Igh mv #140 october 17

Meet Your Doctor

in good MVhealthnews.com

October 2017 • Issue 140

Ramesh Cherukuri, M.D. joins Slocum-Dickson in New Hartford Page 4

free

Mohawk Valley’s Health Care Newspaper

Suicide Watch

Be aware of tell-tale signs

Bicyclist Deaths Rise Fatal crashes jumped 12 percent in 2015 Page 9

Page 5

What do your dreams mean?

Unlock their secrets Oneida family fighting food allergies Page 12

Excellus’ Holly Snow: Area nonprofits have access to award funds

Page 7

Turnips + Greens Some things are just better together: Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly, Simon and Garfunkel, wine and cheese. Another remarkable duo?

Turnips and their nutritious greens See SmartBites, Page 13

Page 15

Women’s Health Special Edition

October 2017 •

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‘Cane Mutiny Red Cross volunteers heed calls for help Page 3

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 1

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Mondays family support group meeting from

Food Addicts in Recovery to meet

Food Addicts in Recovery holds an anonymous meeting from 6:308 p.m. Mondays at Trinity United Methodist Church, 8595 Westmoreland Road, Whitesboro.

For more information, call Helen at 315-794-2314.

Tuesdays

Insight House offers family support group Insight House Chemical Dependency Services, Inc. is offering a

6:15-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Insight House, 500 Whitesboro St., Utica.

The group is free and open to anyone who is concerned about a loved one’s relationship with alcohol, opiates/heroin, or other substances.

For more information about the group, call 724-5168, ext. 265, from 8:30-4 p.m. weekdays.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Wednesdays/Thursdays

Overeaters Anonymous plans meetings Overeaters Anonymous meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Wednesday in Room 101 (first floor) at Rome

Memorial Hospital, 1500 James St., Rome.

It also meets from 7-8 p.m. every Thursday at Oneida Baptist Church, 242 Main St., Oneida. Participants are asked to use the rear door.

There are no dues, fees, weighins or diets.

For more information, call OA at 315-468-1588 or visit oa.org.

Oct. 4

Caregiver support group to gather The Mohawk Valley Health System is hosting a seven-week program with Alexandra Battista, oncology social worker, dedicated to helping support caregivers.

The program will run from Oct. 4 to Nov. 15 at the Faxton campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica, in the Cancer Center’s TV lounge on the main floor.

Each session will run from 6-7 p.m.

The program will help caregivers, family and friends with stress management and coping skills, as well as how to avoid burnout and how to practice self care.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to register, call 315-624-5241 or email Alexandra Battista at abattis1@ mvhealthsystem.org.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Oct. 4

Depression topic of support group

he classification of:

MP Order

port group presentation from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Soggs Room at St. Luke’s Home in the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services, 1650 Champlin Ave., Utica.

A video will feature Jessica Gimeno, who lives with bipolar disorder and wants to expand the discourse around mental health.

She says it’s not enough to just receive a diagnosis; people need to learn to live with depression and other mental health issues. In her talk, she shares the techniques she’s learned to help her get tasks done while depressed.

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare is an affiliate of MVHS and is the area’s only designated primary stroke center.

For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-6365.

Oct. 5

Parents bond to battle addiction A support group — Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — meets from 7-8:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the Canajoharie Fire House, 75 Erie Boulevard, Canajoharie.

The next meetings are Oct. 5 and Oct. 19.

The support group is for parents with a son or daughter who is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol.

PAL is a nonprofit organization run by a volunteer board of parents.

For more information, visit www. palgroup.org or call PAL at 480-3004712.

The Mohawk Valley Health System will host a free stroke supProposal#

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Andrew Wickline, MD, Total Joint medical director at the St. Elizabeth Campus of MVHS and one of the top orthopedic surgeons in New York State, is a leader in the use of the SwiftPath Program. Qualified patients may be discharged the same day after surgery for total knee or total hip replacement.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

Hurricane Heroes Red Cross volunteers step into eye of storm

By Patricia J. Malin

A

fter Hurricanes Harvey and Irma delivered a double-barreled, deadly assault on the southeastern United States, aid agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and even the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, quickly jumped on board to help out stricken people and animals.

The Red Cross was especially vocal in calling for financial contributions first, then sending a corps of volunteers to travel to the hardest-hit areas primarily in Texas and Florida, and even extending to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to support the people forced from their homes.

Although the Red Cross was able to call on some seasoned volunteers, including those who had worked during such previous disasters as Hurricane Katrina or Super Storm Sandy, the Red Cross set up at least a half dozen workshops around Central New York to attract and train new recruits for this summer’s bumper crop of storms.

After Harvey tore through Texas in late August, the response to the training sessions was strong, leading the Red Cross to run an additional workshop, at least in Utica because of a large initial turnout.

Just two weeks later, powerful Irma had wrecked the Caribbean and targeted Florida, bringing significant destruction and flooding with an even greater need for food, clean water and temporary housing. But thanks to long-range meteorological forecasts, the Red Cross explained that it was able to “pre-position” human and material resources to be ready to respond when needed.

As of Sept. 11, 40 volunteers from eastern New York were deployed to support the response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana. Irma was a category 4 hurricane, one of the most ferocious storms to come out of the Atlantic Ocean. Another 23 Red Cross volunteers from the eastern New York region were sent to Florida, Georgia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

By Sept. 15, the national chapter of the Red Cross said it had deployed a total of 6,000 disaster workers and about 275 emergency rescue vehicles — including some from the Albany chapter — sites to eight states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It counted 13,000 people staying in Red Cross and partner shelters and evacuation centers on one night alone.

In three weeks, the Red Cross and its community partners provided more than 908,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters. The agency said it served more than 2.4 million meals and snacks to people in need.

Hurricane season wasn’t over then, with one or more storms lurking on the horizon in late September.

The eastern region covers four Red Cross chapters, hailing from 14 different counties across the Mohawk Valley, North Country, Adirondacks, Capital Region and Mid-Hudson Valley. Workshops were held in Utica, Poughkeepsie, Glens Falls, Albany, Watertown and Saratoga Springs.

Intense training

The workshops were intensive, as long as eight hours of training in one day, and suited for volunteers

who were serious about their responsibilities and were able to deploy for a minimum of 10 days and possibly two weeks or more in challenging conditions.

The first training session at the Utica Public Library drew 50 participants and focused on how to set up and manage shelters. It was labeled a “rapid response boot camp,” according to Jane Gendron, executive director of the North Country Chapter of

the Red Cross who was coordinating the training.

This set of volunteers was scheduled to be assigned to Texas or Louisiana. Groups would be deployed there every two weeks through at least October or November. The Red Cross said it would cover all training and travel costs for individuals who are deployed.

Continued on Page 20

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

Meet

Your Doctor

By Patricia J. Malin

CDC: 6 out of 7 teens slip up on contact lens guidelines

A

bout six out of seven U.S. teens with contact lenses use them improperly, upping their odds for serious eye infections, government health officials say.

Surveying 12- to 17-year-old contact lens wearers last year, researchers found 85 percent admit to at least one risky habit that could threaten their vision.

These include sleeping, napping or swimming with their contacts in; reusing solution; rinsing lenses in tap water; or not replacing lenses and storage cases as recommended, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

About 3.6 million adolescents in the United States wear contact lenses, the CDC said. Outbreaks of serious eye infections are rare in this country. But they occur most often in people who don’t take proper care of their contacts.

Of teens under 18 who wear contacts, an estimated 3 million weren’t completely following care guidelines, the survey revealed.

This was also true of 81 percent of young adults (18 to 24). Adults 25 and older reported even worse habits, with 87 percent admitting to at least one lapse.

“Encouraging adolescents to adopt healthy contact lens wear and care habits might help them maintain healthy habits into adulthood,” said the researchers led by ophthalmologist Jennifer Cope.

“There is room for improvement in order to prevent potentially serious outcomes including blindness.”

Avoid sleeping or napping while wearing contact lenses to prevent infections. The study authors said that sleeping in contacts boosts the risk of eye infections.

Cleaning your contact lenses properly and regularly visiting an eye-care provider are essential for preventing lens-related eye infections, the study authors said.

Specifically, they advised replacing contact lenses as often as recommended by an eye doctor and replacing the case at least every 3 months. Also, remember to remove them before swimming or showering.

Andrew Pucker, an associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, said slip-ups in care often occur while traveling. “Being prepared when traveling is key to eye safety,” said Pucker.

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Ramesh Cherukuri, M.D. Ramesh Cherukuri recently accepted a position as a neurologist-clinical neurophysiologist at Slocum-Dickson Medical Group in his hometown of New Hartford. He recently spoke with Mohawk Valley In Good Health senior writer Patricia J. Malin about his background and his career expectations.

Q.: What are the differences between a neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist?

A.: A neurologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system. A clinical neurophysiologist is a neurologist with an additional year of fellowship training in the use of electroencephalography, electromyography, nerve conduction studies and other evoked potential studies of the nervous system. While a neurologist can technically perform these tests, this additional fellowship training affords the neurologist additional expertise in the performance and interpretation of these tests.

Q.: What motivated you to select neurology as your field of specialty?

What influenced you in that particular direction?

A.: I chose neurology for the challenge. So much is unknown in the field and we are learning more every day. Nowadays we are able to offer our patients a lot more in terms of diagnosis and treatment for many diseases that previously were unknown, misunderstood or had no treatment.

Q.: What are the more common illnesses and diseases you diagnose and treat as a neurologist?

A.: The more common neurological problems I deal with are headaches, epilepsy, stroke, neuropathy and neck and back pain with associated nerve root compression.

Q.: What recent technological breakthroughs have occurred which have made diagnosis and treatment more efficient and effective in the field of neurology?

A.: Probably one of the more exciting and recent advances is stem cell therapy. Numerous studies have shown that the use of stem cells can lead to the restoration of neurological functioning in people with conditions such as stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral palsy.

Q.: How can individuals help their own neurological health?

A.: People should eat a well-balanced diet, exercise and make sure to follow up with their primary care

doctor at least once per year unless otherwise specified. People must also remember that taking more vitamins is not necessarily a good thing and that they should only take recommended doses.

Q.: What characteristics and personal strengths are necessary in order to become a successful neurologist?

A.: I believe to be successful in the field of neurology, one must have a passion for the subject, good deductive reasoning skills, sincere empathy and the desire to use these skills to help those in need.

Q.: What gives you the most gratification as a neurologist?

A.: The most gratifying part of my job is taking care of people in their most vulnerable state and somehow making it a little less scary for them.

Q.: What are the more challenging aspects of your profession?

A.: The most challenging part of being a neurologist is treating people

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

with a terminal disease. In some ways, it is these people who need us the most, even if for nothing more than emotional support and a friendly ear.

Q.: Is there a shortage of neurologists statewide and nationwide? Is it a popular choice among medical students?

A.: There is a shortage of neurologists nationwide and it is projected to worsen significantly by 2025. Fewer medical students are going into the field due to declining reimbursement rates in the setting of rising student debt. It’s a formula for disaster for all of medicine if it continues in this fashion.

Q.: What would you like to ultimately achieve as a high-level health care practitioner from a career perspective?

A.: Ultimately, I’d like to lead a team of physician assistants and/or nurse practitioners so that we can provide quality care to as many people as possible.

Lifelines Age: 32 (33 on Oct. 26) Birthplace: Syracuse Current Residence: New Hartford Education: New Hartford High School; Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Siena College, Albany, (2003-2007); doctor of medicine, summa cum laude (ranked first in the class based on cumulative grade point average), American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. John’s, Antigua (2007–2011); internal medicine internship, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse (2012-13); neurology residency, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse (2013-2016); SUNY Upstate clinical neurophysiology fellowship (clinical neurophysiology board exam to be taken in October) Family: Married with two children Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, TV, movies, cars, swimming

Suicidal Tendencies Warning signs and what to do

By Barbara Pierce

Warning signs

S 24.

uicide is the second-leading cause of death for persons aged 10 to 24, and 10th for those over

Every one of these deaths leaves an estimated six or more “suicide survivors” — people who’ve lost someone they care about deeply and who are left confused and grieving.

Michael Myers is a survivor.

When he was 19, his roommate — a fellow medical student — took his own life. Filled with grief, Myers moved on to beMyers come a psychiatrist and specialist in mental health devoted to identifying signs of suicide.

Myers, professor of psychiatry at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, has written a book, “Why Physicians Die by Suicide.” He leads workshops for families of physicians on the warning signs of suicide and how to reach out to a loved one who may be suicidal.

He interviewed 100 people, family, roommates and colleagues.

“Families of persons who committed suicide wished they knew more,” he said. “They saw things and weren’t sure what to make of what they were seeing. Their loved one reassured them, ‘It’ll be OK.’” But it wasn’t OK.”

“When someone is thinking of suicide, it’s not that they want to die, it’s that they don’t know how to live,” says Shawna Percy online.

Her husband committed suicide at 33. “Not knowing how to live is like facing a huge mountain, with no idea of how to get over it.”

Hopelessness is a dangerous warning sign. A feeling that things will never get better; that there are no solutions to one’s problems; dying would be better than living. Not knowing how to get over that huge mountain.

Statements like: “Things will never get better,” “I’ll never be happy again,” “I just want to give up,” reflect hopelessness.

Also these stories from the website “Lost All Hope:” — “After suffering from depression for a few years, and having thought about, and planned suicide a few times, I had a disastrous relationship which ended after my 34th birthday,” said a man. “There was no joy in my life, never would be, and everyone could cope without me. I had nothing. With sleeping pills obtained for killing myself, I got vodka to wash them down and took every pill I had.”

— “My husband moved out, leaving me and our two children,” said a woman. “Detached is a word to describe how I was feeling. Disconnected from everything. I didn’t plan to survive.”

Other warning signs include symptoms of depression: — Sleeping too much/too little — Eating too much/not enough — Loss of interest in activities,

withdrawal, sadness, irritability, loss of energy Other warning signs include talking about death; putting affairs in order; changing a will; comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless; saying things like, “It would be better if I wasn’t here,” or a sudden switch from being sad to being calm or happy.

The more of these warning signs the person shows, the greater their risk for suicide. Be especially concerned if the person has attempted suicide in the past.

What to do

In his interviews, Myers found that families and friends sensed something was very wrong, but didn’t know what to do or didn’t know how to talk about it.

• Do not ignore these warning signs. It may be attention-seeking behavior, but it is a red flag. Take it as a serious emergency.

• Don’t be afraid to talk about it.

It may be a relief to the person to talk about it.

• Talk about changes you’ve noticed. Listen to the person; don’t try to argue with him or her. Don’t try to talk them out of it, or tell them what they have to live for.

“They said to me, ‘Why would you want to die? You’re such a pretty young girl. You have so much to live

for.’ They just didn’t get it at all!” said 22-year-old Jennifer after her suicide attempt. Don’t say things like that.

• Ask whether he or she has thought of how they might do it. Let them know you care and are listening.

• Ask if he or she is being treated by a mental health professional. If so, have them contact that person immediately, or contact that person.

• If your loved one appears to be in imminent danger of committing suicide, do not leave him or her alone. Remove any weapons or drugs he or she could use. Accompany them to the nearest emergency room or call 911.

• If he or she is not in immediate danger, ensure they see a mental health professional soon. As he or she may feel so hopeless and think they are beyond help, you’ll probably have to be persistent.

“Say, ‘I’ll make an appointment for you, and we’ll both go,’” advises Myers. “First try psychotherapy. If it doesn’t help, then visit the idea of going to a psychiatrist for medication,” suggests Myers.

In Oneida, Herkimer and Otsego, the mobile crisis assessment team is available 24/7 at 315-732-6228, or call the 24-hour lifeline at 800-784-2433.

Services are free and confidential.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Women’s HEALTH

Too tough to get sick?

What to do if your partner refuses to see a doctor

By Barbara Pierce

“

Many men go to the doctor for the first time in their 40s — on a stretcher with a heart attack,” says Ridwan Shabsigh online.

“Ben, my 43-year-old husband, and I have been together for 11 years.

In all this time, he’s never once gone to the doctor. I’ve nagged, I’ve pleaded and I’ve joked. He says he’s perfectly healthy and it isn’t necessary.

But both of his parents died young.

What can I do?” writes Mara to Lisa Kogan in O magazine.

“Most guys won’t be heading to the doctor any time soon,” said Michael Myers, “even when they feel lousy. A manly man sucks up the pain.”

As a woman, it’s obvious to you that your partner needs to see a doctor. But, he refuses to go. It’s frustrating and worrisome when a partner does not take care of his or her health needs.

“Also, there’s one group of men that won’t get any kind of treatment: men who are physicians,” Myers

added. “Imagine what it must be like to go from being the trusted, knowledgeable caregiver to being the one in need of care. No one actually likes being a patient, of course, but resistance on the part of physicians — especially male physicians — is much greater.”

Michael Myers, professor of psy-

What if you could choose?

5 Days or 45 Days

chiatry at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, and author of “Why Physicians Die by Suicide,” spoke about the resistance of many men to see a doctor.

“If anything is wrong, men, in general, delay going to see a doctor.

A little watchful waiting is OK. But if it isn’t going away, they do need to see someone for help,” Myers said.

It has a lot to do with being a male. The more manly he feels, the less likely he is to seek medical care.

It’s a sign of weakness. They take better care of their cars than themselves.

Reasons men gave for why they will not see a doctor in a recent survey: They were too busy, or afraid of what they might find out, or uncomfortable with prostate and rectal exams.

Other things that keep men away: they rationalize that the problem will go away, deny anything is wrong, are embarrassed about the condition, don’t want to spend the money, or dislike the whole medical experience.

As a psychiatrist, Myers finds men with emotional- mental health issues stay away from him because of the stigma related to getting help for these issues.

Red flags

Myers said: “I often get a phone call; she says ‘I’m married to a doctor.

He won’t come to see you.’ Then she lists all the things wrong with him,

like he seems depressed all the time; he doesn’t want to do the things he used to like to do; he talks about feeling hopeless and helpless. Then she might add: ‘His mother killed herself.’ Yes, she has real reason to be concerned. He has all the warning signs of suicide.”

Though most physicians won’t do this, Myers reaches out to the person who needs to come in for help. “I save lives by doing this,” he said.

Most people appreciate his call.

They’re usually overwhelmed and embarrassed. Once they come in and meet with him, things usually start improving for them.

“Often the woman must encourage the male, take him, go with him,” he advised.

“Do not nag. Do not plead. Do not joke,” is what Lisa Kogan recommends in O Magazine. “Simply find him a good doctor and schedule an appointment. When the time comes, calmly announce that the two of you will be getting him a checkup. Make it clear that there’s no reason to argue, as that is not an option. Explain that whether or not he wants to go isn’t even relevant. Because it’s not about what he wants, it’s about what his family needs. He chose to have a wife and two kids; he therefore has an obligation to take care of himself, if not for him, then for you.”

Other experts recommend: Tell your partner you are worried. Talk about your fear; talk about your own feelings about his refusal of help has on you. Tell him or her this is because of your love.

Offer to go with him or her. You probably need to locate a health professional and schedule an appointment.

If you believe his refusal to seek medical or psychological care is life threatening, get professional help to get him the help that is needed.

Do not continue to nag. Do not continue to have endless arguments about this issue. Do not manipulate your spouse into getting help. Do not threaten to leave unless you really mean it.

If he still refuses to see a doctor, unfortunately, there may not be much else you can do. It boils down to personal responsibility.

Health News in Brief SDMG names employee of quarter

hoacny.com

Page 6

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J

ennifer Gonyea has been named employee of the third quarter at Slocum-Dickson Medical Group PLLC in New Hartford.

Gonyea began her career at SDMG in 1998 as a medical assistant working in various offices but quickly found a home in the office of endocrinologist, diabetes and metab-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

olism specialist Gunnar Anderson.

“Jennifer can be described as professional, knowledgeable and kind.

She is a true team player and her efforts are vital to keeping Dr. Anderson’s office running smoothly. Her upbeat attitude and positive disposition helps to boost morale around the office,” said an SDMG spokesperson.

Women’s HEALTH Between You and Me

By Barbara Pierce

Dream a Little Dream

Analyzing your dreams can uncover innermost truths

“

What a weird dream! Whatever could it mean?”

You’ve probably said that, puzzling over what that crazy dream you had last night really means.

Or you may wonder why you keep having the same dream over and over again.

For most of us, dreams are a mystery. They usually don’t make a lot of sense — if we can remember them in the first place.

Within a few minutes after waking up, we’ve forgotten Pierce most of the dreams we had during the night.

Many of us dismiss our dreams as nothing. But dreams are a valuable way for us to understand ourselves better, maybe get answers we need, and help us figure things out.

“There is always something to learn about yourself in a dream,” says psychotherapist Jeffrey Sumber online.

I strongly agree; I’ve had dreams that gave me answers. Years ago, I was seeing a man who wanted to get married. I was ambivalent; he was pushing me for an answer. Then I dreamed it was our wedding and all our friends were gathered. As he and I walked down the aisle, we were naked. All of those watching were fully clothed; we were naked. I woke up and said, “I absolutely do not want to marry Jim! That’s clear!”

Dreams have the power to reveal ourselves to ourselves. They can provide us with a wealth of information.

But don’t rush to a website or app that promises you they have the right interpretation for your dream.

Those websites and “dream interpretation professionals” are no better than frauds — there is no scientific evidence they have any validity.

The key is to figure out what the dream means to you.

Dreams are subjective in nature.

Only you can make sense of your dream. No dream interpreter, psychotherapist or spiritual guru can help you better uncover the meaning of your own dream better than you.

Dreaming is the communication between our conscious mind and our unconscious mind, says Sumber.

And that wisdom can be profoundly helpful to us if we can tap into it.

How to analyze your dreams — Record your dreams: This is the first and most important step in analyzing your dreams. Get into the practice of writing down your dreams within five minutes of waking up.

— Have a pen and paper by your bed. Jot something down, even if it’s just a few sentences, when you awake — whether at night or in the morning. Your intention to have a dream and make an effort to remem-

ber it in itself will help you to recall dreams.

— Don’t jump right out of bed.

When you wake up in the morning, lie still. Relax and let your mind drift. With practice, you can easily hover between waking and dreaming without falling back to sleep.

Remind yourself that you want to remember your dream. Don’t start running through lists of what you have to do during the day. If you do, your dream probably will evaporate immediately.

— Write, write, and write. Most dreams are forgotten within five minutes, so start scribbling as soon as you remember the first snippet of a dream. Write down whatever you remember immediately. Act quickly or you will forget. If you can’t remember anything, identify how you were feeling and that might bring back more details.

— Tell someone. It is surprising how many extra details surface if you talk about your dream.

— Identify themes that reoccur in your dreams. They indicate you have

an unresolved issue.

— Remember you’re the expert.

“There are no experts other than yourself when it comes to your own psyche, so don’t stop trusting your own inner guide to your unconscious,” Sumber says.

You can learn a lot from even the most mundane dreams.

Another thing is that dreams are your body’s way of processing stimuli from your life.

For example, if you hear, smell, or feel anything while you are sleeping, your dream may try to make sense of this, to prevent you from waking up.

I dreamt workers were jack hammering the street outside of my house. When I woke up, someone was grinding coffee beans in my kitchen.

People that stop doing something addictive, like drugs, often have dreams of using. This can be disturbing, but it’s the brain’s way of trying to figure out what is going on.

The things that you see, smell, hear or do right before bed can affect your dreams. I play my favorite video game before going to bed; sometimes I play in it my sleep.

Experts advise us to “de-stress” before going to sleep, as stress can disturb sleep and dreaming.

Don’t argue before bedtime, go to bed angry or work on stressful things like taxes or big work-school projects right before bedtime.

If you have to deal with something stressful, do so well before your bedtime, so that you have time to relax and prepare your mind for good dreams.

• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “When you Come to the Edge: Aging” or if you have questions for her, contact her at barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.

A New Era in Emergency Services Care for Central New York… NOW OPEN!

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troke? Chest pain? Broken bone or sprain? Our ER team is one of the fastest and most efficient in treating complex, urgent medical conditions.

Now we also have the newest emergency medicine facility, equipment and technology in Central New York.

Ambulance

crouse.org/TakeMeToCrouse

Emergency? Call 911. Then say, ‘Take me to Crouse!’

October 2017 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Do you know all the changes Nurse Practitioners in NYS have experienced in the last 5 years?

Would you like to meet and network with other Nurse Practitioners in Region 3?

If interested visit www.TheNPA.org or email catkinsnp@gmail.com

By Jim Miller

Finding a better Medicare prescription drug plan Dear Savvy Senior,

Subscribe to In Good Health

Get Mohawk Valley’s healthcare newspaper at home for only $15 a year.

FREE with your paid subscription: the 2017 CNY Healthcare Guide

Name___________________________________________ Address_________________________________________ City / Town__________________State_____ Zip_________

I think I’m paying too much for the medications I take. I have a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and my out-of-pocket spending is over $4,000 thus far in 2017. When and how can I change my Medicare drug plan?

Inquiring Carol Dear Carol, You can change your Part D prescription drug plan during Medicare’s open enrollment period, which runs from Oc. 15 through Dec. 7. During this time, beneficiaries can switch drug plans or join a drug plan if you didn’t have one before. They can also switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan or vice versa, if they wish. Any changes to coverage will take effect Jan. 1.

In September, you should have received your “annual notice of change” from your drug plan. It outlined any changes in coverage, costs or service that will take effect in January.

If you take no action during open enrollment, your current coverage will continue next year. Yet even those who are happy with their coverage should review their plan for any changes to come.

Change Medicare plans

$15 payment enclosed

Clip and Mail to:

In Good Health

4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502

Rome Hospital Foundation sets date

T

he Rome Hospital Foundation is holding a fundraising event to support the mission of Rome Memorial Hospital.

The annual gala is Rome Hospital Foundation’s cornerstone fundraising event and will be held from Page 8

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6-11 p.m. Nov. 11 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona.

For more information, contact Rome Hospital Foundation at 315338-7181 or email foundation@romehospital.org.

If you have internet access and are comfortable using a computer, you can easily shop for and compare all Medicare drug plans in your area, and enroll in a new plan online.

Just go to Medicare’s Plan Finder Tool at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan, and type in your ZIP code or your personal information, enter in how you currently receive your Medicare coverage, select the drugs you take and their dosages, and choose the pharmacies you use. You’ll get a cost comparison breakdown for every plan available in your area so you can compare it to your current plan.

This tool also provides a five-star rating system that evaluates each plan based on past customer service records, and suggests generics or older brand name drugs that can reduce your costs.

When you’re comparing drug plans, look at the “estimated annual drug costs” that shows how much you can expect to pay over a year in total out-of-pocket costs, including premiums, deductibles and co-pays.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

Also, be sure the plan you’re considering covers all of the drugs you take with no restrictions. Most drug plans today place the drugs they cover into price tiers. A drug placed in a higher tier may require you to get prior authorization or try another medication first before you can use it.

Need help?

If you need some help choosing a new plan, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE and they can help you out over the phone. Or, contact New York State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free one-on-one Medicare counseling.

They also conduct seminars during the open enrollment period at various locations throughout each state.

To find the contact information for your local SHIP visit Shiptacenter. org, or call the eldercare locator at 800-677-1116.

Low-income assistance

If you find yourself struggling to pay your medication costs, check out Medicare’s “Extra Help” program.

This is a federal low-income subsidy that helps pays Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments. To be eligible, your income must be under $18,090 or $24,360 for married couples living together, and your assets must be below $13,820 or $27,600 for married couples. For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov/medicare/prescriptionhelp.

Other resources that can help include RxAssist.org, which maintains a comprehensive database of patient assistance programs, set up by drug companies for those who have trouble affording their medications. And NeedyMeds.org, a national nonprofit organization that maintains a website of free information on programs that help people who can’t afford their medications or other health-care costs.

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

Women’s HEALTH Pauline’s Pieces

By Pauline DiGiorgio

Ways to wellness Part 2: Infrared heat lamp therapy (Editor’s note: The following is the second segment in a series on “Ways to Wellness.” Future segments will focus on cupping and acupuncture.)

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ome days — and I know I’m not alone — I want to shut off the outside world and disappear for an hour or two.

My life requires me to amplify my extrovert side that I love, but there are times that my mind and body need a timeout.

Let me introduce you to a wellness hack that is sure to calm your inner stressprone self, while helping recover those post-workout muscle aches.

Saunas, hugely popular in Finland, DiGiorgio have been commonly used since the 1950s. They are found mostly in gyms, spas and even in homes (those lucky ducks!).

When I travel and try out various sport clubs around the United States, and find a wet or dry sauna, I get overjoyed!

Saunas have amazing benefits with their main perk being detoxification as the steam and high heat make bathers perspire, sweating out toxins.

As you loosen up, your muscles also release tension, allowing you to soothe the sore.

When I ventured out to research the top 2017 wellness trends, infrared saunas sparked my interest. It’s a new way to escape into a little box of solo heaven alone to detox.

Infrared saunas are less common then the traditional “sweat your tush off” sauna, but with a few advantages.

Infrared heat provides and acts like natural sunlight — in Central New York, it’s an unpredictable friend that shows up when it pleases — without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation.

Infrared heat lamps transmit invisible infrared light waves deep into your body, all the way to your muscles, nerves and bones.

Your happy place

It heats the body normally, not using forced heat like the traditional sauna. You are basically sitting in a warm, happy place with rays of safe heating.

It increases your blood circulation and will strengthen your cardiovascular system as your body increases sweat production to cool itself off. That means your heart is pumping more blood, like the continuous effects of exercise. By enriching your blood with oxygen, you’ll feel more energetic rather than droopy, which I’ve experienced in the “hot box” after a gym session. Don’t be

Bicyclist deaths rise in U.S., men are often victims

B

icyclist deaths on U.S. roadways are up significantly, and men — not kids — are commonly the victims, a new report finds.

Biking deaths rose 12 percent in 2015, the latest year for which figures are available, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

This jump was the largest among any group that uses roadways.

Historically, most fatal bicycle crashes involved children and teens.

Now, 85 percent of bicyclists killed on the road are men, the report said.

And of the 818 bicyclists killed in 2015, the average age was 45.

“We need to ensure that bicyclists and motorists can share roads safely,” said Chris Mullen, director of technology research at State Farm, which funded the report.

“Unfortunately, bicyclists are vulnerable and much more suscep-

tible to serious injury or death when on the roads with vehicles,” Mullen said in an association news release.

Mullen said it’s “critical that we examine the factors surrounding these crashes and leverage a variety of proven tools to improve bicyclist safety nationwide.”

The report shed light on where and why fatal crashes between bicyclists and cars occur.

Often, drivers don’t see bikers who expect to have the right of way and can’t stop in time to avoid a collision, the report said.

Also, intersections aren’t the usual problem. Most bike-car fatalities (72 percent) occur at non-crossroad locations. And more than half take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Alcohol — consumed by either the bicyclist or driver — was a factor in 37 percent of the fatalities.

surprised if you look into the mirror and see a new beautiful youthful glow! More circulation, more turn over of skin cells, more skin that glows!

Light therapy I believe works wonders. You’ve probably heard of ultraviolet light therapy boxes. Those babies can run you up to $100.

Self-awareness, relaxation and “brain break time” are priceless.

Infrared saunas stimulate neurogenesis, which encourages the growth of new brain cells and increases norepinephrine levels to support attention and focus.

Basically after a 20-30 minute session, you’ll be feeling a lot more relief from whatever stressor was taking up your precious energy.

I was excited to try The Rut organic salon in Whitesboro after hearing some great reviews. They have one of the area’s only infrared saunas, so I booked myself a session and here is my experience.

I chose to schedule my time late morning, at 11 a.m., post workout.

TIP: Call ahead to book at least

an hour prior because it must take time to warm up to the correct temperature. The kind employee presented me with a chart of different light-emitting diode therapy color choices to chose from, like an energizing red, healing green, or mental-inspiring yellow.

I chose a mixture of relaxing blues. I wanted to use the session for a mid-day meditation, and I knew that color would work wonders.

I then was led into the back room, was supplied with a fresh towel, and instructed on how to watch a monitor for a time countdown like a tanning bed.

When I finished, I had a content, clean and satisfying presence that I held onto for the rest of the day.

The Rut infrared sauna experience is available for a single session or packages. Hope this helps to guide your way to wellness!

• Pauline DiGiorgio is a fitness ambassador and Group X instructor at Retro Fitness gyms. Questions?

Email her at ptlifts@gmail.com.

Health News in Brief Nurse care coordinator on board

V

alley Health Services’ in Herkimer recently welcomed Melissa Miller, nurse care coordinator, to its professional staff.

Miller’s past experience includes operating as a nurse manager at Folts Home, Herkimer, and Mohawk Valley Nursing Home, Ilion.

Additionally, she has background as an emergency room Miller nurse with both St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Utica, and SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.

October 2017 •

Miller has a bachelor’s degree in education from SUNY Fredonia as well as an associate’s degree in nursing.

Miller said knowing some of the staff at VHS and their confirmation of the organization as a great place to work prompted her to accept the position as nurse care coordinator.

“This is what I was looking for,” she said.

Miller lives in East Herkimer with her husband Dane and their children — Isabella, Katelynn, and Ty.

Story idea?

Call 749-7070

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Business Spotlight

Dr. Salina Suy, DDS 8 Business Park Court, Utica

Dr. Salina Suy, (pronounced soy) DDS, recently started her dental practice at 8 Business Park Court in the Utica Business Park as an associate of fellow dentists Ted Camesano and Korin Carville. Suy is accepting new patients.

Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For additional information, phone 315-732-6719.

Q.: How long have you been practicing?

A.: Five years. I’ve been working with patients ever since I was in dental school at SUNY Buffalo. I graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2016 and then I was a resident at Faxton (a part of Mohawk Valley Health System) for a year.

I was introduced to Dr. Ted Camesano and was invited to join his practice when I completed my residency. We talked for several months.

I really appreciate the support he has given me.

Q.: Why did you choose to locate in the Mohawk Valley?

A.: I considered staying in Buffalo when I completed dental school, but then I met Albert Tahan. Albert is the customer service manager in his family’s business, Joe Tahan’s Furniture. I got a residency at Faxton, so

we moved here. He became my first patient.

Q.: Is there a big difference between your residency and having your own practice?

A.: During my residency at Faxton, I worked from 7:45 a.m. until 5 p.m., and occasionally I got an emergency. I worked hard in my residency and I worked hard to get patients in the hospital. They ranged in age from 2 to 90, but they were, of course, someone else’s patients. Here I get to establish a relationship with my own patients and possibly even to watch some of them grow up. We’re trying to build a patient-family experience.

Q.: You are now working alongside two experienced dentists, rather than on your own, so how does this change your approach to your job?

A.: That’s what makes this practice so great. Dr. Camesano, Dr. Korin Carville and I are a few generations

6,900 JOBS

apart. We have a lot of knowledge of dentistry that we can share and we give our patients the opportunity to utilize different experiences. Patients love that. I feel I am good to my patients and they’re good to us. Patient care is our priority.

Q.: What is unique about your office? It’s certainly not in a hospital setting.

A.: Dr. Camesano personally designed the office a few years ago.

We have six treatment rooms. They’re bright and cheerful rooms. That’s the main thing I want to portray. When our patients come in here, they’re comfortable. In the treatment rooms, we have cabinets where tools are stored in surgically clean wraps and large sinks. The patients will see us washing our hands and they’ll see us cleaning the instruments. We have large-screen monitors, and patients can watch the procedure on the

Salina Suy, right, is joined by her assistant, Kayla Almond. monitor from their chair. The patient can request to watch music videos on another TV monitor. I also have an assistant, Kayla Almond, who is from this area and is a graduate of BOCES. (Editor’s note: This “Business Spotlight” is being repeated after several editing errors occurred in the original version that appeared in the September edition of Mohawk Valley In Good Health.)

AND A $770 MILLION IMPACT TO THE UPSTATE ECONOMY

Across upstate New York, our nonprofit health plan and parent company employ about 5,400 people in dozens of locations. We indirectly create more than 1,500 additional jobs through our purchases from regional vendors. We’re a major purchaser of services that go beyond the $5 billion in medical benefits we pay out annually. Together, our companies’ economic impact on upstate communities amounted to more than $770 million in 2016. Whether measured in jobs or dollars, we contribute in substantial ways to our local economy. We’re neighbors helping neighbors build healthier communities.

A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Page 10

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

Safety Net

Joseph’s Experience keeps hope alive for those stricken with cancer

By Patricia J. Malin

J

JE didn’t end with Debbie Klar’s passing. The former recipients are now enlisted in giving back to JE and passing the torch to new recipients, such as Sarah Bostick.

Bostick is in remission from leukemia and was designated honorary captain of this year’s Ride For Joe. In May, she received a free Fuji road bike, courtesy of Bikes & Boards in New Hartford and Joseph’s Experience and began training for the Ride For Joe. Klar’s two sons and his brotherin-law, Dennis Hooks, were among the participants in the bike ride. Bostick was one of the honorees of the 2017 Ride For Joe along with Colleen Anderson, and the Corigliano and Wright families. Anderson was diagnosed in 2016 with breast cancer.

ohn Klar will never forget the phone call he received from a stranger while his wife lay terminally ill at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

The “stranger,” as he described Mark Montgomery initially, asked Klar to tell him what he needed to offset the expense of traveling to Buffalo from his home in Westmoreland to comfort his wife, Debbie.

This was no joke. It came from Montgomery, the founder of Joseph’s Experience, Inc., a Mohawk Valley-based organization that assists local cancer patients and their families.

Klar graciously accepted gas cards and hotel vouchers to use in Buffalo. He also had two young boys, Jonathan, then 10, and Dominick, Rebounding from tragedy 6, at home, who were struggling to get through the Alex Wright Christmas holidays of Sherrill, one of while their parthe riders, spoke at ents remained in the Masonic Care Buffalo.

Community in “They gave Utica about the care them Christmas his family received presents,” he said, from JE before overwhelmed by his 27-month-old the organization’s daughter, Emma generosity.

Carol, passed away Klar traveled after suffering from to Buffalo througha rare form of lung out 2015 and spent cancer. nine months at He wanted to his wife’s bedside. be in the ride as a Debbie Hooks Klar means of giving needed a bone back to the orgamarrow transplant, nization. “It’s nice but never received to be around other it and died of leupeople who have kemia in January Mark Montgomery, organizer and gone through 2016. founder of Joseph’s Experience, takes this,” he said.

Joseph’s a “selfie” with his cell phone camera Wright and his Experience, Inc, a wife, Jane, have nonprofit founded showing the pack of bicyclists who two other children in 2014, holds fund- participated in the 15-mile “Joe’s at home, a 4-yearraisers throughout Ride” recently. old daughter and a the entire year. It 5-month-old son, and they felt it was does not hand out cash, but offers vital to talk about life and death with material assistance and intangible their eldest daughter. aid, such as emotional comfort. It “We had a good conversation,” provides encouragement and hope to he said. “We know (Emma is) in patients and families to get through heaven and we’ll see her again. It’s their ordeal. interesting to walk a child through “It’s teaching people to live, not the grief process. They grieve and just exist,” Montgomery told supporters who assembled at a reception they’re sad, but then they’re (over it).

It’s different from adults who hang following the third annual Ride For onto grief longer.”

Joe, a 15-mile bike ride-fundraiser Montgomery also invited guest held recently. The ride’s theme is a riders Randall Van Wagoner, presimessage to those impacted by cancer dent of Mohawk Valley Community and leukemia: “You suffer alone no College; Anthony Picente, Oneida more.”

County executive; and his wife, Klar, holding back tears, and Eleanor Picente, a social worker at wearing a T-shirt with his wife’s the Utica City Schools. During the photo, told the crowd at Jorgensen entire route from Herkimer to Utica, Athletic Center at Mohawk Valley the cyclists were led by a police car, Community College in Utica how JE plus a convertible with the New made a difference to him and how York Yankees’ iconic stripes driven it has helped perpetuate his wife’s

by Mickey Mantle impersonator and memory. organ donation advocate Don Brown “It taught me how to advocate of Waterville. [for other cancer patients]. He gave Following brief remarks by me a voice,” he said of Montgomery.

“Mark visited my wife. Imagine driv- Montgomery and Wright at the Masonic campus, the Ride For Joe ing three hours to visit someone you was joined by two guests for the never met before. He took us in as if final 1.75-mile stretch, designated the we were part of his family.”

Community-Survivor-Active Battlers His family’s involvement with

Sarah Bostick, a leukemia survivor, rides on the Mohawk Valley Community College campus with Dominick Klar during the reception for participants in the third annual “Ride for Joe.” mile: Andrew Ruffino of Morris, a legally blind runner, was accompanied by a member of the Army National Guard running with a large American flag over Culver Avenue to MVCC. Sarah Bostick, 24, and her fiance, Joshua Michael Omes, led the 30 cyclists on the 14-mile ride from the Herkimer municipal offices to the Masonic Care Community, with police escorts providing traffic support.

Bostick is a nursing student who obtained her two-year degree from MVCC and is now enrolled in the RN program at Morrisville College. At the luncheon, she talked about her difficulties in surviving leukemia.

The first challenge she faced was getting her disease diagnosed properly. Her primary care doctor at first dismissed her concerns, she recalled.

As a nursing student, she went along with her hunches and research, and got confirmation of leukemia from the staff at a local urgent care center.

She later went to Roswell Park for treatment. However, her father, Rick Bostick, convinced her to consult with specialists at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She also got support from Montgomery and Klar.

Generating awareness

From his experience with his wife, Klar said he hopes to provide helpful advice for other cancer patients. “I know what questions she needs to ask the doctors,” said Klar.

Another honoree at the ceremony at MVCC was survivor Kathy Rogowski, who led a small team of riders in memory of her late father, Wayne Rogowski.

Judy Reilly, a new participant in the Ride For Joe, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes during a ceremony at the Masonic Care Community. “Joseph’s Experience gives the families hope and increases awareness, so no one else needs to go through this,” she said. “I volunteer because I can. I’d hate not to be if I could be.”

Reilly, 52, is a member of Greater Utica Sunrise Rotary, which she noted is committed to community

October 2017 •

service. She began dedicating herself to fitness after losing 150 pounds over the past few years. She also participated in the Ride For Missing Children for the first time last May. Twenty years ago, Frank Williams founded the 100-mile Ride For Missing Children in Utica, which raises funds to print posters of missing children nationwide. He retired from the organization five years ago.

He rode in the Ride For Joe and is also lending his professional management expertise to Montgomery for an event that shares many similarities with RFMC. “Mark’s work inspires a lot of people,” said Williams.

Montgomery is associate dean of social sciences and public services at MVCC. Montgomery recently finished a statewide bicycle tour of 62 counties.

His objective was to honor emergency medical personnel, firefighters and law enforcement.

JE was named after his brother who died from cancer, although Montgomery, 54, is a cancer survivor, too.

He suffered from a form of leukemia called scarcoidosis that impacted his lungs.

“As a black belt, it is my duty to serve others before self,” Montgomery wrote in an email. “So that aligned with my desire and obligation to serve.”

On the JE website, Montgomery explains the group’s mission.

He acknowledges the organizations that aim to serve children and honor those in the military, but JE serves residents in 16 counties of central New York. Whereas other service providers fill a single-event timeline, his organization provides services, activities and support throughout the year.

“After all, suffering doesn’t stop after an event, a child returns from camp, a family returns from a weekend away, or a veteran receives a hot meal,” he said.

Montgomery and Kathy Rogowski are among the cancer survivors who make up JE’s board of directors.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

Food allergies and children Oneida family learns to live with dangerous threat of food-related allergies

The family had found out that Spencer wasn’t actually allergic to dogs, so Kahler had to dig a little deeper to figure out the cause. Kahler read the ingredients list on the dog food and discovered it had flaxseed in it, “which is in the same family as sesame. I found a dog food without flaxseed and we haven’t had a problem since.”

One difficulty for people who have a sesame seed allergy is that it is not among the top-eight allergens.

For this reason, manufacturers generally don’t list it in their warnings.

Kahler spent time researching as well as calling manufacturers to make sure Spencer’s food was safe for him.

By Kristen Raab

A

ccording to Food Allergy Research and Education, one in 13 children have some type of food allergy.

Colleen Kahler’s 5-year-old son Spencer was diagnosed with food allergies when he was only 4. Acccording to experts, food allergies should be taken seriously and there must be a concerted effort to understand the difficulties faced by people who experience them.

While Spencer has had eczema since he was a baby, at 3 years old an allergist initially determined he was allergic to dogs and cats.

Once Kahler realized Spencer’s eczema was getting worse, she went to a “kid-friendly doctor who had a great protocol in place for dealing with eczema, asthma, which I suspected he might have, and allergies.”

The doctor confirmed Spencer has eczema, asthma, a cat allergy, environmental allergies and a severe sesame seed allergy. “It was very overwhelming,” Kahler says.

The food allergy came as a surprise to Kahler because her son hadn’t experienced a reaction to any food. It’s important to note that someone may not experience a reaction one day but could have one the next time the food is consumed.

“That’s why doctors want their patients to avoid the allergen. And each time a person has a reaction, it can get worse and worse,” the Oneida resident said.

Though Kahler was worried at the time of diagnosis and continues to worry, she says, “I try not to let it paralyze us.”

Steps to protect Spencer included making sure he had his medicines at school and informing the staff of

Isolated but not alone

Spencer Kahler his pre-K of the allergies. “Because Spencer was diagnosed shortly after starting school, the teachers took time to discuss his allergy with the entire class. It was great to hear that Spencer’s view of the whole experience wasn’t focused on the sesame allergy, but rather with the fact that he found out he wasn’t actually allergic to dogs,” she said.

Kahler gave a list of ways sesame is included in ingredients to her son’s teachers.

Allergic reactions sometimes seem to occur for no reason. Kahler shares that the family got a dog in November, and soon Spencer “started breaking out in a rash everywhere the dog licked him.”

Now Spencer is in kindergarten, and he sits in an area of the cafeteria to keep him safe. “Because he’s so little, the cafeteria can be intimidating, but as he’s getting used to it, he is starting to meet new friends who can sit next to him on the other side of the tape,” Kahler said. Of course, Spencer’s safety is the top priority, but Kahler also wants her son to feel included.

One way she plans to make him feel like part of the group is to provide “a treat for him to have when the class celebrates birthdays.”

While we may not all face an allergy, we can make a difference in the quality of experience of those who do have them. Kahler said,” “I’ve had other moms send me food labels or recipes for treats they were planning to make because they wanted to include Spencer.” She appreciates this considerate action.

“I find that so reassuring that kindness still exists in this world. I’m not sure I can ever express to those moms just how much it meant to me that they went to great lengths on

behalf of my son,” she added.

In addition, attempting to understand how serious the issue is as well as empathizing with those impacted could go a long way. “I often feel like people try to minimize the threat of food allergies because they don’t fully understand it. And because people haven’t heard of sesame seeds in many foods, they assume it’s not as serious as a peanut allergy,” she said.

Kahler said she must monitor everything her son eats and call restaurants in advance.

For more information about sesame allergies, visit www.foodallergy. org/common-allergens/sesame.

With Halloween just around the corner, most kids are probably excited and worry free. For kids with food allergies, it is not so simple.

The Teal Pumpkin Project allows families to put a teal pumpkin outside their home to let trick-or-treaters know that house offers allergy-friendly candy or non-food treats.

Kahler’s family took part in it last year. “If we can help even one child feel included and safe, it’s well worth the effort,” Kahler said.

Learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project at www.foodallergy.org/ education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project.

The Central New York FARE walk is held in August, and raised over $15,000 for research, awareness and advocacy in 2017.

In 2013, Kahler’s cousin, Kristen Scanlon, started a local walk after discovering her son had a peanut and egg allergy. Kahler became involved to support her cousin, but later realized “it’s a whole different feeling when you’re fighting for your own child’s life.” Kahler is on the FARE committee, which “has become an excellent source of support,” for her, she said.

It’s important to monitor cardio health in children

By Kristen Raab

U

nless there is a known condition, we tend to think of children as having healthy hearts.

But that can change throughout their childhood.

Learning how to prevent this damage is the first step to keeping our children healthy.

Patrick H. McNulty, a cardiologist for the Bassett Health Care Network, said, “Almost all children in the United States are born with a healthy, brandMcNulty new cardiovascular system, which means a heart and a set of arteries that have developed in utero in an environment designed by nature to provide them with optimal nutrition and growth. Breast-fed babies receive optimal nutrition.”

The shift happens as American children get older and “often switch to diets with far too many calories Page 12

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and too much sugar and saturated fat,” he said.

In addition, they might become sedentary. “This combination causes children to begin developing high cholesterol levels, early diabetes and early forms of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) by their early teen years,” McNulty said.

All children are at risk for these problems. However, at greater risk are children in families whose relatives have had a heart attack or stroke before age 50 or 60. If you are a parent of these children, ask your child’s pediatrician if testing is needed to check for high cholesterol.

While it seems complicated to determine the best meal plans, McNulty said, “Heart-healthy diets are really quite simple.”

His recommendations as to what to refrain from: Cookies and cake (seldom), sugary soft drinks (never), and red meat (seldom).

A hearty healthy menu includes oatmeal with 2 percent milk with a side of fruit for breakfast. Lunch could be a peanut butter and jam sandwich served on whole grain bread; add more fruit and some wa-

ter to round out the meal.

Salad, chicken breast or fish and a couple of vegetables make a filling, healthy dinner.

Read, understand labels

Since parents make dietary choices for their children, parents should read and understand food labels.

Notice the sugar, saturated fat and sodium contents of all packaged foods. Saturated fat can really add up in processed foods, but it should be kept to less than 10 grams per day, said McNulty. Packaged foods also tend to have a lot of sodium, but the recommendation is to consume less than 2,000 milligrams per day.

“Caloric intake should be roughly 2,000 calories per day for most people,” he noted.

Having the time to prepare healthy meals is one of the greatest obstacles for working parents.

McNulty suggests planning at least one “slow food” meal every day.

“Parents and kids (should) make time together to cook lean meat and vegetables, prepare an interesting salad, and sit down to eat together,” he said.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

He recommends educating children to choose healthier options when a quick fix is needed. Rather than grabbing potato chips or cookies, make apples, bananas and granola bars available.

Some kids love to move, but others are more inactive because of video games, tablets, and a general shift in how children play with one another. However, it’s recommended that they get 60 minutes of daily exercise.

This can be anything that “gets the heart beating fast and the muscles moving, such as school gym class, hockey practice, walking home from school, and yard work,” he said.

Besides monitoring your child’s diet and encouraging an active lifestyle, there is another change to improve their health and your own.

“All parents and children should abstain absolutely from smoking and all tobacco products,” McNulty said.

For more information about heart health, visit the American Heart Association at www.heart.org and the U.S. National Institute of Health at www.usphs.nih.gov.

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

occasionally, until golden brown.

Add water or stock, vinegar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until turnips are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to medium-high and stir in greens.

Cook for two minutes and then add garlic and Fresno pepper (if using). Cook for another two to three minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid reduces by three-fourths. Turn off heat, blend in honey, and serve.

Turnips + Greens = Nutritional Powerhouse

S

ome things are just better together: Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly, Simon and Garfunkel, wine and cheese. Another remarkable duo? Turnips and their nutritious greens.

On its own, a turnip is a decent source of several key nutrients. But when considered with its greens, it turns from a decent source into a downright amazing one. We’re talking superfood status. Of course, you don’t necessarily need to eat everything at the same time to reap all the benefits, but you do need to “heed the greens.”

Why eat a turnip? The low-calorie root — only 30 per cooked cup — is a treasure trove of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and dietary fiber.

Standout nutrients include vitamin C (about 40 percent of our daily needs) and fiber (around 3 grams).

Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is a tissue-builder, immune-booster and workhorse scavenger of harmful free radicals—age-accelerating agents that have been linked to inflammation, certain cancers and other chronic diseases. Fiber is good for bowel health, helps control blood sugar

levels, lowers cholesterol levels, and keeps us feeling fuller longer.

Another reason to eat this slightly peppery bulb? As a member of the nutritious cruciferous family, turnips are loaded with unique sulfur-containing compounds that may help the body fight cancer.

Why eat a turnip’s greens? The leafy greens, much like kale and beet greens, rock with vitamins A, K and C — all mighty antioxidants that burst with a variety of other health benefits. Vitamin A is essential for growth and healthy vision; vitamin K helps maintain strong bones and regulates normal blood clotting; and vitamin C’s merits are listed above.

One cup of cooked greens also provides a decent amount of fiber (5 grams) and folate, an important B vitamin that helps form red blood cells and produce DNA. Another reason to eat the greens?

They offer up some calcium — about 20 percent of our daily needs in one cooked cup. Calcium helps form and maintain healthy bones and teeth, and also plays a major role in the regulation of heart rate and rhythm.

Helpful tips: Braised Turnips with Wilted Greens Adapted from Cooking Light

6 small (or 3 medium) turnips, trimmed and peeled 1 bunch turnip greens (from above bulbs or purchased separately) 1 tablespoon olive oil 3/4 cup water or salt-reduced stock 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Fresno pepper, slivered (optional) 1 teaspoon honey Cut turnips into bite-size chunks.

Wash and coarsely chop or tear the greens.

Remove the stems if they are tough.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add turnips and cook for five minutes, stirring

Choose small to medium size turnips that are heavy for their size: the smaller the bulb, the sweeter the flavor. Look for greens that are crisp and deep green in color. If you buy turnips with their greens attached, remove them from the root when you get home. Store roots and greens in separate plastic bags and place in the refrigerator.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-

nist, 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.

s d i K Corner

Back-to-school worries for parents?

National sample shows 1 in 3 parents are very concerned with bullying, cyberbullying

B

ullying and cyberbullying top parents’ list of worries when it comes to their children’s health, according to a new report from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at the University of Michigan. Close behind are internet safety and stress, motor vehicle accidents and school violence.

But worries differed among racial groups, with African-American parents saying they were most concerned about racial inequities and school violence affecting their children.

The report is based on responses from 2,051 adults — including 1,505 parents of children aged 0-18 — from a nationally representative household survey.

“Adults across the country recognized bullying, including cyberbullying, as the leading health problem for U.S. children,” says physician Gary Freed, a Mott professor of pediatrics and the poll’s co-director.

This is the 11th year the Mott Poll has surveyed a national sample of adults on the top 10 health concerns rated as a “big problem” for children and teens. For the first time, this year parents were also asked to rate health concerns for their own children.

“When it came to their own kids, parents’ biggest child health concerns depended on their children’s ages,” Freed says. “For example, for parents of children ages 0-5, cancer was rated as a top health concern even though pediatric cancer is quite rare. Parents may have concerns about very seri-

ous conditions despite the small risk for them.”

As more children have access to the internet and social media, many parents also expressed concerns about their children’s safety online.

Experts have raised concerns about how cyberbullying may impact children’s mental health, with anxiety, depression and even suicide being linked to this type of harassment.

Vulnerability to online predators is also a risk.

“Parents should regularly discuss internet safety with their children and teens and ways to prevent prob-

October 2017 •

lems,” Freed says. “Simple effective strategies may include not providing personal identifying information on social media, chat platforms, or in shared gaming environments.”

Motor vehicle accidents — which are the leading cause of death for children aged 2-14 — were also of great concern to all groups of parents. In 2015, more than 650 children died and more than 120,000 were injured in crashes.

• The full report may be viewed at http://mottnpch.org/reports-surveys.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 13

Not-so-healthy ‘health’ foods

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Include of vegetables and Genesee Street, Suite B, Oneida, NY 13421 da Office: 301 Genesee Street, Suite B, Oneida, NY 13421 a,ffice: Office: 301 Genesee Street, Suite B, Oneida, NY 13421 Oneida Office: 301 Genesee Street, Suite Oneida, NY 13421 7785 N.301 State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Suite 130, Rome, NY 13441 Oneida Office: 301 Genesee Street, Suite Oneida, NY 13421 Oneida 301B,Genesee Street, Suite B, Oneida, NY 13421 ce: Marian Medical Building, 2211Office: Genesee Street, Utica, NY Office: 13501 Pretzels are what many people Oneida 301 Genesee Street, Suite B, Oneida, NY 13421 beans forStreet, nutrition.

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They don’t have much fat, parsnips and beyond,” she said.

Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C S. Benjamin B. Laurie M. Adam P. Fenton Perimeter Road, Suite 130, Rome, NY 13441 Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Herkimer Office: 201 East State Street, Herkimer, NY 13350 Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Office: 7785 N.Benjamin State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 lle Office: 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Rome Office: 91 Perimeter Road, Suite 130, Rome, NY 13441 le Office: 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Lowville Office: 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Hamo, FNP Hornyak, PA-C Johnson, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Lowville Office: 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 usan M. Abby S. Benjamin B. Laurie M. Adam P. Fenton lgaier, PA-C Allgaier, FNP PA-C Lowville Office: 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Allgaier, FNP PA-C but they also offer little nutrition. bby S. B. Laurie M. Adam P. Fenton Hamo, Hamo, FNP FNP Hornyak, Hornyak, PA-C PA-C Johnson, Johnson, PA-C PA-C Allgaier, Allgaier, FNP FNP PA-C PA-C : 201 East State Street, Herkimer, NY 133507785 Smoothies and fruit juice k, PA-C Johnson, PA-C FNPHerkimer PA-C LowvilleAllgaier, Office: N. State Street, 13367 Office:Lowville, 201 EastNYState Street, Herkimer, NY 13350

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Suite B, Oneida, NY 13421 Rome Office: eet, Lowville, NY 9113367 Perimeter Road, Suite 130, Rome, NY 13441 Herkimer Office: 201 East State Street, Herkimer, NY 13350 Lowville Office: 7785 N. State Street, Lowville, NY 13367 Page 14

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running errands is fairly commonplace. The amount of sugar that is in most commercially produced smoothies exceeds what should be consumed all day.

If it’s store-bought, it probably contains plenty of preservatives as well. “If you are going to have a smoothie, use plain yogurt and some vegetables besides the fruit,” Salzer said. The yogurt provides some protein, and the fruit and vegetables provide fiber and plenty of nutrients.

Salzer recommends eating whole

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

Salzer reminds us to practice portion control.

Another option might be to pair a handful of pretzels with some homemade hummus.

It’s easy to make: Traditional hummus contains chickpeas, tahini, a garlic clove, and olive oil. A great website for hummus recipes is: www.cookinglight.com/food/quickhealthy/hummus-recipes/spicy-redpepper-hummus.

Store-bought granola is often high in sugar and fat. Salzer says it’s a good idea to make your own, or at least choose a lower sugar variety from the store.

The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Natural detox Give your body the cleansing it needs

W

hen you hear the words detox or cleanse, what do you think?

For many, fear rings out with thoughts of nothing but water, or juices, or smoothies, or living in the bathroom for days on end, or starving yourself for weight loss.

So what does it really mean?

First, detox and cleanse can be used interchangeably. By definition, a detox is a process by which the body Dittner gets rid of poisonous substances. To cleanse is defined as removing dirt, or making something clean. Basically, a food-based detox is an opportunity to remove known toxins and “bad foods” from your diet for a pre-determined amount of time.

Limit your exposure as much as possible to toxins that your body takes in daily from the foods you eat, the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the products you put on your skin.

Toxins build up, leading to physical and mental issues such as chronic fatigue, insomnia, headaches, sensitivities to chemicals and foods, and even disease.

Fortunately, your body has a built-in system that works together to flush out these toxins. That system consists of your liver, lungs, kidneys, blood, skin, lymphatic system, and colon. Still, many of you need a little extra help.

Sadly, there are more toxins in our environment. Your home or apartment that you just moved into was painted, causing you to wake up with a headache. You just bought a new car that has that “new car smell”. The hair products and body wash contain fragrance. Makeup has a petroleum base or numerous dyes

to get the color you want in a lipstick.

The cleaning products you use to clean your home also contain toxins.

You try to purchase organics and minimize your exposure, but many items may still be treated with pesticides, herbicides and other additives.

All of these products contain chemicals that can cause unwanted symptoms or side effects.

If your lifestyle is mostly clean, your need to detox-cleanse may be minimal. If this is the case, you may want to consider simply maintaining your healthy lifestyle. But if you’re experiencing weight gain or loss, insomnia, or other symptoms, you may need the help of a detox-cleanse to flush the toxins from your system to get you back on track.

Eating whole nutrient-dense foods is best when it comes to nourishing your body, mind and spirit.

Avoid processed or refined foods.

Your nutrition should consist of fresh

fruits and vegetables, beans (black, garbanzo, kidney), and grains (quinoa, millet, buckwheat).

When possible, choose organic to avoid ingesting pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers or other additives.

Eating clean is one of the best ways possible to rid your body of toxins so it doesn’t have to work as hard.

Juice cleanses can also rid your body of toxins while adding wonderful nutrients from fruits and veggies.

Juicing removes the fiber from the produce, giving the digestive system a rest.

With juicing, you may need to add psyllium supplementation in order to keep the intestinal tract flowing. There are a variety of juice cleanses lasting one day to a month.

Strictly juicing can lead to overall weakness, so it’s best to consult your health care provider for the OK to proceed.

Whether you do a juice cleanse

or a five-day whole foods detox, you need to remember that drinking pure filtered water is very important.

Water is necessary for hydration and for moving toxins through and out of the body.

Exercise consisting of a minimum of 30 minutes most days of the week where you work up a good sweat will help to eliminate toxins from your body. Before you hop in for your morning shower, consider dry-brushing the skin. It’s quick and effectively stimulates the lymphatic system.

Oil pulling with either coconut or sesame oil while you’re in the shower will also help pull toxins from your body. Breathing techniques and getting more fresh air into your lungs will also help. Adding plants in all of your rooms can improve the quality of air you breathe.

Adequate sleep consisting of 7-8 hours will allow your body to recover, replenish and repair. Approximately one half hour to a full hour of preparation time before sleep can prepare your body for complete restfulness.

If you decide to partake in a detox-cleanse program like the one I held in the spring and will do again this fall, remember that your body is always at work doing the best possible for you.

Be mindful of the foods you put into your body, your movement, your breathing, your sleep, and every aspect of your day as these steps will support you in the best ways possible for a healthy and long life.

• Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner and health consultant. Her mission is to transform as many individuals as possible through nutrition and lifestyle changes. For more information, check out her website at www.debdittner. com or contact her at 518-596-8565.

Nonprofits can apply for $55,000 in Community Health Awards

N

onprofit organizations in the Utica/North Country and Rochester regions of upstate New York can apply for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Award grants that total $55,000.

Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations in Excellus BCBS’s 14-county Utica/North Country region Snow and six-county Rochester region are invited to apply for awards of up to $4,000 each.

Excellus BCBS expects to issue a total of $165,000 in Community

Health Awards by the end of 2017.

Earlier this year, the health plan awarded $110,000 in grants to 36 nonprofits from throughout its entire 31-county Upstate New York operating area.

“Excellus BCBS supports the Community Health Awards because of the potential to improve the health of so many people in our communities, whether they’re inner city students overcome by trauma, refugees growing their own food at an urban farm, or rural teenagers looking for a safe and educational after-school program,” said Holly Snow, director, community health engagement, Excellus BCBS. The award can be used for programs that have clear goals to improve the health or health care

of a specific population. For the fall awards, Excellus BCBS will also consider funding nonprofits that are pursuing a new or innovative approach to improving community health.

“It can be hard for a small nonprofit to find the funds needed to try an innovative idea,” Snow said.

“We’re hopeful that our Community Health Awards will provide at least one nonprofit with the support needed to launch a fresh approach to a critical health problem.”

The deadline to submit an application to be considered for an Excellus BCBS Community Health Award is Oct. 10. For additional information and the online application, go to https://www.excellusbcbs. com/wps/portal/xl/our/compinfo/

October 2017 •

corp-giving.

Earlier this year, 12 Utica/North Country region organizations won Community Health Awards from more than 200 submitted applications in the 31-county upstate New York operating area.

The winning nonprofits from the Utica/North Country region were Au Sable Forks Elementary School, Ava Dorfman Senior Center, Champlain Children’s Learning Center, Farmers Museum, Oneida Healthcare Foundation, town of Saranac, village of Rouses Point, Cape Vincent Improvement League, North Country Children’s Museum, North Country Family Health Center, Samaritan Medical Center, and Watertown Family YMCA.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Health News PT achieves specialist designation Mary Ellen Terpstra of New Hartford, a licensed physical therapist at The Root Farm, has recently achieved her hippotherapy clinical specialist credentials.

This designation by the American Hippotherapy Certification Board indicates advanced knowledge and experience in hippotherapy, a specialty Terpstra treatment strategy within the practice of physical, occupational and speech therapy, in which the movement of the horse is used as part of a comprehensive plan of care.

Terpstra has been with the Root Farm for four years and in that time has helped children and adult clients with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, stroke and other conditions achieve improved function.

As a part of her training and background, she has completed a number of courses offered through the American Hippotherapy Association and educational offerings from world-renowned experts while attending two AHA international conferences.

She is one of only 100 practitioners internationally who have achieved this status.

The Root Farm, a nonprofit organization, sits on over 100 acres in Sauquoit. The Root Farm is focused on learning and healing for people of all ages and abilities through the power of equine, agricultural and recreational experiences.

MVHS employee completes program Michelle Walters of the Mohawk Valley Health System recently completed the Leadership Mohawk Valley program.

Walters is the business manager of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Laboratory where she is responsible for creating business plans and financial analysis to support and expand current and future laboratory Walters holdings. She helps establish and maintain quality processes for the benefit of patients and staff while overseeing the non-technical laboratory staff.

LMV is a 10-month program that prepares a group of people to be leaders in the community and to shape its future. The program provides experience in group dynamics, team leadership, presentation skills and professional and personal growth. The LMV program enables Page 16

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American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women survivor class members include, from left, Donna Myers, Colleen Marble, Robin Shafer and Liz Reardon.

Survivor class members revealed at Go Red for Women kick-off

V

olunteers, survivors and community leaders gathered recently at Sadaquada Golf Club, Whitesboro, to kick off the 2018 Go Red for Women movement and meet the third annual Go Red survivor class spokeswomen.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement educates and connects Greater Utica area women with knowledge and tools to help them make lifesaving choices.

The Go Red for Women movement in Utica is a year-round effort to fight the No. 1 killer of women — heart disease. Highlights for the year include the National Wear Red Day® luncheon on Feb. 2 in Rome, the Utica Go Red for Women luncheon on May 2, stories from

participants to broaden their perspectives and confront the issues at large to gain a fresh, clear perspective of the community.

“Michelle Walters is a conscientious, resourceful administrator with over 10 years of experience with public service organizations, financial institutions and businesses,” said Christine Goldman, director of laboratory services at SEMC. In her one and a half years at MVHS, Walters has helped to increase the outpatient service center locations as well as increase revenue to the hospital.

Walters received her master’s

the Go Red survivor class, and the efforts of the volunteers in the Circle of Red and Men Go Red groups.

Corporate chairwoman Kate Rolf of Nascentia Health will lead the 2018 Utica Go Red for Women luncheon.

During the kick-off event, the AHA introduced the members of the Go Red survivor class, sponsored

by Nascentia Health. This group of women will share their heart disease survival stories to help inspire other women to pay attention to their heart health.

Survivor class members will share their stories at events, in social media, and in other Go Red for Women promotions. Survivor class members include Colleen Marble, Chadwicks, congenital heart disease survivor; Donna Myers, Old Forge,

heart attack survivor; and Robin Shafer, Westmoreland, saved by CPR. During the kick-off, the association also announced the featured survivor speakers, called passion speakers, for its two luncheon events. Debbie O’Neill will share her family’s story at the National Wear Red Day luncheon in Rome on Feb. 2.

Liz Reardon, a survivor class member who lived with the symptoms of heart disease for years until her workplace wellness program helped lead to a diagnosis, will speak at the Utica Go Red for Women luncheon on May 2. The Masonic Care Community in Utica is sponsoring the passion speaker appearance.

degree in health care administration and a bachelor’s degree in biology, both from Utica College.

He earned his medical degree and completed two years of his residency in internal medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and one year of residency at Stony Brook University MediJeanty cal Center.

Jeanty is practicing at the St. Luke’s campus.

Hospitalist joins St. Luke’s campus Hamerton Jeanty has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group as a hospitalist and the medical staffs at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Jeanty earned his Bachelor of Science degree in clinical laboratory science at Stony Brook University Medical Center in Stony Brook.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

Continued on Page 17

Health News Continued from Page 16

MVHS Medical Group names leaders to roles The Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group has changed roles for two of its leaders and welcomed two others to the group.

Mark Testa has been named its director of operations. In this position, Testa oversees the daily operations of all of the medical group locations.

Testa has been an employee of Testa Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare since 2011, most recently as the assistant director of operations for the MVHS Medical Group. He has also served as operations manager for the former Adirondack Community Physicians.

Prior to joining FSLH, Testa was employed at Upstate Cerebral Palsy in the finance department.

Testa earned his bachelor’s degree in health services management from SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica.

Nicole Santiago has been named assistant director of operations. In this position, she oversees the daily operations of all of the medical group specialty care locations.

Santiago has been an employee Santiago of FSLH since 2008, most recently as operations manager for the MVHS Medical Group and, prior to that, served as a clinical information specialist in the information technology department at FSLH. Before joining FSLH, she was employed at Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, a Medicaid-managed care organization in Boston, Mass., as a contracting specialist.

Santiago earned her master’s degree in health care administration, magna cum laude, from Suffolk University, Sawyer School of Management in Boston, Mass., and her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from SUNY Buffalo.

She graduated from the FSLH Aspiring Leaders class of 2011.

Sergey Germanovich has been named assistant director of operations for primary care. In this position, Germanovich oversees the daily operations of the primary care medical group locations.

Germanovich has been an employee of St. Elizabeth Medical CenGermanovich ter in Utica since

MVHS hosts summer medical camp for Mohawk Valley teens The Mohawk Valley Health System recently hosted a medical camp for teens aged 15-18 at the St. Elizabeth and St. Luke’s campuses. MediCamp demonstrates to teens how a hospital operates and provides them with the opportunity to explore different departments for potential career endeavors. Above, MediCamp students learn how to operate the da Vinci® Si™ Surgical System in the operating room at the St. Elizabeth Campus. Fourteen teens participated in the camp, which included tours of the operating rooms, nursery and the inside of an air ambulance. Students received CPR training, stroke and respiratory education, and practiced their newly acquired skills.

2009, most recently as the MVHS director of language services. He has also served in various positions in the pharmacy, as special projects coordinator for the family medicine residency program and as administrative supervisor at the Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from SUNY Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration degree in economic crime and fraud management from Utica College, both in Utica.

Germanovich is also a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a certified health care finance professional.

Nancy Menter has joined the MVHS Medical Group as assistant director of hospitalist services. In this position, Menter is responsible for the oversight of the hospitalist program by working alongside its providers, serving Menter as the central coordinator to continually advance the hospitalist work-flow processes.

Menter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Utica College in Utica and an associate’s

degree at Carroll Community College in Westminster, Md. She is completing her master’s degree in health administration at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica. She is certified in advanced cardiac life support, the trauma nursing core course and safe patient handling.

Prior to joining the MVHS Medical Group, Menter was employed at Oneida Healthcare in Oneida and UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich as a hospital nurse supervisor. She also served as a nurse manager at UHS Chenango Memorial.

MVHS employees share citizenship stories Two Mohawk Valley Health System employees have become United States citizens and have recently shared their stories of perseverance and overcoming years of hardship to reach their goals of achieving a better life in America.

Mohammad Alsaad was born Alsaad in Iraq and immigrated to the U.S. in 2010 after five years of living in a tent and struggling to protect his family in an extremely hostile envi-

October 2017 •

ronment. He became a U.S. citizen in the spring and has been employed by MVHS since 2015.

Today, he works as a linen service associate and volunteers at the local refugee center.

Tha Pyu was born in Burma and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 2007 after Pyu spending time in a refugee camp. She wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a musician and has performed in Canada, Thailand and Burma.

She became a U.S. citizen in June and has also been employed by MVHS since 2015. Today, she works in environmental services.

FNP joins MVHS Clinton office Susan Rosato has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group’s Clinton Medical Office as a family nurse practitioner.

Prior to joining MVHS, Rosato was employed by the Family Health Network in Cincinnatus and by Cortland Convenient Care in Cortland.

Rosato earned her Master of Science degree in family nurse practi-

Continued on Page 18

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Health News Continued from Page 17 tioner studies from the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Utica College, and her associate’s degree in nursing from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica.

Rosato She is certified as an FNP and a basic life support health care provider.

Rosato is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State.

MVHS names director of respiratory care Cathy Olah has been named director of respiratory care for the Mohawk Valley Health System.

In this position, Olah is overseeing respiratory services for the system, including the Sleep Disorders Center.

Olah has been with the organization since 1989, serving as a respiratory therapist, consult therapist and day charge therapist.

Since 2015, she has served as the

assistant manager of respiratory therapy at the St. Elizabeth campus.

Olah earned her Associate of Science degree in respiratory care from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica and her Bachelor Olah of Science degree in respiratory care from Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.

She is a 2015 Aspiring Leaders program graduate and is enrolled in Quality Academy, pursuing a master’s degree in health administration at Southern New Hampshire University.

Physician assistant joins MVHS Angelica Pascone has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group Washington Mills Office as a physician assistant.

In this position, Pascone provides diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and health maintenance services throughout all stages of life.

Prior to joining MVHS, Pascone was employed at Upstate Cerebral Palsy in Utica and at The Arc Quinebaug Valley in Danielson, Conn.

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She is a certified physician assistant and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society of Physician Assistants.

MVHS neurosurgical group gains PA Physician assistant Alexander Carangelo has joined Nicholas Qandah at the Mohawk Valley Health System Neurosurgical Specialists Group and will have privileges at both Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Prior to joining MVHS, Carangelo Carangelo served as a physician assistant at Capital Region Neurosurgery in Slingerlands and at Samaritan Hospital’s Emergency Department in Troy.

He completed clinical rotations in psychiatry, obstetrics-gynecology, orthopedics, general surgery, oncology and hematology and internal medicine.

Carangelo received his Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, summa cum laude, from The Sage Colleges in Albany, and his Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from Albany Medical College in Albany.

He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

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Page 18

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Pascone earned a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies from Le Moyne College in Syracuse and a Master of Science degree in liberal studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Utica

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

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MVHS Medical Group gains trauma surgeon Tanveer Zamani has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group as a surgeon with privileges at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. She specializes in trauma and critical care.

Zamani earned her medical degree from Jinnah Sindh Medical University Zamani in Karachi, Pakistan. She completed her general surgery fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, and her surgical critical care fellowship at John Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, Ill. Zamani completed her residency and American College of Surgeons’ Transition to Practice fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa.

Interventional cardiologist joins medical staffs Michael K. Amponsah has joined Central New York Cardiology, PC with privileges at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

He specializes in cardiology and interventional cardiology, as well as peripheral vascular intervention and transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Amponsah earned his medical degree from the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.

He completed his internal medicine residency and cardiovascular disease fellowship at Newark Beth Amponsah Israel Medical Center in Newark, N.J., where he then received further training in structural heart, coronary and peripheral vascular interventions.

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Continued from Page 2

Oct. 6

Get ready to ‘Knock Your Socks Off’ The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Central New York Diabetes Education Program (CNY Diabetes) is offering a free “Knock Your Socks Off!” foot (podiatry) clinic for people with diabetes.

The event will take place at noon Oct. 6 at the CNY Diabetes office located on the fourth floor of the Faxton St Luke’s Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

An area podiatrist will conduct a brief educational seminar followed by a personal foot exam.

For more information or to register, call CNY Diabetes at 315624-5620.

Proper foot care is especially critical for people with diabetes because they are prone to foot problems such as a loss of feeling in their feet, changes in the shape of their feet and foot ulcers or sores that do not heal.

Oct. 6

Create a human pink ribbon Community members and breast cancer survivors are invited to help promote breast cancer awareness month by creating a human pink ribbon.

Those willing to participate are asked to wear dark pink to the event, which will take place at 12:15 p.m.

Oct. 6 at Murnane Baseball Field, across from the Faxton campus, Utica.

An aerial picture will be taken to promote breast cancer awareness month throughout October in the Mohawk Valley. There will also be a brief ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors.

Register for this event by Oct. 5 by visiting www.mvhealthsystem. org/pinkribbon or call 315-624HOPE (4673).

The event is sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Health System Cancer Center, Oneida County Health Department Cancer Services Program under the leadership of county executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr., Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, the American Cancer Society and Daughter For Hire, LLC.

Oct. 9

Support forum for patients, cancer survivors The Mohawk Valley Health System’s Cancer Center’s monthly support forum for patients and cancer survivors will be held at 6 p.m.

Oct. 9.

The cancer support forum meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of every month in the Cancer Center’s fireplace lounge on the main floor of

Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica. The forum, led by the Cancer Center’s social worker, offers support to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to RSVP, call 315-624-5241.

Oct. 9

Support group to meet at RMH The brain aneurysm, AVM (arteriovenous malformation) and stroke support group will meet from 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 9 at Rome Memorial Hospital’s second-floor classroom.

The group meets on the second Monday of every month.

RMH is located at 1500 N. James St., Rome.

For more information, call Deb Dunn at 315-533-6467 or email RomeNY@JoeNiekroFoundation.org.

Oct. 10

Chronic kidney disease program slated The Dialysis Center at the Mohawk Valley Health System offers an educational program for those who have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

The program will take place from 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Weaver Lounge at the Faxton Campus, 1676 Sunset Ave., Utica.

Registration is required as seating is limited. Contact Cindy Christian, CKD program coordinator, at 315-624-5635 or email cchristi@ mvhealthsystem.org.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million Americans have CKD and millions of others are at risk for developing the disease. Early detection and intervention help to prevent the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure, known as end stage renal disease.

Oct. 12

Laryngectomy support group to meet The Laryngectomy Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at noon Oct. 12 in the Sister Regina Conference Room on the first floor of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center hospital building, 2209 Genesee St., Utica. The support group is sponsored by SEMC. Laryngectomy support group meetings are held at noon on the second Thursday of each month.

A laryngectomy is the procedure to remove a person’s larynx and separates the airway from the mouth, nose and esophagus. The laryngectomee breathes through an opening in the neck, called a stoma.

The public is welcome to attend.

Those with questions can call the speech therapy department at 315801-4475.

Oct. 16

Family support group focuses on addiction Families who are dealing with the problems of addiction can find help and information at a support group meeting from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 16 in the second floor classroom at Rome Memorial Hospital.

The group meets the third Monday of each month and is free and open to everyone.

Offered by the hospital’s Community Recovery Center, the support group provides an opportunity to discuss issues with others who are in the same situation.

Certified by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the Community Recovery Center, 264 W. Dominick St., Rome, offers alcohol and substance abuse treatment for adolescents and adults.

Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, the center participates with most major insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

A sliding scale fee is available for self-pay clients.

For more information about the support group or the Community Recovery Center, call 334-4701.

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Oct. 17

Valley Health Services in fund-raising mode Valley Health Services in Herkimer is participating in Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” campaign on Oct. 17.

The event is a special day that benefits VHS and other nonprofit organizations. This is the 21st anniversary of Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” promotion.

Everyone who purchases a $5 Friends Helping Friends pass receives a 25 percent discount on shopping purchases made only on Oct. 17.

In addition, shoppers are eligible to win a $100 or $500 gift card.

To get shopping passes, contact the VHS Community Relations and Fund Development Office at 315-8663330 ext. 2329 or pick them up at the reception desk on the ground floor at Valley Health Services, 690 W. German St., Herkimer.

Oct. 18

Valley Health Services accepts syringes Valley Health Services is accepting the community’s medical waste of needles, syringes and lancets from noon until 2 p.m. on Oct. 18.

The service is available on the third Wednesday of every month.

The waste must be in approved puncture-resistant containers available at local pharmacies and properly marked “biohazard.”

The containers may be brought to the outpatient receptionist on the ground floor at VHS, who will contact the personnel responsible for medical waste disposal.

VHS is located at 690 W. German St., Herkimer.

Questions may be directed to Tammi King, infection control nurse, at 866-3330, ext. 2308.

October 2017 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Mohawk Valley volunteers respond to hurricane disasters Local Red Cross comes to the rescue Continued from Page 3 From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., participants at the Utica Library attended a power point presentation by Red Cross staffers and received a handout with instructions on how to manage a shelter. Diann Fischer led the class and answered questions.

“When you work at the shelter, you might be the first contact clients have with the Red Cross,” she told the class. “It can be tough to navigate.”

The first task of Red Cross workers working in the shelters is to make sure every resident is registered online so he or she can be reunited with family.

Workers learned how to deal with visitors ranging from family members, nosy strangers, inquisitive reporters, local police or government officials and politicians while ensuring residents’ privacy, and how to treat minor injuries or medical problems.

The aid workers learned how to set up schedules for the residents at the shelters, such as when to expect meals, be allowed to take showers and enforce quiet hours. The Red Cross did not allow pets, except service animals in its shelters, which is why the ASPCA needed to step in Page 20

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and check on abandoned pets.

The volunteers themselves were subject to scrutiny. “The volunteers are screened for security and receive health checkups,” Gendron said. Although the class at the Utica Library seemed to be on average middleaged, there were a few college-aged volunteers. The minimum age to volunteer is 18.

Gendron’s experience in Red Cross management dates to Super Storm Sandy, which ravished New York City, Long Island and New Jersey in 2012. She also said the Red Cross is there to assist volunteers, too, such as providing mental health professionals to those who need help coping with a flood of emotions.

On her Facebook page, Ann Falvey of New Hartford posted her excitement at being picked as one of the Red Cross volunteers, even though she would not be deployed until October.

“I just got into American Red Cross boot camp for volunteering to help hurricane victims! Looking forward to helping! First time I have been able to help,” she wrote on her Facebook page.

A retired teacher, Falvey said she could empathize with the victims of the flooding. Several years ago, there was flooding in her neighborhood

Adam Hobb, left, disaster program manager, chats with Jane Gendron, executive director of the North Country chapter of the American Red Cross and coordinator of the training classes held recently at the Utica Public Library. To Gendron’s left is Taylor Fanelli, who was keeping in touch with Red Cross officials in Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. when drainage pipes burst and completely filled her cellar. “It was devastating and costly to recover. I need to help someone in need. I understand and want to help,” she said.

She said she was grateful after the Red Cross came to her house. In addition, “lots of beneficent contractors and money solved the costly problem.”

Kathy Countryman of Utica, who volunteered with the Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina in 2005,

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • October 2017

enjoyed the experience and would consider it in the future. She was unable to participate this time.

“What most impressed me about my experience serving in New Orleans after Katrina was how upbeat, welcoming, and appreciative the recipients of our assistance were,” she wrote in an email. “They were unfailingly polite and gracious despite, to say the least, very trying circumstances. I’ll never forget their warm smiles and effusive thanks.”