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Male Breast Reduction

Procedure is becoming one of the most common nationally and in the Rochester region.

Rochester–Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

March 2013 • Issue 91

The

Clifton Springs Hospital: New CEO, Smaller Staff

Forgotten Gender

Compare the few initiatives for men to the vast array of women’s health promotions, and it’s easy to see that men are left in the dust when it comes to health care efforts. Page 11

Why You Should Wear Them

Milk: Your Bones’ Best Friend Cancer Rates Still Decreasing Despite trend, an estimated 1.6 million Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis and 580,000 will die of the disease in 2013

INSIDE: Teen Births Hit Record Low

Getting Engaged, Healthy — Initiative looks to improve residents’ health by creating an environment that supports healthy behavior

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Dr. Ralph R. Madeb Urologist talks about erectile dysfunction, low testosterone and his work to slow down the aging process Page 6 March 2013 •

Heart Patient Saved by a LifeVest Hornell resident was having a cardiac arrest episode during his sleep when his defibrillator vest sent a jolt that revived his heart and body. He only found out in the morning when he woke up.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester All programs and services are FREE OF CHARGE

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HELP REDUCE ER CROWDING. FOR COLD AND FLU SYMPTOMS, SEE YOUR DOCTOR. A recent study found that each year there are hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits in upstate New York that could be avoided. Minor conditions like cold and ﬂu symptoms, congestion, back pain, earaches and sports injuries are best treated by your doctor. If your doctor isn’t available, consider visiting an urgent care facility. And do your part to relieve ER crowding.

Sponsored by the Monroe County Medical Society, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. A nonproﬁt independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

DA T E S

MAY

5.12.13 MOTHER’S DAY Pink Ribbon Run & Family Fitness Walk Sunday, May 12, 2013

JULY

7.29.13

‘Tee’d Off at Breast Cancer’ Golf Tournament Monday, July 29, 2013 Brook-Lea Country Club

SEPT

9.28.13 ARTrageous Affair Breast Cancer Gala

Saturday, September 28, 2013 Rochester Plaza Hotel

Record Number of Children Covered by Health Insurance in 2011

record number of U.S. children were covered by health insurance in 2011, mostly due to substantial increases in the enrollment rates of public insurance, according to new research from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. The new research is presented in the Carsey Institute brief “Record Number of Children Covered by Health Insurance in 2011” conducted by Michael Staley, a research assistant at the Carsey Institute and a doctoral candidate in sociology at the University of New Hampshire. “The increase in children covered by health insurance likely stems from policies enacted to increase participation in government-sponsored health insurance programs. In addition, we continue to see significant declines in private insurance and increases in public insurance, which reflects the economic and job market of 2011, four years after the beginning of the Great Recession,” Staley said. According to Staley, between 2008 and 2011, the rate of private coverage among children decreased by more than 5 percentage points across the United States, while public rates increased by more than 9 percentage points. “While unemployment rates have declined since 2008, research shows that some individuals are taking jobs with no health benefits, with health

benefits that are not available to dependents, or with unaffordable premiums. Thus, many parents have turned to public programs such as Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or other state programs,” he said. The key findings are as follows: • Rates of insurance coverage for children under age 18 increased from 90 percent in 2008 to 92.5 percent in 2011. • With the exception of the Midwest, all regions experienced a modest increase in children’s health insurance coverage between 2010 and 2011. • Rural places and central cities in the South and West experienced the greatest increases in rates of coverage since 2008. • The proportion of children covered by public health insurance increased substantially for the fourth consecutive year in every kind of place — rural, suburban, and in central cities. • Rates of private insurance coverage among children decreased for the fourth consecutive year. “As more families turn to public insurance to provide coverage for their children, costs are likely to increase, despite cost-reducing measures required by the Affordable Care Act that go into effect in 2014. Some proposed policy changes would shift a greater proportion of the cost of care back to families, which could be particularly burdensome for low-income families, who may choose to forego care because of higher costs,” Staley said.

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HEARING CENTERS

of Hearing

Health Tip: Why Wear Sunglasses? They block sun’s ultraviolet rays

ell-made sunglasses do more than make you look like a movie star. They can protect your eyes from many problems, including those caused by the sun’s harmful rays. The American Optometric Association says you should always don sunglasses during the daylight hours because: • They protect your eyes against the sun’s UV rays, which could otherwise lead to cataracts. • They protect against “blue light” from the solar spectrum, which could increase your risk of macular degeneration.

• They lead to improved and more

comfortable vision from not having to squint. • They can make it easier to adapt to darkness. Exposure to bright light can make it more difficult to adjust to driving at night.

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Brockport 585-637-0730

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From HealthDay News March 2013 •

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6:59 PM IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper 9/14/12 • Page 3

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

March 5

Hearing Loss Association to hold seminars The Rochester chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) will sponsor two seminars March 5. They are both to be held at St. Paul’s Church, East Avenue and Westminster Road. The 11 a.m. seminar will discuss “Your Accommodations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act—Strategies to get them,” presented by Attorney Nelson Thomas, a member of HLAA’s professional advisory committee. It will suggest specific steps and strategies for those who are hard of hearing to receive the accommodations they are legally entitled to from places of public accommodation. A few of many examples are hospitals, doctors’ offices, theaters, etc. The 7 p.m. meeting is titled “Hard of Hearing Individuals and the Monroe County Adult Health Survey: Your Opinion Needed” with physician Byron S. Kennedy, deputy director of Monroe County Dept. of Public Health. Those needing a sign language interpreter for an evening meeting should contact Linda Siple at 585-475 6712, a week in advance. For other information visit www.hlaa-rochesterny.org or telephone 585-266-7890.

March 8

Camp Good Days to honor volunteers Camp Good Days and Special Times will honor and recognize the Teddi Award recipients and Ring of Honor inductees at “A Night of Gratitude,” to be held March 8 at the Rochester Plaza Hotel, 70 State St., downtown Rochester. The event will begin with a social gathering at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and ceremony at 6:45 p.m.. The master of ceremonies will be Scott Pitoniak, himself a recipient of the Camp Good Days’ Teddi Award, and local sports writer and author. “A Night of Gratitude” is

open to the public and tickets to attend the event are $30 per person. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Laura Osborn at Camp Good Days, 585-6245555 or losborn@campgooddays.org or may be purchased online at www. campgooddays.org.

March 12, 26

Outings for people with Alzheimer’s Twice a month, the Alzheimer’s Association, Rochester & Finger Lakes Chapter, will offer Connections, a social group for people with dementia and their caregivers. At each meeting, the group will take afternoon outings around Rochester. Caregivers must accompany their loved ones on the outings. The activities are free to people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Some of the activities have fees for the caregivers. Activities in March include: • March 12 at 1:30 p.m.: A tour and conversation about “Race: Are We So Different?” the latest exhibit at the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Free to caregivers. • March 26 at 1:30 p.m.: An afternoon of bowling at Bowl-a-Roll in Henrietta. Caregiver fee is $2.50 per game, shoe rental is free. The group will travel together on a chartered bus from Monroe Community Hospital, 435 East Henrietta Road, to the day’s destination. Registration is required, and space is limited. Free transportation to Monroe Community Hospital is available. To register, call 800-272-3900 or go to alz.org/rochesterny. To arrange transportation to Monroe Community Hospital, call 800-272-3900.

March 14, 18

Mended Hearts schedules new meetings Mended Hearts Rochester, a nonprofit organization in its 47th year of giving support to people with heart disease and their families, has scheduled two meetings that are free and

Some of our patients have described walking into Finger Lakes Radiation Oncology Center like walking into their own family’s home. It’s true, the atmosphere here is unique. Every day we strive to create a warm, compassionate and friendly atmosphere to help guide you through your cancer journey.

• • • •

open to the public. • Thursday, March 14, from 7– 9 p.m.: Panel discussion with cardiac rehab participants, “Successfully Coping with Heart Disease,” led by Jim Fralick, facilitator, Canandaigua Mended Hearts. The meeting will be held in the RG&E Family Room, in the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, Thompson Health, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua. For more information, contact Mary Allhusen at 585-396-6253. • Monday, March 18 at 7:15 p.m.: A NYS licensed pharmacist from CVS will speak to about “Managing Your Prescription Medications.” She will answer questions posed by the audience. The meeting will be held at the Jewish Community Center, Auditorium A, 1200 Edgewood Ave. Rochester. For more information, contact Sharon Feldman at 585-544-1565.

March 15

Tree and shrubs sales in Ontario County Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District is hold its “Annual Tree & Shrub Sale.” The promotion offer low prices on evergreens, deciduous trees, deciduous shrubs, rooted groundcover, marking flags, bluebird nest boxes, and fertilizer tablets. Deadline to place orders is March 15. Orders can be made by calling the Ontario County Soil & Water Conservation District at 585-396-1450. Pick up time will be April, 19 and 20 at Dairy Barn at Ontario County Fairgrounds, county Road 10, Canandaigua.

March 16

Pieters Family Life Center hosts women’s fair The Pieters Family Life Center is offering a chance for women to focus on improving their minds, bodies and spirits at its women’s fair on March 16. The fair, which is free and open to the public, will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1025 Commons Way in Henrietta, and it will cover everything from personal finance and nutrition to yoga and Zumba. “We’ve got vendors and speakers to talk about wellness for the whole person,” said Catalina Johnson, social wellness coordinator at the Life Center. “We really want to teach women to take care of themselves,” she said, adding that topics will also include things like couponing, homesteading, menopause and returning to school.

Board-certiﬁed radiation oncologists and radiation therapists Encouraging and supportive environment Comfortably close to home Take charge and make us your choice for treatments

7 Ambulance Drive Clifton Springs, NY 14432 (315) 462-5711 www.ﬂrocenter.com

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

Visit our Facebook page

March 22

‘Advanced Breast Cancer Seminar’ to be held The Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, with community co-sponsors, will host the 10th Annual Cindy L. Dertinger “Advanced Breast Cancer Seminar: Tools for the Journey” on March 22, to celebrate and support those living with metastatic breast cancer. The half-day seminar will include presentations by physicians and wellness experts as well as survivors who are living with metastatic breast cancer. It will be followed by a reception. Funding for this event is provided by employees of M&T Bank in memory of their friend and colleague Cindy L. Dertinger. Admission is free, however seating is limited and reservations are required by March 20. The event, from 1–6 p.m., will take place at Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester. For more information, contact: 585-473-8177 or jean@bccr.org

June 30

Bike road race to take place in the Finger Lakes Competitive and recreational cyclists are invited to enjoy a ride through the Finger Lakes countryside in LDA’s Finger Lakes Cycle Classic Road Race & Tour, “Helping Students Stay on Course”, on Sunday, June 30. Experienced riders compete in the challenging 36-mile course for prizes valued at $1,000. Recreational riders are offered the 36-mile or a 22-mile course. LDA’s Finger Lakes Cycle Classic Road Race & Tour raises awareness and additional funds to support its education services which assist children and young adults who need help to succeed in school or employment. All participants will receive an official Cycle Classic shirt, beverages and snacks, followed by lunch and prize presentation. Early registration is $40 adults and $25 youth 17 and under or $45 adults/$30 youth 17 and under on day of event. To register, call LDA at 585-263-3323 or visit http://www.ldarochester. org/news_events/2013_cycle_classic. php. All proceeds wil benefit LDA Life and Learning Services.

Got a health event you want to publicize? Email us at editor@gvhealthnews.com by the 10th of each month

Millions of Americans Have an STD: Report

Son Salutation Yoga

And half of new infections each year are among young people, CDC says

ere’s a new and sobering government statistic to ponder: Experts estimate that the number of sexually transmitted infections among Americans now totals more than 110 million. In two studies published online Feb. 13 in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases, estimates of the prevalence and cost of treating STDs are tallied. The numbers are not good. One of the more concerning findings was that there are nearly 20 million new infections each year, and half of those occur among young people (aged 15 to 24). And the cost of treating STDs is substantial: The lifetime cost of treating 20 million infections a year comes close to $16 billion, the report showed. Eight STDs were included in the analysis, conducted by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They included chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B virus

(HBV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), HIV, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis and trichomoniasis. Some of these infections can cause serious health problems that range from infertility to chronic pelvic pain and cervical cancer, the researchers noted. While women tend to suffer greater health consequences from STDs, just as many young men are infected as young women, the report showed. “Sexually transmitted infections are a significant risk to people of any age who are sexually active, with some [infections] capable of transmitting through skin-to-skin contact,” said Kaitlin Doyle, women’s health coordinator at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park. “We have to take measures to protect ourselves,” she said. The findings highlight the need for greater prevention and screening efforts, and young people should be the first target of such efforts, the researchers noted.

Son Salutation Yoga is a hybrid workout combining mind/body practices through Yoga and Pilate’s movement. This class will improve strength, flexibility, balance, and core stability. Reducing stress and providing a mild cardiovascular effect are also benefits of this workout. This practice is a non-traditional application of various styles of Yoga and Pilates in combination with constant movement and flow from one exercise to the next. Son Salutation Yoga does not involve chanting, meditating, Sanskrit terminology or expressed spirituality.

Class Schedule is as follows: Monday and Thursday 9-10 am & 7-8 pm Saturday 10-11 am

Classes are held at: New Hope Community Church 3355 Union St. • North Chili, NY 14514

Susan Roesser, Certiﬁed PiYo Instructor 802-2757 • Email: susan.roesser@gmail.com www.sonsalutation.org

Fee $5/class (cash or check) Please bring a yoga mat, comfortable clothing, towel, and water.

Alzheimer’s Disease Cases May Triple by 2050

he number of people with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to triple in the next 40 years, according to a new study published in the Feb. 6 online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. “This increase is due to an aging baby boom generation. It will place a huge burden on society, disabling more people who develop the disease, challenging their caregivers, and straining medical and social safety nets,” said co-author Jennifer Weuve, assistant professor of medicine, Rush Institute for Healthy Aging at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “Our study draws attention to an urgent need for more research, treatments and preventive strategies to reduce this epidemic.” For the study, researchers analyzed information from 10,802 AfricanAmerican and Caucasian people living in Chicago, aged 65 and older, between

1993 and 2011. Participants were interviewed and assessed for dementia every three years. Age, race and level of education were factored into the research. The data were combined with US death rates, education and current and future population estimates from the US Census Bureau. The study found that the total number of people with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2050 is projected to be 13.8 million, up from 4.7 million in 2010. About 7 million of those with the disease would be age 85 or older in 2050. “Our detailed projections use the most up-to-date data, but they are similar to projections made years and decades ago. All of these projections anticipate a future with a dramatic increase in the number of people with Alzheimer’s and should compel us to prepare for it,” said Weuve.

SERVING MONROE, ONTARIO AND WAYNE COUNTIES in good A monthly newspaper published by

Health Rochester–GV Healthcare Newspaper

Local News, Inc. Distribution: 30,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 585-421-8109.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2013 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. 106 Cobblestone Court Dr., Suite 121 – P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564. • Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers and Contributing Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Chris Motola, Pat Battaglia, Jessica Youngman Advertising: Jennifer Wise, Donna Kimbrell Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Ofﬁcer Manager: Laura Beckwith No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

March 2013 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Organ • Eye • Tissue Donation To Enroll in the NY State Registry

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Let Me Represent You. “That’s All I Do.” Twenty years experience.

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STORY IDEAS? Email them to Editor@GVhealthnews.com Page 6

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Ralph R. Madeb, M.D. Urologist talks about erectile dysfunction, low testosterone and his work to slow down the aging process Q: Can you describe your specialty and what you do? A: Overall I’m a urologist, but due to demand from our patients we needed a center that revolved around men’s health. So what I’ve done is basically opened up a center for wellness and prevention. It’s called Vitalize — Center for Medical Revitalization. We started out doing men’s, but now we’re doing men’s and women’s. Basically the mission of this office is to develop a center to treat conditions related to aging or even prevent them all together. By trade I’m a urologist. I specialize in multiple fields of urology with special attention to anti-aging. Q: When you say “anti-aging,” what do you mean specifically? A: I mean the science behind the aging process, how to slow it down and reverse and how to deal with the hormonal imbalance that both males and females are exposed to that causes male and female menopause. Q: What’s responsible for the aging process and the decline people experience as they age? A: The old adage is, “The day you’re born is the day you die.” It’s really true in the sense that, while you’re in utero, you have all the nutrients, everything you need on a continual basis. After you’re born, it’s sort of survival of the fittest. Every day you need to continue to get the same amount of nutrients and building blocks you need from the environment. Unfortunately, from this first day of life until the day you die, but mostly starting in your third decade, you’re getting a reversal of your hormonal process. In the male, it’s low testosterone, with women it’s low estrogen. At the same time, our bodies have a harder time absorbing the essential amino acids we need to get from the foods we eat. We start to lose them as well.

only do we give testosterone replacement, we give hormones that you’d find with younger processes including a stronger thyroid, a stronger adrenal gland, and all of the amino acids. Some of these can’t be taken orally. At the health food store, they’ll try to put it in a vitamin, but you only absorb about 20 percent. We’re giving them through an injection, so they’re absorbing all of it and we’re helping their body function like it was 20. Q: What kinds of results are you seeing? A: We’re seeing very good results. I’d say we have about a 95 percent success rate. We’re very, very selective. We don’t take people who don’t need it. We don’t take young guys who just want to look better in the gym. Q: Relative to how you envisioned things with the center, how close are you to meeting those goals? A: I think, when we opened it up, we were very optimistic because we had so many people coming and telling us we need a center like this. We thought we would be very busy on day 1. We’re in the natural process of any business. We see patients on the weekends, we see patients at night. We built this place like a boutique service, not a typical doctor’s office. It’s more of a medical spa. We

Q: What can you do to intervene in that process? A: So what we do is, we conduct very extensive testing to see what the levels of hormones are in the body. We look at all the hormone systems together, rather than looking at it according to only our one specialty. Based on what’s deficient, we give them to same levels as when they were 20, in the safe zone. We’re using the doses somebody should have, monitoring it very closely as we go through. And not

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

have a doctor, a PA [physician assistant], someone who specializes in endocrinology. We’ve been highly successful. We also have a very upscale weight loss program that uses the hCG hormone. As we age, we lose these types of hormones, our metabolism slows down and we gain more weight from eating the same number of calories. So our program all revolves around wellness and making people better. Most of our referrals are through success stories. Q: What kinds of applications do you see hormone therapy having for weight loss? Could it be a cure for obesity at large? A: We have a very big focus on obesity. We have a multidisciplinary approach. First of all, we start out with an exercise regimen, find out where they want to be, if it’s even attainable— if you weigh 400 pounds, we’re not going to get you down to 90. We use diet pills, we put our patients on a diet, we have relationships with nutritional shops and gyms. Getting them to lose weight is the easy part. Helping them keep the weight off is where we feel we do really well and separate ourselves from everyone else. We follow them with nutrition plans, how to eat better, how to eat right and we check medical reasons that might cause them to gain weight. Then we make sure that we’re keeping it off. Q: Are you still able to practice urology or are you mainly involved in the center now? A: I still have a practice. We have a lot of people involved, so we can staff the center at night and on weekends, when people are more comfortable coming in. We’ll even go to their house and do what they need. Q: What’s the urological component of this operation? A: The big one is erectile dysfunction. We use both traditional and homeopathic interventions for erectile dysfunction that you can’t do in a normal urology office. It’s much more comprehensive than just giving pills. Q: I’m sure you’ve heard the news about Lakeside closing its emergency and inpatient services. What impact do you see that having on your practice? A: I think it’s sad. We need another place. I think it’ll give us more business since their patients will be looking for places to be treated. I think Batavia will probably benefit the most since they’re the closest hospital. And for regular consultations that’s OK, but there are going to be people who need emergency consultations.

Lifelines Name: Ralph R. Madeb, M.D., Hometown: Brooklyn, NY Education: Yeshiva University (Israel and NY); Touro College of Biological Sciences (NY); Technion School of Technology (Israel); Strong Memorial Hospital Afﬁliations: Rochester General; United Memorial; Newark-Wayne Community Hospital; Thompson Health Organizations: American Urological Association; AUA NPP Education Committee; Endourological Society; Society for Urologic Oncology Position: Leads a team of healthcare professionals at Vitalize Medical Center in Rochester Family: Married, 5 children Hobbies: gemology, telecommunications, robotics, classical music, opera, computers Contact him at: 585-287-5299.

Cancer Death Rates Still Decreasing Despite trend, an estimated 1.6 million Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis and 580,000 will die of the disease in 2013 By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

ecent reports from the American Cancer Society indicate that the rate of death for all cancers continues to decline from previous decades. “We have a good reason to begin the new year with cheer,” said Sheema Chawla, board-certified radiation oncologist for Lipson Cancer Center at Rochester General Hospital. “The findings...[are] good news, and it is encouraging. Since 1991, the rate of cancer mortality has declined from 215.1 per 100,000 to 173.1 in 2009. That’s a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates from 1991.” Cancer deaths among men and children decreased about 1.8 percent per year and 1.5 percent among women. The death rate among the four main cancer types — lung, colon/rectum, breast and prostate — have been steadily decreasing. Chawla attributes the decrease in lung cancer deaths largely because of smoking cessation efforts. “Substantial decreases in secondhand smoke exposure have been

realized since the beginning of the 1990s,” she said. “A variety of measures, as well as work place policies, rules about smoking in the home, and, more recently, through state and local smoke-free indoor air legislation have contributed the decline in secondhand smoking.” Better awareness and screening have helped decrease deaths from colon cancer and breast cancer. “After increasing for more than two decades, female breast cancer incidence rates began decreasing in 2000, then dropped by about 7 percent from 2002 to 2003,” Chawla said. The decline in post-menopausal hormone therapy has influenced the statistic. A study from the Women’s Health Initiative published in 2002 linked the therapy to increased risk of breast cancer and other diseases. Findings such as these made hormone therapy less popular. Though decreasing cancer death rates is good news, the war with cancer is far from over. The American Cancer Society esti-

mates that 1.6 million Americans will receive a cancer diagnosis and 580,000 will die of the disease in 2013. “Cancer still remains among the deadliest killers for Americans, second only to heart disease,” Chawla said. Chunkit Fung, assistant professor in hematology/oncology at University of Rochester Medical Center, said that improvement in both treatment options and preventative measures have been instrumental in slashing cancer death rates. “A healthy lifestyle is the most important thing,” Fung said. “Smoking is the biggest offender not only for lung but bladder cancer and many other types of cancer. Smoking cessation is important.” He recommends that to help prevent cancer, everyone should engage in regular exercise and eat a healthful, low-fat diet. Cancer cases for melanoma of the skin, and cancers of the liver, thyroid and pancreas are increasing. Cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) are also increasing. These

include cervical cancer and some types of head and neck cancer. “While protective vaccines are available, government figures show just 32 percent of teen girls have received all three doses, fewer than in Canada, Britain and Australia,” Chawla said. “The vaccine was recommended for U.S. boys about a year ago.” In addition to the recommendations Fung offered, Chawla added that vaccinating against HPV, reducing sun exposure, eliminating tanning bed use, and limiting red meat, alcohol and processed grains can help prevent cancer. “Get screened by your doctor regularly, she said. “Maintain a healthy weight throughout life and adopt a physically active lifestyle. “Choose foods and beverages in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Eat five or more servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits each day. The preventative strategies are very important.”

Living with Advanced Breast Cancer: Emphasis on ‘Living’ Monroe County has the highest rate of new breast cancer diagnoses in New York state, with 144.4 new incidences per 100,000 compared to 125.8 new cases per 100,000 statewide. By Pat Battaglia

ho hasn’t heard about breast cancer? Arguably one of the most widely publicized forms of cancer, the pink ribbon has become synonymous with the disease. With strong emphasis on early detection as their best bet, women are exhorted, often in pink-ribbon-bedecked messages, to get their yearly mammograms. But there is an underside to that pink ribbon. Nationally, there are more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer every year. Monroe County holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rate of new breast cancer diagnoses in New York state, with 144.4 new incidences per 100,000 people in 2009, compared Raeside to 125.8 new cases per 100,000 statewide. These statistics have remained stubbornly persistent

despite ongoing progress in understanding and treating the disease. In its early stages, breast cancer is serious, but curable. But in approximately 30 percent of these cases, cells from the original tumor travel to different sites within the body, seeding the growth of new tumors. This process is called metastasis, and the disease is known as metastatic or advanced breast cancer. At this stage, the condition is considered treatable, not curable. A number of different treatment options are available depending on individual circumstances, including chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal therapy, and others, that can slow or even reverse the progression of the disease. In most cases, the cancer will eventually progress, and different treatments are used in succession as one stops working and another is tried. The approach to metastatic breast cancer is, ideally, to manage it as a chronic disease. Symptoms of the disease and side effects of treatment can usually be dealt with successfully, and those affected can — and do — live for years with a good quality of life. “It’s limiting in

some ways,” says Kathy Raeside of Penfield, a metastatic breast cancer survivor. “It’s not something I can leave behind. I do try to enjoy my life, but it’s always there.” For Raeside, being here for her family is of utmost importance. “To live as normal a life as possible is my goal,” she says. Having a strong support system has helped her through some rough patches. Raeside speaks highly of her doctor. “She takes the whole picture into account regarding quality of life.” And the support doesn’t end there. “My friends and family are ‘doing it.’ They help with housekeeping, take me to treatments, and they stay in touch. I think that’s the most important thing – staying in touch.” Helping others who are hurting because of this diagnosis is also high on Kathy’s list of priorities. Many of those facing this disease have done everything right, including getting regular screenings and engaging in good overall healthcare habits. The reasons why breast cancer metastasizes in some and not others remain unclear. As Raeside says, “It’s no one’s fault.”

March 2013 •

Advanced breast cancer is not a road anyone needs to travel alone. Many among us have learned to live full, active, and meaningful lives with the disease. There is a sisterhood of women living with it right here in our community. They can be found at the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, where they gather regularly for companionship and support, reaching out helping hands to empower each other, and inspiring those who know and care for them. On Friday, March 22, the coalition will offer its annual Advanced Breast Cancer Seminar from 1 until 5 p.m. at the Memorial Art Gallery. The panel of speakers includes Zachary Kramer, MD; Beth Lenegan, Ph.D.; Wakenda Tyler, MD; Brian Yirinec, MD.; and two advanced breast cancer survivors. The seminar is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. For more information, or to register, call the coalition at 585-473-8177. Pat Battaglia is the newsletter editor at Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester. For more information on the nonproﬁt, call 585-473-8177.

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

It’s Never Too Late to Get Comfortable in Your Own Skin

t took me some time to get comfortable in my own skin. It took some growing pains, some setbacks as well as successes, and some aching losses — but it has all been worth it. The reward has been a life filled with more peace, freedom and joy. Now, in the happy third chapter of my life, I am comfortable expressing my true self. I am steering clear of “shoulds” or other people’s agendas and opinions, and I am enjoying being me in these ways and more: • I drive a stick shift. • My guilty pleasure is a fine French Bordeaux. • I love to write. • I find my spiritual bearings in nature. • I enjoy all kinds of music, but I keep coming back to the Great American Songbook. • I practically live by candlelight, loving the warm, cozy ambiance it creates. Plus, I look much younger in dim light. Ha! • My all-time favorite movie is To Kill a Mockingbird. • Sitting around my backyard bonfire with the people I love is a favorite pastime. • I prefer relating to people in person vs. through technology. • I ride a motorcycle (in daylight only and on back roads.) I know, I know ...

• I’ve kept every one of my mother’s beautifully written thankyou notes. • Cutting for Stone is on my bedside stand. • An honest-to-goodness listener (not a pretend listener) melts my heart. • I love working with my hands and using good tools. Thanks, Dad! • Planting and harvesting my own garlic and other vegetables makes me incredibly happy. (Email me for my delicious roasted garlic soup recipe.) • Paris is my favorite travel destination. • I’m a dog lover. Big time. • I’m a “practical” romantic, hopelessly moved by the everyday nuances of life and relationships — the good, the bad, and the silly. • I’ve retired my wardrobe of blacks and grays for vibrant pinks, oranges, and greens. • My passion is helping women embrace their independence and adjust to living alone. I’ve discovered that the key to living alone successfully is to determine who you really are and what you

KIDS Corner Can Breakfast Make Kids Smarter?

ew research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has found that children who regularly have breakfast on a near-daily basis had significantly higher full scale, verbal, and performance IQ test scores. In one of the first studies to examine IQ and breakfast consumption, researchers examined data from 1,269 children six years old in China, where breakfast is highly valued, and concluded that children who did not eat breakfast regularly had 5.58 points lower verbal, 2.50 points lower performance, and 4.6 points lower total IQ scores than children who often or always ate breakfast after adjusting for seven sociodemographic confounders. “Childhood is a critical period in which dietary and lifestyle patterns are initiated, and these habits can have important immediate and long-term implications,” said lead author Jianghong Liu, associate professor at Penn Nursing. “Breakfast habits appear to be no exception, and irregular breakfast Page 8

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eating has already been associated with a number of unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, frequent alcohol use, and infrequent exercise.” At age 6, a child’s cognitive ability as both the verbal and performance levels is rapidly developing. Both the nutritional and social aspects of breakfast play a role. After a whole night of fasting, breakfast serves as a means to supply “fuel” to the brain. Meanwhile, social interaction at breakfast time with parents may promote brain development. Mealtime discussions may facilitate cognitive development by offering children the opportunity to expand their vocabulary, practice synthesizing and comprehending stories, and acquire general knowledge, noted the authors. The researchers suggest that schools play a role in stressing the importance of eating breakfast by delaying start times and/or providing breakfast to allow students to profit from the cognitive benefits of eating before a morning curriculum.

really want for your life — to be your best, true, most aware self. It may sound simple, but for those coming out of a long relationship, determining or rediscovering “who you really are” can be daunting. After years of focusing on the needs and desires of a spouse and family, many discover that, somewhere along the way, they have disappeared around the edges and lost their own sense of self. Rediscovering yourself and identifying those things that bring joy and meaning into your life can turn living alone into an adventure of the spirit. Once you establish your individual interests and means of self-expression, you may find that time alone and the silent moments between events no longer feels empty. Below is an exercise to help you get back in touch with your true self. Spend some time with these questions: 1 – Search back. What were things you did or pursued as a child that gave you joy? What did you do particularly well, or that you secretly took pride in? What did you just love doing as a kid? 2 – More recently, when do you

completely lose yourself in something? What activities consume you and make you feel complete, as though nothing is missing? These are your “loves.” These pursuits can reveal your true self. 3 – What are the kinds of things you do when you have time to yourself, perhaps on vacation? How do you spend your time, when no one is watching, when you’re just being you? 4 – And finally, when you open a newspaper or magazine, what article interests you most? This may help to define areas that pique your interest. Then, take action: Based on the answers above, identify one step (even a small step) you can take now to reconnect with a past pursuit or to delve more deeply into an existing interest. Write down your step. Share it with another person who can help hold you accountable. Do it today. Those of us who live alone have the gift of abundant time to ourselves. Use it wisely. Use the time to get to know yourself all over again. When you identify the things you love to do, and do them, you will feel more integrated and in touch with your true self. You’ll be spending your time pursuing activities that bring you personal satisfaction — activities that reinforce who you are and who you want to become. With each passing day, I am confident you’ll find yourself getting more and more comfortable in your own skin! Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, you can call her at 585-624-7887, e-mail her at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com.

Teen Births Hit Record Low, CDC Reports Preterm and low-birth-weight babies also down, researchers add

een birth rates have dropped yet again, reaching a historic low, and the number of babies being born early or with a low birth weight has also declined, a new U.S. government report shows. Many factors may account for the improvement, experts say. “We talk more about teen pregnancy, the responsibility of having a child and how difficult it is to be a teen mom. We also talk about contraception and abstinence more,” said physician Jill Rabin, chief of ambulatory care, obstetrics and gynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, in New Hyde Park. “Adults have to remember we’re fighting the adolescent sex drive that developed as a matter of survival of the species,” Rabin said. “It’s important to remember the three I’s when you’re working with teens. They think they’re immortal, invincible and infertile. We have to convince them otherwise and dispel the myths, and the message

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

needs repetition.” As for the decrease in preterm and low-birth-weight babies, Rabin noted that “prenatal care is getting better, and the message of the importance of prenatal care is getting out there.” The report, from the National Center for Health Statistics branch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, documented declines in the three areas: • The teen birth rate fell to 31.3 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 in 2011. Twenty years ago, that rate was 61.8 per 1,000 teenage girls. • For the fifth straight year, the preterm birth rate dropped, to 11.7 percent in 2011 from 12.8 percent in 2006. • The rate for low-birth-weight babies also declined, from 8.15 percent in 2010 to 8.1 percent in 2011. The report was published online Feb. 11 and will appear in the March print issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Heart Patient Saved by a LifeVest He only found he was having a cardiac arrest episode when he woke up By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

astor Alan Bliss has a standard morning ritual, especially after suffering a heart attack late last year. He usually sleeps until just after 5 a.m. when his alarm or body clock wakes him up. Then he takes a shower half an hour later. That’s important is because bathing is the first time during the day he takes off his defibrillator vest, which goes around his shoulder and straps around his mid-section. The LifeVest provides protection for patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. On Jan. 19, he was sleeping in his bed and suddenly an alarm went off on his vest at 4:41 a.m. Bliss didn’t hear the alarm because he was unconscious and having a cardiac arrest episode. The vest, which monitors a person’s heart around the clock, sent a jolt that revived his heart and body. Thankfully, he was only unconscious for 38 seconds because the vest did its job. Bliss “If this would have happened an hour later, I would have been in the shower without the vest and I wouldn’t be alive today,” said Bliss, 65, a pastor at Hornell Free Methodist Church. “There is no other way to put it. That vest saved my life because I was passed out in a deep sleep.” The LifeVest allows a patient’s physician time to assess their long-term arrhythmic risk and make appropriate plans. By continuously monitoring a patient’s heart, it allows people to go back to daily activities after bypass surgery, stent placement, cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure. The LifeVest is covered by most health plans

and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2001. It is available in the United States, Europe, and Israel. Bliss was admitted in December to Rochester General Hospital after suffering a heart attack. His doctors understood based on his medical condition that he was susceptible to sudden heart arrhythmia that is fatal if not treated within minutes. Rather than leave him unprotected outside the hospital, they prescribed him the LifeVest, which was set to make sure his heart beat 170 times per minute. After Bliss woke up on Jan. 19, his wife took him to a local emergency room and he was then transported by ambulance to Rochester General where he received treatment. Some doctors have been understandably skeptical about the vest because it is a new device. But it has gained a little more popularity and recognition during the past few years. Today, the LifeVest has been prescribed to more than 75,000 patients, according ZOLL, the company that manufactures

the device in its Pittsburgh facility. “The vest even has its own modem which transmits data to Pittsburgh where someone monitors it,” said Bliss, of Hornell. “I received a call that morning from someone there that was pleased to hear my voice because the information came through her screen that the alarm went off on the vest. The vest might not always be pleasant to wear but it works, and because of that, it’s worth it.” Physician Parag Patel, who helped treat Bliss, said heart arrhythmias are very common after heart attacks. Between 300,000 to 400,000 people suffer cardiac arrest every year. He said the vest shocked the heart externally, returning the heart to a normal rhythm. He agrees if were not for the vest, Bliss’ condition would have been terminal. “The vest is gaining more acceptance as we learn more about it during the past five years,” said Patel, a cardiac electrophysiology physician at Rochester Cardiopulmonary Group, which uses RGH for many of its hospital-based services. “There are patients that need to be wearing these LifeVests because heart arrhythmias can occur during times of exertion or during sleeping.” Patel understands that putting on the vest daily could be seen as an annoying addition to one’s life. However, he said a patient’s greater focus should be sustaining their life. Patel said patients should wear the LifeVest at all times, including while sleeping. It should only be removed when a patient is showering or bathing. “If you are not wearing the vest as often as you should, then it can’t help you,” added Patel. “And if you are not yet a candidate for an implantable defribilator after a heart attack, then these LifeVests can be essential to keeping you alive.”

More free wellness services for chemotherapy patients

$3,000 Excellus BlueCross BlueShield grant is helping Cancer Wellness Connections offer more free services to local patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. More patients will get free health and wellness services — such as yoga, manicures, personal training, reiki therapy, crafts and crocheting — to help them deal with the unpleasant side effects and boredom associated with the lengthy treatments. The grant will also help support Cancer Wellness Connections’ expansion into Rochester General Hospital’s Linden Oaks Medical Campus at the end of February. “Even though you’re battling a disease like cancer, that doesn’t mean that you have to stop thinking about wellness,” said Betsy Twohig-Barrett, president and executive director of

Cancer Wellness Connections. “We’re thrilled to help thousands more patients in 2013, thanks to the Excellus BCBS grant and the countless number of volunteers and vendors who donate their time or services.” The Excellus BCBS grant will help cover the costs associated with professionals in the program, such as reiki therapists, yoga instructors, personal trainers and nail technicians. “We’re taking advantage of a unique opportunity to provide comfort to patients as they undergo emotionally-taxing chemotherapy and infusion treatments,” said Martin Lustick, senior vice president, corporate medical director, Excellus BCBS. “Services provided by Cancer Wellness aren’t traditionally covered by insurance, but we

recognize the peace of mind they often bring to people receiving infusions.” Cancer Wellness Connections began in 2006 as the Cancer Wellness Spa, providing activities for patients that helped distract them from chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer. The organization has since expanded, helping about 10,000 patients in 2012 who were undergoing chemotherapy treatments for a variety of diseases. Cancer Wellness Connections operates at Unity Health System’s St. Mary’s Hospital, Highland Hospital, Pluta Cancer Center and the Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. For more information, go to cancerwellnessconnections.org.

March 2013 •

REPORT: Few Participate in Medical Research Just 11 percent of adults, 5 percent of children take part in much needed medical research

edical research is vital to the advancement of health care, but many medical research studies have too few people who participate. A new study from the University of Michigan takes an in-depth look at public participation in medical research across the United States. Through a unique, nationally representative survey of 2,150 households in 2011, University of Michigan researchers found that only 11 percent of adults and 5 percent of children had ever participated in medical research. The study was published in January in “Clinical and Translational Science.” About 11 percent of adults of all ages equals about 20 million research participants and 5 percent of children equals about 3 million, says the study’s lead author Matthew Davis, an associate professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. “Our study indicates that public awareness of opportunities, and the match of research needs with potential participant characteristics, potentially limit enrollment,” says Davis, who is also associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. “Researchers and institutions need to spread the word more effectively, to help people know about research opportunities that are a good fit for them,” says Davis. “When institutions reach out to communities to hear and understand their needs, and then respond with resources, ideas and opportunities, that’s what we call engagement in research. “When research institutions engage effectively with the public, that’s when the public can benefit in tremendous ways from the research to which they contribute,” says Davis. Davis and his colleagues found that 64 percent of adults said they were aware of opportunities to participate in medical research, while only 12 percent of parents said they were aware of opportunities for their children to participate. According to the study, race/ ethnicity was not related to whether adults or children had participated or were aware of research opportunities.

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Men’sHealth Male Breast Reduction: Procedure On the Rise in Rochester Male breast reduction is becoming one of the most common cosmetic procedures both nationally and in the greater Rochester region. By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

osmetic surgery has seen an evolution. Once talked about only to close friends or done in silence, now more people are willing to discuss openly their successful and even unsuccessful attempts at plastic surgery. For those who improve their nose, fix their teeth and Botox their wrinkled skin, they publicly relish the enhancements and are often the first person to talk about how it changed their lives. But while the taboo of plastic surgery has gotten a universal facelift, going under the knife isn’t always something that people want to admit candidly. There is still a fear of public ridicule even if it offers a chance to fix the same thing that is getting mocked in the first place. “There is something about your body that is private so people aren’t willing to talk about certain surgeries they had,” said William Koenig, a board-certified plastic surgeon Koenig in Rochester. “And when it comes to the surgery that I handle, many of my patients say they rarely tell anyone they have had it done.” Gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction, is becoming one of the most common cosmetic procedures both nationally and in the

greater Rochester region. More than 19,766 men had the surgery in 2011, up 8 percent from the year before, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Last year, 18,280 gynecomastia surgeries were performed nationally. Koenig said the percentage increase locally outpaces the average. He saw a 33 percent increase from 2010 to 2011 as gynecomastia has become the fourth most popular male cosmetic surgery for the last decade with a 58 percent hike. Koenig isn’t surprised that more men are requesting breast reduction surgery, and he doesn’t see it slowing down anytime soon. He believes more men are concerned with their appearance and want to improve their physique. Because there is nothing they can do themselves to correct the size of their breast, they seek surgery. “We are in a day where people are openly talking about hair restoration, erectile dysfunction and that is making men feel comfortable about exploring plastic surgery,” said Koenig, partner at

Before

What Men Do Here are the top five male cosmetic surgical procedures per year 1 ....... Nose Reshaping ................... (64,000) 2 ....... Eyelid Surgery ...................... (31,000) 3 ....... Liposuction ........................... (24,000) 4 ....... Breast Reduction .................. (18,000) 5. ...... Hair Transplantation ............. (13,000)

What Women Do Here are the top five female cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures per year 1 ....... Botulinum Toxin Type A ......... (337,000) 2 ....... Laser Hair Removal .............. (165,000) 3 ....... Microdermabrasion ............... (158,000) 4 ....... Chemical Peel ...................... (90,000) 5 ....... Soft Tissue Fillers ................. (78,000) SOURCE: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

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After

the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery with two decades of experience in breast augmentation. “Many of my patients work out hours at the gym and they have tried to alter their bodies, but they aren’t able to reduce the size of their breast.” For those interested in the surgery, the first step starts with a physician consultation. They review and evaluate past medial history, decide whether it’s safe and then take photographs to explain where the incisions would take place. Ninety percent of the procedure is liposuction. After the surgery, the patient must wear a chest garment for three weeks while the swelling decreases. During the first week, they meet with doctors to remove some of the stitches along with a follow-up appointment a month later. The full results won’t be visible until after the swelling goes down. While surgery always carries some risk, technology has dramatically made the procedure safer, less evasive with a quicker recovery time. Before, incisions were made around the nipple area to reduce the breasts, which are typically avoided now. “You can return back to work within three to five days,” said Koenig. Even after proven results, the surgery remains something that most men avoid talking about openly. Several men lauded the procedure, saying it changed their lives. However, because there is still a stigma about openly talking about the procedure, they felt uncomfortable identifying their name.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

There are photos on Koenig’s Web site with men willing to show their before or after photos, but not mention their full name. Two of the men interviewed for the story described the many reasons they opted for surgery. A 35-year old Rochester man said he wanted to look and feel better, and that the surgery improved his self-esteem. He no longer feels self-conscious and wishes he performed the surgery sooner. The only person he told was his wife and now clothing fits him more comfortably. An 88-year-old Brighton man had a condition that caused him enlarged breasts. He would work out every morning, go swimming and take a shower in a public locker room. He said he felt terribly embarrassed and uncomfortable. Finally deciding to see Koenig and telling none of his family and friends, he had the surgery. He never felt a second of discomfort, didn’t take one pain pill and described the recovery as easy. Koenig has seen his patient more self-confident after follow-up visits that showed the swelling decreasing and their new chest emerging. He’s performed surgery on teenagers to men in their eighties. Some of his gynecomastia patients were previously so self-conscious that they never took off their shirts in public. But now they feel proud of their bodies. “They are finally feeling more comfortable talking about ‘man boobs’ and what used to be a very private topic,” added Koenig.

Men’sHealth Men: The Forgotten Gender Compare the few initiatives for men to the vast array of women’s health promotions, and it’s easy to see that men are left in the dust when it comes to health care efforts By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

reastfeeding support, pink ribbon campaigns for breast cancer, free mammogram and PAP smear programs, women’s heart health awareness. All of these are important efforts of modern medical personnel to improve health. But in the zeal to promote women’s health, it seems like someone has been forgotten. What about men? Where’s the health support for them? It’s more like a whisper drowned by the shouts for women’s health. Men’s health seems to have taken a back burner to women’s health. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that men are 25 percent less likely than women to have visited a health care provider in the past year. Men’s health is also endangered by their dominance in industries such as transportation and warehousing; construction; and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, as reported by the US Department of Labor Bureau of

Labor Statistics in September 2012. In general, men tend to undertake riskier hobbies than women. Motorsports, bull riding and using power equipment for woodworking represent just a few of the dangerous interests that are dominated by men. Especially as young men, guys undertake dares and stunts more than their female counterparts, too. The US Department of Health launched a “Real Men Wear Gowns” campaign in 2008 to spur men to schedule and follow through with annual physicals and to obtain their age- and gender-appropriate screenings. Few other men’s health initiatives exist on either the national or local level, even though men could probably use more health promotion. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that men are 1.5 times more likely to die from heart disease, cancer and lung disease than

March 2013 •

women, for example. Most of men’s health initiatives center on only sexual health. Compare the few initiatives for men to the vast array of women’s health promotions, and it’s easy to see that men are left in the dust when it comes to health care initiatives. “Women have much more organized healthcare initiatives,” said Frederick Tonetti, urologist with Center for Urology in Rochester. Part of the reason is that men themselves “don’t worry about their health unless they have to.” With an attitude of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” men typically skip annual physicals, screenings and, in some cases, minor but necessary medical care. Tonetti has observed that the men “coming in here are largely coming under female influence. We see it all time.” As a result, few organizations

exist to address men’s health issues. Rob Kiltz, who operates CNY Fertility in Rochester, has observed the same shift between emphasis on men’s and women’s health care. “I think it’s a little bit of the pendulum swinging back and forth, that women were overlooked for so long,” Kiltz said. “As that trend moves, it grows bigger. Maybe it’s a marketing issue. Women tend to be the consumers more than men are, so maybe that is a little bit of it.” From birth and breastfeeding onward, women are usually the family guardians of health. Their general necessity to nurture others and themselves tends to make them more interested in preventive health and wellbeing. Because of anatomy, women’s health also is more complex. For example, men’s contribution to conception and childbirth is pretty limited. Women’s physical involvement, from conception through weaning, can last more than two years. Tonetti has observed some progress since he began practicing medicine 20 years ago. “The number of organizations pushing for men’s health is much greater than it used to be, but it still lags behind females,” he said. “More discussion of men’s health will help this issue. It takes time.”

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Men’sHealth Men’s Biological Clock By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

en often joke that a women’s biological clock can be heard clearly ticking from the other side of the table during a first date. And it reaches a piercing crescendo after the words “I love you” first get uttered in a relationship. However as men start moving out of their 30s, the ticking is no longer coming from only one side of the table. Jamil Mroueh, a physician from the Rochester Fertility Care, said while the female biological clock is often talked about, men have one too. Their testosterone and sperm count start seeing a dramatic decline after age 40. In addition, due to health illness, typical decrease in sex and the decline of muscle mass and strength also leads to harder fertility for older men. “We all get older and things don’t work as well as they used to. That’s just a part of life,” said Mroueh. “It’s just scientific fact that sperm quantity and quality are going to decrease if you are an older man.” Even though men can have children at much older ages than women, Father Time isn’t ageless. Several studies at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the Archives of General Psychiatry and research done in Ireland have found the advanced age of fathers can lead to several medical ailments for the child. Men who are over 35 years old have a higher likelihood of having a Downs syndrome child. Research from the Journal of Urology said 50 percent of the cause was attributed to the sperm. “That’s the dirty little secret because we think of men as being able to have kids at any age. But when a man starts hitting 40, you start seeing

conditions such as diabetes and liver cirrhosis can cause abnormal male ejaculation due to nerve damage. Then there are easy fixes like keeping your laptop away from your lap when working because intense heat around that region has a negative impact, as well as taking multi vitamins. Doctors also recommend limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake.

Older Guys dramatic decreases in fertility,” said Kevin Lederer, president of the Fertility Centers of Illinois. When it comes to autism, there is six times greater chance of a child being diagnosed of the ailment if their father was 40 years of age or older. In addition, the risk of schizophrenia was connected to men who bore children after the age of 50. “A lot of couples are putting off kids until later in life, so as they get older they start needing more fertility clinics because the quality of sperm has decreased,” said Lederer, who recommends going to a fertility clinic when a couple is deciding if they want children. A fertility test will show three components; the number of sperm, the percent of mobility and the percent of normal sperm, which are the ones with

the highest likelihood to penetrate the egg. A healthy man has at least 14 million sperm with a 40 percent mobility rate and 14 percent normal, non-irregular shaped sperm. Numbers lower than that might be an indication that having children might take a little more time, especially when older. Mroueh warns men against taking testosterone pills if their numbers are not high enough. “People think if you have high levels of testosterone then you will have a better chance at conceiving. But too high levels keep the brain from sending messages to the testicles to produce sperm,” said Mroueh. Doctors recommend several steps to boost sperm quantity and quality. First, a healthy lifestyle vastly improves both. Those who had lower body mass indexes and who worked out increased their testosterone levels. Obesity has an impact on male fertility because it decreases libido and lowers testosterone. “Following a vegetarian diet would be helpful and so would lowering the amount of carbs in your diet,” added Lederer. Smoking has been linked to 13 percent of infertility. Also chronic

• Contrary to popular belief, it’s not only hard drugs that affect male fertility. Prescription drugs, antibiotics, blood pressure medication and even exposure to lead and mercury can affect the quality and quantity of sperm. • No matter how healthy the man, not all sperm will be perfect in shape and ability to move. The average male has roughly 14 percent of sperm of a normal shape and size, and 40 percent with the ability to move properly. • Male infertility is quite common. About 2 million U.S. men are diagnosed with infertility. • Male infertility is not only genetic. It can also be caused by several different factors — cancer diagnosis, injury, lifestyle, infection or immune deficiency. • Men have an 18 percent decrease in normal quality sperm after the age of 50. • The most common cause of male infertility? Low sperm count.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

Men’sHealth Caffeine Worsens Urinary Incontinence in Men A mere two cups of coffee can increase risk of urinary incontinence incidences in adult men with existing moderate to severe urinary incontinence By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

en who experience urinary incontinence may have their coffee habit to blame for worsening the problem. Though not always the case, the urge to go may be exacerbated by caffeine consumption. A study published in the Journal of Urology links caffeine consumption — a mere two cups of coffee — to increased risk of urinary incontinence incidences in adult men with existing moderate to severe urinary incontinence. Frederick Tonetti, urologist with the Center For Urology in Rochester, explained that caffeine can have a twopronged effect on urinary incontinence. “It can stimulate the kidneys to secrete more urine,” he said. “Your bladder then fills up faster and you’ll go more often. And if you have any bladder issues, it will make them worse. If you have a thickening of the bladder muscle or enlarged prostate, you may not be able to hold it.” Caffeine can cause the bladder to contract so that the urge to urinate becomes too strong to subdue in time to make it to the restroom.

Men who notice that it’s getting harder and harder to get to the bathroom in time should try cutting back on caffeine. In addition to the morning cups of java, other caffeinated culprits can worsen urinary incontinence. Amy Stacy, registered dietitian, heads Lakeside Wellness Program at Lakeside Health System, warns people avoiding caffeine to eliminate chocolate and cola from their diet. “Some lemon-lime sodas have caffeine in them, such as Mountain Dew,” Stacy said. While tea offers a healthful alternative to soda, all colors of tea — black, green and white — contain caffeine and even some fruit and herbal blends do, too. “Some herbal tea can irritate the bladder,” Stacy said. “Some energy drinks are caffeine-free, but some of the herbal products they contain might irritate the bladder as well.” Caffeine is also found in pain relievers such as those meant for headaches or for menstrual pain, which some guys might “borrow” in a pinch. Alcohol and spicy foods may also

irritate the bladder and contribute to urinary incontinence. Some prescription medication may contribute to urinary incontinence by irritating the bladder, too. It’s important to read labels and discuss possible side effects with a pharmacist or primary care physician. If avoiding these possible triggers and cutting back on caffeine doesn’t make much of a difference, men should see their primary care doctor or a urologist. “Men’s urinary incontinence overall can be hard to treat depending upon what’s causing it,” Tonetti said. “When we are dealing with incontinence, we

first have to figure out what it is.” The doctor typically perform a few tests to see if it’s a bladder storage problem or obstruction problem, such as an enlarged prostate or scar tissue in the urethra. Injury or previous surgery can cause scar tissue in the urethra. The treatment plan usually starts conservatively with medication. If there is an obstruction, surgery may be warranted. “We also make sure there’s no underlying prostate or bladder cancer,” Tonetti said. “Enlarged prostate is very treatable.”

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Engaging the Community to Improve Citizens’ Health Initiative looks to improve Monroe County residents’ health by creating a community environment that supports healthy behavior By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

or decades, Nancy Bennett has felt like she was a vocal minority lost in the health field wilderness and trying to be heard. She spent her career researching how to improve community health, directing numerous studies and community interventions funded by the Centers for Disease Control and NYS Department of Health. She preached about the importance of early health intervention. As the years went by, she was no longer in the vocal minority. Now many join her in thinking the time is now. A rising number of young and adult citizens are suffering from obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease or other conditions and the greater question is, why is the population becoming less healthy and what can we do to stem the tide? “It’s imperative for us to start aggressively focusing on health. There is no way we can continue to go down the same road with health care becoming more expensive every year,” said Nancy Bennett, director of the URMC Center for Community Health. “Behavior is the primary cause of long-term ailments.” She is helping oversee the second year of a five-year, $3.6 million Community Transformation Grant awarded by the Centers for Disease Control. The initiative — dubbed Health Engagement and Action for Rochester’s Transformation or HEART — looks to improve Monroe County residents’ health by creating a community environment that supports healthy behavior. According to provisional data from the Monroe County Adult Health Survey, about two thirds of adults are either obese or overweight, said Anne Kearns, public health program coordinator for the Monroe County Department of Public Health. While heart disease has decreased

countywide, Monroe County still struggles with a high rate of obesity, diabetes and cancer. The goal is to tackle the issue from every angle amidst the constant evolution, turmoil and discussion of health care nationwide. There has already been continuous education on dieting, exercising and smoking avoidance; however, the message of striving for overall health seems to be more muted than it should. “We have a saying ‘if you build it and they don’t want to come, they won’t,” said Bennett, co-project director of HEART. “That is why we have to do an allout assault and create programs that will reach the population in a meaningful way.” Hoping to institute a full-court press on health-reFerraro lated trends, the grant will target poor health, tobacco use, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and chronic diseases. Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency will develop a Web-based assessment tool that employers will use to assess, improve, and continue to evaluate its wellness program. The model will launch a community-wide recognition program that businesses and agencies can utilize in their workplace. The Rochester City School District plans to identify 31 individual schools that will use CDC’s School Health index to examine their health programs and school environments for students. The YMCA of Greater Rochester heads up the diabetes prevention program with trainers running educational classes in community sites. Diabetes cost the health system around $6,000 per person each year because of medi-

Participants in the Center’s Healthy Living Program enjoy an hour of exercise, followed by a discussion about healthy eating. The program is part of an effort by the Center for Community Health for the community to be more active. Page 14

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cation and care. “Can you imagine the money saved if we focus on prevention before it even gets down to this path, asked Bennett. Foodlink will create a self-sustaining system where healthy options can be purchased, stored and distributed to various locations such as schools, child care providers, group homes, corner stores, produce carts, farm stands and neighborhood food clubs. Tom Ferraro said there has been a lax attitude about health for the past decade that needs to stop immediately. Changing kids’ attitudes are imperative as well as getting food to communities that have been ignored. “Since food choices cause so much of the health problems we have it make sense to try to improve or upgrade food options,” added Ferraro. “We have the infrastructure to get it out to communities.” He also believes the time to act is now for everyone in the community, not simply health officials. “In our society, we focus too much on things that don’t matter. It can turn into one big Seinfeld episode where we are comfortable talking about nothing forever,” said Ferraro, Foodlink founder and executive director. “But this is too important not to speak out. Fixing our health problems has to be a rallying cry because we have let it get to epidemic levels.” Every month, various organizations discuss public health around one table, something that was unheard of before the grant. Mitch Gruber, Foodlink community food access coordinator and a member of the HEART Initiative team, welcomes the area’s full force collaboration as necessary to attack the growing health problem. He believes Foodlink putting fresh vegetables, fruits and proteins in all four quadrants of the city such as the 25,000 pounds used last year can be an effective beginning. “Food access and food security has to be part of any larger health initiative if we are going to be successful,” said Gruber. The Monroe County Department of Health officials are looking to establish smoke-free policies at parks, select outdoor areas, college

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

campuses, and multi-unit housing. HEART also will focus on the unusually large deaf population in Monroe County, seeking to develop models inclusive of special needs populations. Another health project that officials hope to launch in March is called Open Door. The program is intended to set up a one-stop shop, navigable system where people can learn about the types of medical research occurring in their area. Even though the Rochester region has been known for its vast research, few outside the medical field gain access. It could even be as simple as research comparing the results of two different weight loss programs. Bennett is proud that the community has come together to fight this worthwhile cause. “We have a health epidemic of obesity and chronic disease in this area. We already have an aging population, followed by an unhealthy population. That is going to cause a tremendous amount of stress to our health facility if we don’t do something now,” added Bennett. “We can’t wait another moment for chronic disease to ravish our community.”

Bennett

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Your Bones’ Best Friend: Milk

Helpful Tips Consume low- or no-fat milk over whole. It’s slightly higher in protein and significantly lower in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories. For example, an 8-ounce glass of whole milk has 146 calories, whereas skim has only 86. If possible, choose milk that is free of antibiotics, bovine growth hormone and pesticides.

ilk consumption falls by the wayside for many adults. Although we drink it as kids and encourage our own kids to drink it, many of us seem to lose that loving feeling for milk as we grow older. It’s unfortunate: milk is loaded with nutrients that aging bodies need. Milk is an excellent source of calcium, an important mineral that builds healthy bones and teeth, maintains bone mass, regulates heart rhythm and facilitates nerve transmissions. One cup of milk provides about 30 percent of our daily needs, which equals as much calcium as 10 cups of raw spinach. Vitamin D is equally important for bone health, and milk’s a winner in that department, too, providing about 25 percent of our daily needs. Simply stated, vitamin D promotes calcium absorption, which is essential for strong, healthy bones. According to Georgia Gianopoulous, a dietician at the Weill Cornell Medical Center, “Consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D helps

protect against osteoporosis and lowers the risk of bone fractures.” More good reasons to down this nutrient-dense drink: Milk teems with protein (about 8 grams per cup) and phosphorous, two additional nutrients that, among other benefits, contribute to strong bones. And, it’s a very good source of riboflavin, a B vitamin that helps convert food to energy. Last but not least, milk has as much potassium as one small banana (good for regulating blood pressure) and a good amount of vitamin A, a powerhouse vitamin essential for growth, eyesight and

Kidney Disease Accounts for Most of the Increased Risk of Dying Early Among Diabetics

ne in every 10 Americans has diabetes, and a third or more of those with the condition will develop kidney disease. It may be possible to live a long and healthy life with diabetes, but once kidney disease develops, the risk of dying prematurely increases significantly, according to a study appearing in a recent issue of the “Journal of the American Society of Nephrology” (JASN). The findings have significant clinical implications for the prevention and treatment of kidney disease in people with diabetes. Because people with diabetes have an increased likelihood of dying prematurely as well as an increased likelihood of developing kidney disease, physician Maryam Afkarian of University of Washington and her col-

2 cups low-salt chicken broth 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper 2 cups low-fat milk Shredded Parmesan cheese, for garnish

healthy skin. You might be wondering: Will consuming more than the daily recommended amount of milk (three cups) protect my bones even more? Recent studies at Harvard suggest not. Also: Will drinking warm milk make me sleepy? Drinking warm milk before bed may help you relax, but there is not enough tryptophan (a precursor to melatonin) in a normal serving of milk to cause any real drowsiness.

leagues looked to see how the former affects the latter. In other words, how much does kidney disease contribute to diabetics’ increased risk of dying early? The researchers examined 10-year mortality rates in 15,046 US adults. Kidney disease was present in 9.4 percent and 42.3 percent of individuals without and with type 2 diabetes, respectively. Among the major findings: • Among people without diabetes or kidney disease, 10-year mortality was 7.7 percent. • Among individuals with diabetes but without kidney disease, mortality was 11.5 percent. • Among individuals with both diabetes and kidney disease, mortality was 31.1 percent.

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March 2013 •

CREAMY TOMATO SOUP (serves 4-6)

2 tablespoons canola oil 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste 2 28-ounce cans whole Roma tomatoes 1 teaspoon sugar ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves (or 3 teaspoons dried)

Heat the canola oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and sauté for about 10 minutes. If vegetables start to stick to the pot, add a little water and continue stirring. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Slightly increase heat and add tomato paste. Continue cooking, stirring often, until paste has begun to caramelize in spots, about 5 minutes. Add one whole can of tomatoes with juices and ½ of other (save rest for future use), sugar, basil, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Stir well. Bring the soup to a boil, lower heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Carefully puree soup in pot with handheld soup blender. Stir in the milk and simmer until flavors meld, about 10 minutes longer. Garnish with a tablespoon of shredded cheese. Note: Before adding tomatoes, cut off tough ends and discard. Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

Clifton Springs

Hospital & Clinic

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Clifton Springs Hospital: New Leader, Smaller Staff By Jessica Youngman

f you find yourself having emergency surgery to remove your gallbladder or appendix at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, it could be at the hands of the chief executive officer himself. Lewis Zulick took the helm as the hospital’s interim CEO and president on Jan. 18 but wasn’t willing to trade in his scalpel for a briefcase. While overseeing hospital operations, he’ll continue as a general surgeon. “It’s certainly not the norm,” he said of his dual role. “It’s partly out of preference and partly out of necessity. I like doing surgery — I was not willing to take the job if I wasn’t able to do surgery.” And, he said, he is currently the hospital’s only staff surgeon; his counterpart retired this past summer and the position has not yet been filled. Zulick succeeds John Galati, who served as CEO and president for 18 years. Zulick said he wasn’t privy to the details of Galati’s departure, which a hospital spokesman said was a “mutual” agreement. Along with Zulick’s appointment, the hospital’s board of directors created a new administrative position, chief operations officer. Registered nurse Donna Smith, who has been at the hospital for 19 years, has been promoted to the post. She will oversee much of the day-to-day operations, allowing Zulick to spend time in both his office and the operating room. Zulick’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the 162-year-old hospital. Rumors abound of a possible affiliation in the works between Clifton and the larger Rochester General Hospital. And, just two days after his appointment was announced, the hospital board went public with the layoffs of 58 hospital employees. “That was just a very difficult process to try to decide that we had to do that,” said Zulick of the layoffs, “and of course, trying to figure out who those people should be was very difficult.”

‘The right thing to do’

Lewis Zulick spent plenty of time watching his father brighten smiles as a small town dentist. “I used to work with him,” said Zulick, 54. “I thought I’d like to do something like that.” But while studying at Alleghany College in Meadville, Pa., Zulick decided on medicine instead since it “had a lot more variety.” He attended medical school in Rochester, where he met his wife, Cheryl, who was a medical technologist. Zulick trained for surgery at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, Otsego Smith County. “After my training I went into the Navy,” he said, adding that he fulfilled a three-year obligation in Long Beach, Calif. and Guam. “The Navy got me interested in administration,” he said. “You get a lot of opportunities to be a leader when you are young. I found that I liked that. If you are part of the process you have something to say about how things are done.” Zulick returned to the area and worked for a time at both Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and F.F. Thompson Hospital in his current hometown, Canandaigua. In 1994 he concentrated his practice at Clifton and, in 2002 he was named the hospital’s vice president for medical affairs. Two years later he received a master’s degree in medical management from Carnegie Mellon University. “[Former CEO] John [Galati] has made many contributions toward maintaining and improving healthcare for our community,” said Clinton Emery, co-chairman of the hospital’s board

of directors. “We have successfully maintained modern facilities, a dedicated staff, and delivered high quality care within a full service hospital, all under John’s leadership.” The board approached Zulick about the interim CEO position in January. “When they asked me I said, ‘You know, I’d like to do this.’ I did not aspire to be CEO,” he said. “I was flattered to be asked and thought it was the right thing to do.” Donna Smith, the longtime chief nursing officer, was named chief operating officer around the same time. “I am excited to work with Dr. Zulick as we move the organization forward,” she said. “We’ve worked together in various capacities since 1994. He challenges me and I enjoy that.”

Founded on healing waters Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic got its start as the Clifton Springs Sanitarium Co. in 1850 in Clifton Springs, Ontario County. It was widely believed that the sulfur-rich springs that run through the village had healing properties. Today, the mineral water is used at The Springs Integrative Medicine and Spa Center, which has its own wing in the hospital. Page 16

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Facing challenges

Lewis Zulick has been part of the discussions in recent months among administrators at Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic on how best to adjust to the changing health care system. The board of directors hired a consulting firm to look at ways to improve efficiency while maintaining quality patient care. It compared Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic to about 30 hospitals of the same size and, ultimately, recommended the layoffs. Zulick said Clifton has “consistently been the highest ranked hospital in the region.” “Obviously, that’s not something we wanted to lose,” he added. “We did feel we had to make the reduction we did.” But, he said, administrators and the board are “trying to do it in a way that makes sense.” They continue to work with the consulting firm to help the various departments make adjustments needed for the reduced manpower. Some positions were eliminated through attrition and some of the laid off workers were given severance packages, depending on their years of service and other criteria. No doctors were let go and the majority of eliminated positions were “non-clinical,” Zulick said. No additional layoffs are expected. But Zulick expects the challenges will persist. Hospitals are struggling with how best to handle the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

Zulik

by President Obama in March 2010 and later upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. It provides sweeping reforms aimed at providing greater access to more affordable health insurance. The Affordable Care Act has been the focus of much political discord and therefore, until Obama’s reelection this past November, uncertainty on how to proceed persisted. “No one knows exactly how it is going to work, if it’s going to mean a lot less revenue for hospitals, and if so, how much,” said Zulick.

Collaborative care

Another challenge has been increasingly “incentivized” health care, Zulick said, explaining that revenue from Medicare and health insurance providers is increasingly based on the performance of doctors. This has made for greater competition between health care providers. While Zulick said that ensures continued efforts to provide better patient care, there’s a needed balance between the competition and cooperation between regional health systems such as Clifton, Thompson Health, the University of Rochester Medical Center and Unity Health, to name a few. In 2012 Thompson Health became an affiliate of URMC under Strong Partners Health System Inc., which owns Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals. The partnership allows medical staff to move at will among the various facilities; Thompson, however, continues to function independently with its own CEO. Zulick confirmed talks of a possible increased relationship between Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and Rochester General Hospital, which owns Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. “I think the nature of the relationship is nowhere near decided upon,” he said, noting that Clifton’s administrators have been communicating with “all the hospitals in the area.” “But, obviously, RGH has services we don’t have,” he added, “and that’s potentially the most fruitful partnership for us.” What’s his goal as CEO? “My main aim is to get us on a sound financial footing while maintaining the quality that we have,” said Zulick. “Clifton is just a jewel — it’s a beautiful little hospital — the people that work there are very, very caring and committed.”

Diabetes: Controllable, Not Curable By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

any websites and articles state diabetics can cure the disease by adopting certain lifestyle changes; however, experts interviewed for this story say the term “cure” should not be taken so literally. “’Cured’ implies it won’t come back,” said Natalie Johnstone, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with the Diabetes Care and Resource Center with Rochester General Hospital. “We typically don’t say you can cure it, but you can control it.” Because diabetes has two components contributing to its Cochrane development, genetics and environment, a complete cure isn’t possible. The genetic predisposition to diabetes cannot be changed; however, the environmental effects can. Patricia W. Cochrane, a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator with Diabetes Health Services for Finger Lakes Health in Geneva, compared type 2 diabetes with high blood pressure or high cholesterol. “If you’re watching your diet, exercising and taking medication, it doesn’t mean it’s cured but it’s controlled,” she said. “We know how to reverse the process, slow it down and avoid complications, but not how to cure it.” Diabetics who revert to their prediagnosis health habits will see their blood sugar veer out of control. Any-

one claiming to be able to cure diabetes is misleading. “If information comes from a company promoting a product, I automatically want to ask more questions and do more research,” Cochrane said. Reliable sources of information include the American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Diabetes Association and American College of Endocrinology. “Medical information says we can slow the disorder down if people control their starches and sugars. We do not eliminate them from a meal plan. It’s the amount we eat at any one given time. Exercise burns up blood sugar and medication controls it. Not everyone needs medication. Every case is individual. There are Hammes lots of things a person can do themselves.” Working with a physician and certified diabetes educator can help keep diabetes under control. Although a nutrition expert may have good advice, he isn’t a specialist in diabetes. Monitoring what they eat helps most type 2 diabetics control blood sugar. Simple carbohydrates can come in many forms, including table sugar, white flour, fruits and white rice. Simple carbohydrates may be found in foods thought of as healthful such as 100-percent juice, pretzels, baked snack chips and raisins. Diabet-

ics should generally focus on more whole grains, lean meats like fish, chicken and turkey, low-fat dairy, and vegetables. Type 2 diabetics also improve their condition by exercising. “For some people, losing a lot of weight, and maintaining the loss, they can go off diabetes and anti-hypertension and anti-cholesterol medicine,” said Stephen R Hammes, chief of the division of endocrinology and metabolism at the Department of Medicine at University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. “A lot of people can decrease their insulin resistance to a point where they don’t need their medicine as much or at all.” For patients who are slim diabetics, weight loss won’t make a difference; however, exercise will help improve insulin resistance. Before starting an exercise regimen, anyone should consult with their doctor. Karen Gesell, certified diabetes educator at Unity Diabetes and Endocrinology Services recomGesell mends about 150 minutes of exercise per week, which can break down to 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five times per week. “I have people gradually work into that,” Gesell said. “You don’t want to tell them to do a 30-minute walk five times per week if they haven’t exercised in years.

their sleeping disorders and often has a very immediate and dramatic impact on quality of life. • “Bring all your records if you’ve had any testing before for sleep issues. • “Know the medication you’re on. That is very helpful.” Jacob Dominik is a neurologist with a sub-specialty in sleep disorders at Sleep Insights Medical Service with offices in Rochester, Penfield, Geneseo and other areas

What They Want You to Know:

Sleep Specialist By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

leep specialists are medical or mental health professionals whose further course of study and certified, board-regulated sub-specialty is sleep disorders. These include professionals in sleep technology, behavioral sleep medicine, and sleep medicine specialists. • “One misconception that patients often have is that sleep apnea is all that we treat. We treat people for many other sleep disorders. Many of them are very effectively treatable. • “Many patients can have symptoms that manifest as sleep disorders, but may not be because of true sleep

disorders. Some patients say, ‘I sleep fine,’ but is unaware of how poorly they are sleeping. • “We look at symptoms that appear in the daytime and overall health. Feeling tired in the daytime is one of those. That is a common sign of a sleep disorder. • “Getting older or feeling bored doesn’t make you have naps and feel sleepy in the daytime. If you have adequate sleep, you should be able to stay awake during the daytime. • “You spend about one-third of your life sleeping and that part of your life can be neglected. It would be beneficial for people to seek treatment for

• “Most people think patients complain of insomnia and come in here and we give them sleeping pills to make them better. That’s not the case. • “Bring a bed partner so we get an idea of what goes on while the patient is asleep. Someone may come in and complain of not feeling rested after sleep, but a bed partner could say they snore and aren’t breathing or are carrying out complicated motor activity. • “People need to pay attention to the importance of sleep. It’s right up there with diet and exercise for overall general health. Sleep is often something people think they can sacrifice for other things. But they really can’t.” Donald Greenblatt, director of the University of Rochester Medical Center Sleep Disorder Center. • “Most of us require about eight hours of sleep on average. • “Sleep is what is required to support optimal alertness, performance, and optimal health. Many people say they don’t need eight hours of sleep,

March 2013 •

Daily Money Management by Jacquelyn M. Bell, CPA, MBA, CSA, PDMM®

hat is Daily Money Management? It is a way to help keep your personal financial life under control and eliminates the stress that sometimes accompanies that lack of control. A Daily Money Manager (DMM) provides assistance with, or complete management of, your bills, budgets, and recordkeeping. Many DMMs assist older adults or people with mental or physical impairments who may have difficulty writing checks, balancing their checkbooks, or keeping track of income and expenses. Busy professionals, those who travel often, and members of the military also use DMM services. DMMs are members of the American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM), a national organization with over 700 members. Some DMMs are certified and are known as Professional Daily Money Managers (PDMM®). All DMM’s adhere to high ethical standards and commit to providing the best possible service to their clients. For more information, please visit www. aadmm.com or call Jacquelyn M. Bell CPA, PLLC, at (585) 229-4477.

but if you allow them to get that amount of sleep and test them, they would have better performance. There is a small subset of people who need only four to six hours of sleep. • “Frequently when people come with a complaint of sleep, we do a formal sleep diary. Sometimes people would be better served if they knew better what their schedule is like. • “If you have difficulty breathing during sleep, or initiating or maintaining sleep, these are conditions often addressed by a sleep doctor. When people have unusual night time behaviors like talking, sleep walking or acting out dreams, something that is uncommon or unpleasant, that is another reason people see a sleep doctor.” James Murray, pulmonary specialist, critical care specialist, sleep specialist and chief of division of pulmonary medicine at Unity Health System and attending physician at Unity Sleep Disorder Center.

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is a writer with In Good Health. “What Your Doctor Wants You to Know” is an ongoing column that appears monthly to give our area’s healthcare professionals an opportunity to share how patients can improve their care by helping their providers and by helping themselves.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

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ore local children are being cared for in “asthma-friendly” child care centers, thanks to a grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The Excellus BCBS grant enabled the Lung Association to expand its Asthma Friendly Childcare Initiative in the greater Rochester area and surrounding counties. For a child care center to be considered “asthma-friendly,” providers must undergo “Asthma 101” training, which teaches them about asthma and how to best care for children afflicted with the disease. The Asthma-Friendly Childcare Initiative trained more than 200 child care providers in four counties in 2012. The initiative, paid for by a $2,500 Excellus BCBS grant, worked with Child Care Council Inc., which serves Monroe, Livingston and Wayne counties, as well as Head Start of Wayne County and the Steuben Child Care Project. “Young children typically can’t tell their parents or child care providers that their chest is tight, or that they’re suffering from other asthma symptoms,” said Martin Lustick, a pediatrician and corporate medical director, Excellus BCBS. “Child care providers need to know how to create environments free of asthma triggers, such as mold and irritants, and learn to identify the signs that a child is having difficulty breathing.” Providers who attended the train-

ing sessions learned about ways to keep their day care environment free of common irritants that can trigger asthma flare ups. They also learned specifically about the types of cleaning solutions most likely to prompt episodes and the best ways to treat asthma attacks. The providers who participated in the program are overwhelmingly positive about their learning experience, and eager to incorporate the asthma friendly recommendations into their existing childcare programs. “I’ve had children with asthma in my day care and thought I knew all about it, but the class gave me so much more,” said Rosa Cortez, owner of Rosa Cortez Family Child Care in Irondequoit, who completed the training and whose center earned the Asthma Friendly Child Care Endorsement. “I’ve learned so much and feel the children are safer here now.” Nationwide, about one in 10 children suffers from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child care providers interested in learning more about the Asthma Friendly Childcare Initiative may contact Cindy Trubisky, Senior Director of Community Asthma Education at the American Lung Association of the Northeast at 585-666-1393 or ctrubisky@LungNE.org.

Hospitals report reductions in health care-associated infections

ospitals in the U.S. continue to make progress in the fight against central line-associated bloodstream infections and some surgical site infections, according to a report issued in February by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Catheter-associated urinary tract infections remained unchanged between 2010 and 2011. “Reductions in some of the deadliest health care-associated infections are encouraging, especially when you consider the costs to both patients and the health care system,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “This report also suggests that hospitals need to increase their efforts to track these infections and implement control strategies that we know work.” The report looked at data submitted to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), CDC’s premiere infection tracking system, which receives data from more than 11,500 health care facilities across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The number of infections reported was compared with data from 2010, as well as with a national baseline. CDC reported for 2011: • A 41 percent reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections since 2008, up from the 32 percent reduction reported in 2010. Progress in Page 18

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

preventing these infections was seen in intensive care units (ICU), wards, and neonatal ICUs in all reporting facilities. A central line is a tube that is placed in a large vein of a patient’s neck or chest to give important medical treatment. When not put in correctly or not kept clean, central lines can become a route for germs to enter the body and cause serious bloodstream infections. • A 17 percent reduction in surgical site infections since 2008, up from the 7 percent reduction reported in 2010.This improvement was not evident for all procedure types, and there is still substantial opportunity for improvement across a range of operative procedures. • A 7 percent reduction in catheterassociated urinary tract infections since 2009, which is the same percentage of reduction that was reported in 2010. While there were modest reductions in infections among patients in general wards, there was essentially no reduction in infections reported in critical care locations. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections among ICU patients are an area of significant concern because patients who get these infections are more likely to need antibiotics. While antibiotics are critical for treating bacterial infections, they can also put patients at risk for other complications including a deadly diarrhea caused by the bacteria Clostridium difficile.

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Do You Need To File a Tax Return This Year? Dear Savvy Senior, My income dropped way off when I retired early last year, and I’m wondering if I fall into the so called “47 percent” of Americans who won’t have to pay any income taxes this year. What can you tell me? Curious Senior Dear Curious, The percentage of seniors, age 65 and older, who won’t have to pay income taxes this year, is actually around 56 percent, according the Tax Policy Center. Here’s a breakdown of the 2012 filing requirements along with a few other tax tips to help you determine if you need to file. IRS Requirements Whether or not you’ll need to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on your filing status, your age, and your gross income. If your gross income falls below the IRS filing limits, you probably won’t have to file. Gross income includes all the income you receive that is not exempt from tax, not including Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately. You probably don’t have to file this year if: • You are single and your 2012 gross income was less than $9,750 ($11,200 if you’re 65 or older). • You are married filing jointly and your gross income was under $19,500. If you or your spouse is 65 or older, the limit increases to $20,650. And if you’re both over 65, your income must be under $21,800 to not file. • You are head of household and your gross income was below $12,500 ($13,950 if age 65 or older). • You are married filing separately and your income was less than $3,800. • You are a qualifying widow(er)

with a dependent child and your gross income was less than $15,700 ($16,850 if age 65 or older).

Special Situations Be aware that there are some special financial situations that require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement. For example, if you had net earnings from self-employment in 2012 of $400 or more, or if you owe any special taxes to the IRS such as alternative minimum tax or IRA tax penalties, you’ll probably need to file. To figure this out, the IRS offers a resource on their website called “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file, or if you should file because you’re due a refund. You can access this page at www.irs.gov/uac/Do-I-Need-toFile-a-Tax-Return%3F, or you can get help over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at 800-829-1040.

Check Your State Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. Check on that with your state tax agency before concluding you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state and local tax agencies see taxadmin.org — click on “Links.”

Tax Aide If you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800906-9887 to locate a service near you. Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at nearly 6,000 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP TaxAide site call 888-227-7669 or visit aarp. org/findtaxhelp. 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. March 2013 •

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Page 19

Larry Marro turns 101 years old

The Social Ask Security Ofﬁce Column provided by the local Social Security Office

Spring Into Retirement

Larry Marro and his great-great granddaughter Autumn Valentino.

amily and friends of Lawrence Marro (Larry) gathered Feb. 1 to celebrate his 101st birthday at Ashton Place, 190 Ashton Court, Clifton Springs. Marro is a World War II veteran who was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He has received a Purple Heart

for his service to his country and is a very proud, active senior; you can even find him on Facebook. Marro was a long time resident of Newark, in Wayne County. He owned and operated Speck’s restaurant, specializing in Italian cuisine.

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them. When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits toward Social Security benefits. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work) to qualify for retirement benefits. We determine the amount of your benefit by both how long you work and how much you earn. The higher your lifetime earnings, the higher your monthly benefits. If there were some years when you did not work or had low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower than if you had worked steadily or earned more. Your age at the time you start receiving Social Security retirement makes a difference in your benefit amount. The full retirement age (the age at which 100 percent of retirement benefits are payable) has been gradually rising from age 65 to age 67. You can take “early retirement” as early as age 62, but if you start collecting benefits before you reach your full retirement age, your monthly payment will be reduced. You can find out what your full retirement age is by referring to the convenient chart at www.socialsecurity. gov/retire2/retirechart.htm Just as you can choose an early retirement and get a reduced payment, you also can choose to keep working beyond your full retirement age to take advantage of a larger payment. Generally, your benefit will increase automatically by eight percent each year from the time you reach your full retirement age until you start receiving your benefits or until you reach age 70.

Q&A

In Good Health

ere are a few important items about Social Security retirement benefits and how to apply for

$15 payment enclosed

Q: I’m trying to figure out how much I need to save for my retirement. Does the government offer any help with financial education? A: Yes. For starters, you may want to find out what you can expect from Social Security with a visit to Social Security’s “retirement estimator” at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission has a website that can key you in on the basics of financial education: www.mymoney.gov. Finally, you’ll want to check out the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which offers educational information on a number of financial matters, including mortgages, credit cards, retirement, and other big decisions. Visit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at www. consumerfinance.gov. Q: I need to get something from Social Security to verify my income. How can I do that? A: We provide three types of in-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

The decision of when to retire is personal and depends on a number of factors. To help you weigh the factors, we suggest you read our online fact sheet, “When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits,” available at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html. You may want to consider your options by using our “retirement estimator” to get instant, personalized estimates of future benefits. You can plug in different retirement ages and scenarios to help you make a more informed retirement decision. Try it out at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. You also can set up an online “my Social Security” account. You can use your “my Social Security” account to obtain a copy of your Social Security statement to check your earnings record and see future estimates of the retirement, disability, and survivor benefits you and your family may receive. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. When you decide to retire, the easiest and most convenient way to do it is right from the comfort of your home or office computer. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov where you can apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. In most cases, there are no forms to sign or documents to send; once you submit your electronic application, that’s it! You’re done! Be sure to have your bank account information handy so you can receive your payments electronically. Electronic payment of federal benefits is now mandatory, with few exceptions. Spring is a great time to turn a new leaf. Spring into retirement now! Learn more by reading our publication, “Retirement Benefits,” at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10035.html.

come proof: 1 – A Benefit Verification Letter shows your monthly benefit amount. You can get your Benefit Verification Letter online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It often is used as official proof of income to: • Apply for a loan; • Give to a landlord; • Obtain housing assistance, or other state or local benefits; • Verify Medicare coverage; or • Verify retirement status, disability, or age. 2 – An SSA-1099 shows your annual income for income tax purposes. We mail the SSA-1099 by January 31 each year. You can request an SSA1099 online, or you can call us at 1-800772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, or visit a local office. Go to www. socialsecurity.gov to locate the office nearest you. 3 – An annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notice is sent to all beneficiaries at the end of each year providing the amount of the monthly benefit for the following year.

H ealth News New dentist joins Lilac Family Dental Dentist Jennifer Albee has recently joined Lilac Family Dental in East Rochester. Albee attended Cardinal Mooney High School and began her career as a registered dental hygienist where she developed a passion and talent for dentistry. She later earned early acceptance into SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Upon graduation with her doctor of dental surgery (DDS) Albee degree, she returned to Rochester to complete her residency at Strong Memorial Hospital. Albee practiced for more than 10 years in Brighton before joining the Lilac Family Dental team. She has spent hundreds of hours in continuing education with a special interest in TMJ disorders, teeth grinding (bruxism), sleep apnea and dental implants. “I am pleased to welcome Dr. Albee to our practice. Her vast experience in dentistry coupled with her friendly, patient-first approach to care makes her an asset to our practice,” said dentist Cheryl Brunelle, owner of the practice.

Body Maintenance announces new location Body Maintenance Precision Training, a presence in the Rochester fitness community for more than 28 years, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 1720 Culver Road, Rochester. Body Maintenance, in conjunction with Panzarella Physical Therapy, offers an innovative direction for patients and members in personal wellness that cannot be found in big box fitness chains, said Arthur DiAntonio, owner of Body Maintenance Precision Training. “While many big and small gyms have opened and closed, the expertise and knowledge found here parallels to none,” DiAntonio said. “Cutting edge sciences and individualized, results oriented programs offer a one of kind environment not found anywhere in Western New York.” Whether it is physician-prescribed massage therapy, or a desire to find a successful training program, or the transition from therapy to beginning a program to restore health and well being, one location serves the need for both,” said DiAntonio.

Mona Chitre to pharmacy division at Excellus BCBS Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced the promotion of Mona Chitre, who has a doctorate in pharmacy, to the position of vice president of

pharmacy management. Chitre’s primary responsibilities include clinical and operational oversight of all aspects of Excellus BCBS’ pharmacy program, which spends $1 billion annually on members’ prescription medication. Her responsibilities Chitre include clinical program development, formulary and medical management, employer group support and vendor management. Her goal is to ensure that Upstate New York residents have access to safe, effective and affordable medication. Chitre, of Victor, has worked at Excellus BCBS for more than 12 years. She most recently served as director of clinical services, strategy and policy at Excellus BCBS. Chitre earned her undergraduate and doctoral degrees in pharmacy from Rutgers University, and did her primary-care residency with the Veterans Affairs Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo. She was one of the first certified geriatric pharmacists in New York state and is an adjunct faculty member at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, and SUNY Buffalo School of Pharmacy in Buffalo. Chitre serves on the board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester and volunteers with the Victor Central School District. Chitre has published several papers and abstracts in scientific journals on topics including diabetes, infectious disease, managed care trends and medication therapy management. She’s a member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy.

cal associate professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She is an active member of the American Medical Association, American Heart Association, Monroe County Medical Society and the Medical Society of the State of New York. Thomas lives in Fairport.

Unity Health Foundation has new president Annette Leahy has been appointed president of Unity Health Foundation. Since October 2011 she has been with the foundation supporting many critical fundraising initiatives, as well as streamlining operations. Prior to joining Unity, Leahy was the director of capital campaigns at Rochester General Hospital, and had served as the president of Newark-Wayne Community Leahy Hospital and DeMay Living Center. Leahy has a master’s in business administration from the University of Hartford and a master’s in healthcare management from The Hartford Graduate Center. She lives in Macedon.

Excellus has new chief information ofﬁcer Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has appointed Wheeler G. Coleman to be senior vice president and chief infor-

Coleman

mation officer for the nonprofit health insurer and its parent organization, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies. “Information technology is critically important to our success, and Wheeler is the right person in the right position,” said Christopher Booth, CEO of The Lifetime Healthcare

Companies. Coleman has nearly 30 years of experience in information technology with Health Care Service Corp. (HCSC), the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. HCSC has more than 13 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. With HCSC, Coleman led the consolidation and optimization of multiple information technology platforms and was responsible for IT strategy, enterprise architecture, technology standards, IT portfolio investments, resource and vendor management, the IT budget and merger/acquisition integration. Coleman began his new position Feb. 4 and reports directly to Barry Thornton, senior vice president of customer satisfaction and business technology. “Wheeler has significant experience in leading an organization through changes in people, process and systems,” said Thornton. “I’m very excited about his addition to our company and team.” Coleman earned an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a

Photo: Joan, M.D

Unity Health’s cardiology chief honored Joan L. Thomas, chief of cardiology for Unity Health System, has been selected to represent the Rochester community in the renowned publication of The “Leading Physicians of the World.” Thomas, who also works at University Cardiovascular Associates, specializes in non-invasive cardiology. She has been instrumental in bringing the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator service to Unity and her practice. This device can easily detect heart arrhythmias or other “off” heart rhythms, Thomas therefore detecting heart attacks earlier and saving lives. She is director of cardiac rehabilitation, and also focuses on women’s heart disease, and preventive heart care. In 1983, Thomas received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. She then completed her internship, residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of Rochester. Today, Thomas is a cliniMarch 2013 •

Letters

to the Editor

Foot reﬂexology has roots in Rochester Dear Editor, Thank you for publishing an article in your February issue of In Good Health on foot reflexology (FR). As a 20-plus years practitioner I always look forward to any mention of the art and science of FR, and writer Deborah J. Sergeant did a good job explaining, mostly correctly, why it works. My only concern was that she missed that FR, as we know it today, was developed by a local woman, Eunice Ingham. Ingham lived and practiced in the Rochester area for 75 years. Even today what we know about this work reflects what Ingham wrote

about and taught. Yes there may be some Chinese influence and as there is from early practitioners from Egypt and others over time, but what we know about FR today is from the work of Eunice Ingham. This can be seen when one reads Ingham’s books and then reads those written by others over the past 30 years. Again I thank you for the article, it will bring this work to many who do not know about it or know little. They should also know about who brought it into the modern times, too. Joel Swartz Rochester

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 21

H ealth News Bachelor of Science degree in applied data processing from Northern Illinois University. He and his wife, Sharon Johnson Coleman, have two children.

Orthopedics practice adds Victor location Clifton Springs Orthopaedics is now accepting new patients in Victor. Tariq Hussain, board-certified orthopedic surgeon, has more than 10 years experience in general orthopedics, joint replacement, pain management, sports medicine and hand, foot and ankle surgery. The doctor will see patients on Thursdays at the office of Victor Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, East Victor Place, 6532, Anthony Drive, suite A beginning March 7. Consultations and outpatient

surgical appointments can be arranged at the Victor site now by phoning the main office of Clifton Springs Orthopaedics at 315-462-1170. The main office is located on the main campus of Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, 2 Coulter Rd., Clifton Springs.

Unity Announces Appointments, New Roles Unity Health System recently announced new roles and appointments for several of its longtime leaders. • Philip Bonanni, a physician who lives in Pittsford, has been appointed chairman of the department of medicine for Unity Hospital. Since 2004, Bonanni has served in many roles at Unity, including associate chairman for clinical affairs for the department of medicine, preceptor of medical resi-

Honoree Dixon Schwabl employees and their kids ran lemonade stands at their Victor ofﬁce each Wednesday in August and created a website for virtual lemonade sales raising $1,860 for MS research, programs and services. They are among people being honored by the Multiple Sclerosis Society in March.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Announces Local Award Winners in MS movement The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Upstate New York Chapter has named its On the Move award recipients — those in the community working hardest to create a world free of MS through their activism, volunteerism and philanthropy. The chapter is honoring eight individuals and two groups at the 3rd Annual On the Move Luncheon at noon March 15, at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford. The networking luncheon, held during MS Awareness Week (March 11-17), will recognize people from the Greater Rochester area in these categories: • Young Person On the Move: Sandra Quiñones, of Rochester Page 22

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• Professional On the Move – Daniel Krist & Todd Schirmer, of Hamlin, and James Andolina, of Hilton • Volunteer On the Move – Sharon Radak, of Canandaigua, and Kerrie Giesen, of Webster • Inspirational Person On the Move – Andrea Coggeshall, of Henrietta, and Patty Gliem, of Caledonia • Group On the Move – Dixon Schwabl, headquartered in Victor, and Nazareth College Physical Therapy Department, located in Rochester. For more information, contact Susan Ashline, Communications Manager, 585-271-0805 (x70344), Susan.Ashline@nmss.org.

dents in Unity Faculty Partners, and director of physician assistant education for the department of medicine. He has been recognized by his colleagues many times, including twice with the American Medical Association’s Physician’s Recognition Award. He is a Bonanni, professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. • James Haley, a physician who lives in Fairport, has been appointed senior vice president & chief medical officer. He has served as the chairman of the department of medicine for the last 11 years. As part of his new responsibilities, Haley’s leadership in clinical care redesign and HCAHPS requirements will help to ensure Unity’s continued Haley success through this time of unprecedented change in health care. • Physician Gregory Lewish has been appointed chairman of the department of surgery at Unity Hospital. Lewish started at St. Mary’s in 1983 and has held several leadership positions within Unity including chief of orthopedics in the department of surgery for the last four years. He is a member of the medical executive committee, chairman of the utilizaLewish tion management committee, and chairman of the credentialsbylaws committee. In 2009, Lewish received the Physician Recognition award from his colleagues. In addition to his new role, he will also continue to see patients in his private orthopedic practice at Westside Orthopaedics in Gates. Lewish lives in Brighton. • Physician Pasquale Iannoli has been selected to be chief of the division of general surgery and associate chairman of the department of surgery. Iannoli is a board-certified general surgeon at Westside Surgical Associates, LLP, clinical assistant professor of surgery at University of Rochester, and is an instructor in advanced trauma life Iannoli support (ATLS). He joined Unity Health System in 2000 and is a panel physician at Unity Wound Care Center. Iannoli earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where he also completed his residency. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and affiliate member of the Upstate New York Chapter. He lives in Greece. • Luke Loveys, a physician who lives in Pittsford, has been elected as chief of the division of orthopedics at

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • March 2013

Unity Hospital. Loveys joined Unity Hospital in 2001 and has been a member of the Surgical Services Committee at Unity Hospital since 2004. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in general orthopedics with a subspecialty in foot and Loveys ankle. Loveys participates every year in the Hearts to Soles campaign, a national nonprofit organization that provides the less fortunate people across the country free shoes and foot examinations.

Excellus has new VP of community health Robert Thompson of Canandaigua has been appointed vice president of community health engagement for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Our health plan is committed to serving our local communities by providing a full range of health coverage options, being an active partner with physicians and other providers in shaping the future direction of delivering quality health care services, and we want to be proactive in working with our neighbors to improve their health,” said ChrisThompson topher Booth, the health plan’s chief executive officer. “We’ve asked Bob to help create new ways of reaching community residents with initiatives and information aimed at improving health and coordinating our company’s participation in the many collaborative partnerships in our region that help shape the direction of the community’s health status,” Booth added. Since 2010, Thompson has served as vice president for safety net programs. Prior to working for Excellus BCBS, Thompson was the president and chief executive officer of Monroe Plan for Medical Care. Thompson earned his Master of Science degree in urban ministry from the New York Theological Seminary in New York City. He’s a board member of St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center and The Children’s Agenda in Rochester.

GOT HEALTH NEWS? Email them to Editor@GVhealthnews.com

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