. Examples of these programs include Loretto’s certified nurse aide training program, the certified home health aide training program, and the first federally recognized licensed practical nurse apprenticeship program which are all paid training opportunities for those who want to begin a career in healthcare or earn additional certification to advance their careers as Loretto employees.

PrimeCare practices in Fulton earn recognition For the second year in a row, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recognized both Fulton PrimeCare practices as

patient-centered medical programs. The NCQA patient-centered medical home standards emphasize the use of systematic, patient-centered, coordinated care that supports access, communication, and patient involvement. It was developed to assess whether clinician practices are functioning as medical homes and recognize them for these efforts. The program reflects the input of the American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Osteopathic Association and others. Oswego Health currently has six primary care locations and employs 19 primary care providers throughout Oswego County. “Oswego Health’s team of physicians, nurses, staff, and administrators take great pride in their role as leaders in healthcare in this community. We are beyond proud of our Fulton team for achieving this recognition as we strive to provide accessible, quality care, and improve the health of residents in our community,” said physician Micheal Stephens, associate chief medical officer and local primary care.

Crouse Medical Practice Acquires Family Practice Associates, PLLC

rouse Medical Practice (CMP), a multi-specialty practice and integral part of the Crouse Health system, has announced it will acquire Family Practice Associates, PLLC (FPA), in a move that is expected to be completed in January of 2024. FPA is located at 8324 Oswego Road in Liverpool. “As we continue to grow primary care, we are focused on enhancing the patient experience and increasing access to care,” says Crouse Health President and CEO Seth Kronenberg, MD. “FPA has been providing personalized, comprehensive and compassionate care for families since the early 1980s, and we are pleased to welcome them to the Crouse

Health family.” FPA, which will now be known as CMP Family Practice, currently provides care to 50,000 patients from throughout Central New York. The primary care practice was established by physicians William Mailloux and John ‘Jack’ Michaels with Shawn Fazio, Brian Smith and John O’Brien joining as partners shortly after. Currently FPA has 13 family practice physicians and other advanced practice providers, including physician John Michaels and physician assistant Susan Moak, son and daughter of original founder Jack Michaels, MD. “We are excited to be integrated into the Crouse Medical Practice

Auburn Community Hospital Announces Radiology Partnership with St. Lawrence Radiology Associates Auburn Community Hospital (ACH) announced that it has contracted with St. Lawrence Radiology Associates PC to provide comprehensive radiology reading services for ACH effective Jan, 1. Their offerings include comprehensive coverage of diagnostic and interventional radiology, equivalent to current exams and procedures. An after-hours nighthawk service will ensure timely and thorough reporting during overnight hours. St. Lawrence Radiology Associates replaces The University of Rochester Medical Center, which had been reading and reporting radiological exams. Physician G. Michael Maresca, president and owner of St. Lawrence Radiology, is no stranger to the Au-

burn Community Hospital, having held the ACH radiology contract prior to the University of Rochester’s tenure. This long-standing relationship and the services provided by St Lawrence Radiology bodes well for a smooth transition, according to the hospital. According to ACH, Jubin Jacob, a highly qualified interventional radiologist, will serve as the chairman of the ACH radiology department, supported by St. Lawrence’s extensive network of remote radiologists. Jacob will be relocating to Auburn and establishing a local residency to support the ACH community as part of the St. Lawrence radiology team. Jacob hails from Rockland County, near New York City, and obtained his undergraduate degree from

family. Our staff and providers have been delivering quality care to our patients for decades, which will be enhanced with the support of CMP’s excellent specialists and team of dedicated staff,” says FPA practice administrator Jean Carnese. “It will also allow us to recruit providers to fill the growing need for primary care in the Northern suburbs and continue to deliver excellent care for years to come.”

SUNY Binghamton University, not so far from Auburn. He completed his diagnostic radiology residency at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, and fellowship training in vascular and interventional radiology from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Jacob is experienced in providing the full spectrum of interventional and diagnostic radiology services, with special interests in peripheral vascular disease, thromboembolic disease, interventional oncology and breast imaging. He has practiced at local healthcare systems, including Kaleida Health, WMC Health, Rochester Regional Health and other St. Lawrence affiliated hospitals in New York and Maine, as well as Baptist Medical Centers in Alabama. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Jacob and St. Lawrence Radiology PC to Auburn. We have a long-standing relationship with St. Lawrence Radiology and Dr. Maresca, and they are familiar with our radiology services and technology. We are

CMP offers primary care and specialty care out of several locations throughout Central New York. In addition to primary care, clinical services offered through CMP include general surgery, cardiology, OB/ GYN, endocrinology, pulmonology, neurosurgery, neurovascular, diabetes care and stroke care. CMP Family Practice will continue to operate out of its current location in Liverpool.

Physician Jubin Jacob, a highly qualified interventional radiologist, will serve as the chairman of the ACH radiology department, supported by St. Lawrence’s extensive network of remote radiologists. confident that this will be a seamless transition, and a welcome addition to our community,” said Scott Berlucchi, President, and CEO.

January 2024 • IN GOOD HEALTH – CNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 23

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