COMPLIMENTARY
February 2020 Issue
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW YEAR NEW BEGINNING
MAGAZINE
New YOU
WOM EN celebrating the women of New Hampshire
Amazing Rockstars
leading the way into 2020!
Julie Corey Walk in Beauty Spa & Wellness Pg. 4
Adrienne Boss Pure Barre Pg. 5
Kelly Donatello Center for Wellbeing Pg. 7
A conversation with Cathy Duffy-Cullity Girls Inc. of New Hampshire
Inside: Ask the Pediatric Surgeon Elizabeth S. Soukup, MD M.M.Sc.
Pg. 14
NH Women Magazine / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / 1
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SPOTLIGHT COLUMN | NHWM
Healing Artist Spotlight on Julie Corey, Owner Walk In Beauty Spa &Wellness and The Village Drum, LLC. Written by Crystal Ward Kent
Julie Corey loves being a female entrepreneur, and although she has run several different businesses in her lifetime, she still gets excited about her latest ventures. “I’ve learned something from every business I’ve run, and I look upon each one as an opportunity to grow and try something new,” she explains. “There is always something to look forward to.” Corey owns The Village Drum LLC in Sunapee, New Hampshire and Walk in Beauty Spa & Wellness on the shores of Lake Sunapee in Newbury, New Hampshire. At the Village Drum, Corey facilitates drumming circles, provides instruction, and works with other songwriters, musicians and dancers. She provides educational outreach to local schools and the community about the power and origins of drumming, and encourages others to discover the healing properties of music, dance and drums. Walk in Beauty Spa & Wellness Center may seem like it’s at the other end of the business spectrum, but it shares a common bond with The Village Drum as its root focus is also on the healing arts. “Walk in Beauty is a woman’s cooperative that offers a variety of traditional spa treatments such as massage, nails, skin care, waxing, lash tints and other aesthetic treatments,” says Corey. “However, we have more of an holistic aspect than other spas. I’m a certified spiritual counselor, as are two other members of my staff, so we can assist guests with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing. I’m also a massage therapist who has spent more than 26 years working in the healing arts, and myself and most of my staff are Reiki certified. We feel that the Reiki element enhances every treatment that our guests receive. I think this is especially helpful today as we live in such stressful times. 4 / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE
Relax, Retreat, Renew 603.557.1001 976 New Hampshire Rte 103 Located above Bubba’s Bar & Grille Newbury, NH 03255 WalkinBeautySpaandWellness.com
When guests come here, they leave feeling truly relaxed and rejuvenated.” Corey works diligently to make sure that the spa is up-to-date on the latest treatments and they already feature some advanced offerings such as ultrasonics, skin refinement therapy, and chemical peels that hydrate the skin and help turn back the clock; they also use products from the Dermalogica Skin Care line. One of her goals for 2020 is to continue to keep the spa on the leading edge of aesthetic treatments. “We plan to start working more with LED light treatment for skin issues and anti-aging therapies,” she says. “Our ultimate goal is to also offer medispa services. This is where our industry is trending as Baby Boomers are looking for more serious age-reversal treatments. I plan to attend a number of conferences on this, and start looking into the necessary certifications.” Corey admits that she is transitioning towards more of an administrative role with the spa, although she still books treatments four days a week, and she remains very active with The Village Drum. “I’ve had that business for 22 years,” she says. “I started drumming many years ago. I learned from some African-American men and women,
and also studied with some Native American teachers. All inspired me and encouraged me to drum professionally. It’s very powerful. Recently, I partnered with a wonderful songwriter and a Zumba teacher and we did a week-long residency at a local elementary school. It was amazing to see 100 first graders dancing, singing and moving to the drums. I love doing outreach and drum circle facilitation.” As she looks back on 2019, Corey is proud of many achievements, but especially pleased with the staff that has come together at Walk in Beauty. “We have such special people there,” she says. “Anyone who has been in business knows that having a great staff is priceless and not always easy to achieve, but right now, we have a wonderful group. Everyone here works hard; they all want to be the best they can be, and they all care tremendously about their clients. Plus, we all get along and have really similar mindsets. I’m very grateful for them.” For more information, please visit www.walkinbeautyspaandwellness.com and www.thevillagedrum.com.
SPOTLIGHT COLUMN | NHWM
WORDS: Crystal Ward Kent
ADRIENNE BOSS: RAISING THE BARRE You might call Adrienne Boss a barre ambassador, because she speaks so eloquently about this type of workout. Boss owns Pure Barre, with studios in Nashua and Bedford, New Hampshire. She is eager for others to discover not just the whole body benefits that this workout provides but also the supportive environment found at her studios. “Our focus for the past year was working to expose more people to Pure Barre,” she says. “We wanted to get people into the studios who had never done barre before, and to start eliminating those misconceptions about this kind of workout. Barre is not just for dancers or for those who are already incredibly fit or limber—it’s
for everyone. It’s a good workout, and one that you can tailor to your needs.” Boss notes that she is a wakeboarder, water skier and volleyball player, with no dance in her background. Her husband, who is also an avid barre devotee, is an Australian football player. “We are pretty far from the barre stereotype,” she laughs. “We’ve both had back injuries from our respective sports and found that barre not only helped us heal, but has made us stronger. We want other people to reap the health benefits that barre can provide.” Boss and her staff had a very busy 2019, and she is proud of all that they accomplished. “We revamped our computer system and renovated both of our studios, so that the environment is even more relaxing and inviting for our members. While the studios were being renovated, we still held all of our classes in different spaces, so guests didn’t miss out—and we offer more than 50 classes a week. We also rolled out new classes, like our Foundation Class. This is a beginner class held in small groups that teaches the foundation of barre. Anyone is invited to come and try this class for free. It’s proven very popular, and we feel it’s been a great way to introduce people to barre in a comfortable way and welcome them to our community.” Boss notes that in the past, beginners were invited to come to an existing class and instructors simply mentored them throughout the class. Anyone could ask questions at
any time, but the staff felt that perhaps people were still nervous about trying something new. “With the Foundation Class, everyone is new and we can explain everything—how the movement benefits you, how to modify movements and so on,” she explains. “Most people who have taken the Foundation Class have transitioned over to becoming regulars, which is what we hoped for. Whether it’s someone’s second class or 200th class, we want people to feel at home here, to feel safe and comfortable with their workout experience.” Pure Barre also offers the Classic Class, which is based on their traditional technique, and features high-intensity, low-impact moves that strengthen and tone the entire body; the Empower Class combines classic barre with cardio-centric moves, ankle weights and low steps for a high-energy workout, and the Reform Class adds elastic bands and sliders for a resistance-based total body workout. 2019 was also a banner year as Pure Barre won the “Crushing It” award, which is given by their industry to high-achieving studios. “The judges look at how many people are attending your classes, how many people are also participating in special studio events and really becoming part of the studio community, and they evaluate member feedback on our classes and overall atmosphere,” says Boss. “We were thrilled to win the award. Everyone at our studios really cares about our members and what we do. It was great to see
that commitment rewarded.” With so much accomplished in 2019, Boss is holding off on goal-setting for 2020. “I’m sure that we will implement some smaller things as the year progresses, but for now, we are mostly looking to maintain the high-level of standards that we’ve achieved and to continue to spread the word about barre. One of the things that we are proudest of is that our studios really are places where people come together, not just to work out, but also to support each other and find common ground. We truly are a community and I think that sets us apart from your typical workout facility.” Pure Barre has studios in Nashua and Bedford. Nashua: (603) 943-5092 nashua@purebarre.com
Bedford: (603) 218-3817 bedford@purebarre.com
NH Women Magazine / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / 5
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SPOTLIGHT COLUMN | NHWM
Good Health Guide Written by Crystal Ward Kent
Spotlight on Kelly Donatello “Keep calm and carry on,” is a popular phrase, and one that might also apply to Kelly Donatello’s outlook on life. Donatello is a certified integrative nutrition health counselor and also the co-director of the Center for Wellbeing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
She and her husband, a practice.” practitioner specializing Donatello notes that one in functional medicine, reason for the Center’s manage the Center which expansion is to accommodate focuses on leading treattheir ongoing role in providments in functional and ing the latest in regenerative I’m able to do better in my work, regenerative medicine, medicine treatments, especially the use with my family, and in life when I and the power of the of stem cell derived therapies to help feel my best. The saying that you mind/body connection to heal issues of chronic pain and injury. ‘can’t serve from an empty vessel’ promote self-healing and “We have been offering this since late is true—we all need to take care minimize medications and 2017,” she explains. “And we are seeing of ourselves in order to serve surgery. extraordinary results. We have seen others.” For Donatello, 2019 more than 100 patients be able to For 2020, Donatello is hoping was an exciting year with cancel planned surgeries for knee reto continue work on her yoga many positive changes for placements or similar procedures after teaching certification, and pushing her business, as well as undergoing the regenerative therapies herself further in her yoga. “I’m some important personbecause chronic pain was no longer approaching 50, but I’ve been al changes. “We were an issue. This is clearly the future of pleasantly surprised at how I’ve very excited to move medicine and we are excited to be on been able to do more advanced the Center for Wellbeing the cutting edge.” poses. It’s shown me that I can do into a new, larger space 2019 was also a year of personal more than I think I can, especially on Lafayette Road in change and reflection for Donatello, if I take baby steps. We have more Portsmouth,” she says. who saw her family finally be able to potential than we realize, and I “We have grown so much move into their newly renovated home. want to maximize that for the next in recent years, and this “My husband and I bought the home 50 years!” move allows us to offer a year-and-a-half ago, just after we She is also eager to see the more services, bring in were married, but it needed work. We Center for Wellbeing continue to more staff, and also know were so pleased to be able to renovate embark on new therapies that will that we have room to the home as a family and truly make bring the latest healing offerings expand and grow. As part it into what we wanted. Now, it is so to patients. “We are looking into of our staff expansion, nice to be living there as a blended offering a cutting-edge diagwe were thrilled to add family—we have four kids—knowing nostic exam that was developed another nurse practitioner, that it is a true reflection of our new by one of the researchers who and this one specializes lives together.” helped map the human genome,” in both traditional and she explains. “It uses information functional medicine. She Finding Balance from a full-body MRI combined is passionate about Given all of the changes at work and with genetics to look at issues getting to the root cause at home, Donatello realized that she your body may be facing before of an illness, and not just had been neglecting her own self-care, they become serious. This type of treating symptoms, which and says paying more attention to that diagnostic exam has so far been of aligns perfectly with our is one of her goals for 2020. “I’m back special interest to high performing approach to healing. Pataking yoga classes, eating better, and people who value their health and tients are really enjoying generally making more time for me,” want to take advantage of early seeing her, and she is a she says. “I noticed immediately how detection and treatment of serious wonderful addition to our much better I felt when I restarted yoga.
® diseases. We feel it has tremendous potential and look forward to sharing more information with our patients later in the year.” As always, Donatello’s personal and professional goals dovetail when it comes to exploring mind/body therapies. “Our main purpose is always to seek ways to best serve the community and our patients,” she says. “To that end, we are always looking into how we can keep improving, keep evolving. I’m personally intrigued by the mind/body therapies that are out there, and I know that these can make a difference in people’s lives, so I’m eager to learn more. I think the future of medicine will see more and more of a blend of ancient knowledge and ground-breaking technology. “I’m inspired when I explore all of the ways that we can fulfill our potential,” she continues. “I want to people to be their best in mind, body and spirit so that they can deal with today’s rather tumultuous world from a place of calm and good health. That’s my goal for 2020 and every year.” To learn more about the Center for Wellbeing, please call (603) 380-9159 or visit www.centerforwell.com.
NH Women Magazine / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / 7
NHWM
Eliminating Your Double Chin
Written by Colin Cook, Peak Recovery & Health Center
You may have noticed that infants tend to have double chins. “Baby fat” isn’t just an expression; it’s a real thing. But infants tend to grow out of it. If you’re an adult with a double chin, you’re unlikely to grow out of it. So you may want to consider Cryoskin 3.0, a targeted fat reduction technique. Cryoskin for double chin can be an effective cosmetic procedure (not recommended for infants!). Just bear in mind that it only works if your double chin is the result of excess fat. A Double Chin from Being Overweight Look out for underlying medical conditions that can cause double chin. But if your double chin is the result of excess fat (and most are), there are options for reducing it. First, however, don’t fall for exercises that promise to reduce a double chin. You are unlikely to ever find an exercise involving your head and neck that will be sufficiently intense and last long enough to shift your body from burning your stored carbs to burning fat. Even if you did, there’s no way to make sure the fat it will burn is your double chin fat. If these special exercises achieve anything, I strongly suspect they simply strengthen and tone muscles. There’s a lot to be said for that, but it’s not going to reduce the fat under your jaw. You would do more to reduce your double chin by training for a marathon than you would doing chin exercises. Look for Noninvasive Treatments If you’re not up for marathon training, there are three treatments for double chin. First, there is liposuction. If you find someone who offers liposuction for double chin, my advice is walk away. Liposuction of the face is not approved by the FDA. Practitioners may promote liposuction as noninvasive, but it means sticking a cannula under the skin to suck away fat. I don’t know how you do that noninvasively. On the other hand, the FDA has approved Kybella, which is a fat-dissolving compound that a medical practitioner can inject under your chin. It takes two to four injections. Frankly, I didn’t look too deeply into this, because the idea creeps me out. Nevertheless, if you’re interested and have a high tolerance for needles, a doctor can probably explain the advantages and disadvantages. Finally, there’s cryolipolysis, such as Cryoskin, which we offer here at Peak. Full disclosure: there is another cyrolipolysis process out there called CoolSculpting. CoolSculpting has a greater market presence, but I don’t recommend it. 8 / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE
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NH Women Magazine / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / 9
Written by Crystal Ward Kent
NHWM COVER WOMEN | Inspiring Women
2020 FORECAST: GIRL POWER ON THE RISE Most of us would count ourselves lucky if we could say we had helped change one person’s life during our lifetime. Cathy Duffy-Cullity can say that she has changed hundreds. As the recently retired director of Girls Inc. of New Hampshire, Duffy-Cullity, worked hard to help girls from all socio-economic backgrounds get the support they needed to fulfill their potential.
Most of us would count ourselves lucky if we could say we had helped change one person’s life during our lifetime. Cathy Duffy-Cullity can say that she has changed hundreds. As the recently retired director of Girls Inc. of New Hampshire, DuffyCullity, worked hard to help girls from all socio-economic backgrounds get the support they needed to fulfill their potential. Sometimes the girls came from low-income families and needed the basics, such as a good meal, clothing and school supplies.
Other times, money was not the issue, and emotional support was needed. “Too many girls suffer from lack of self-esteem or poor body image,” says Duffy-Cullity. “They have no confidence. We also see girls who are being bullied or who are acting out because they are dealing with emotional pain. These issues affect girls from a wide range of backgrounds.” Girls Inc. of New Hampshire is based in Manchester and Nashua, and was founded 45 years ago in Nashua.
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However, the roots of Girls Inc. go back to just after the Civil War, when the program was launched to help girls and women cope with the upheaval from that conflict. With so many young men killed or disabled, women began taking on more tasks and duties typically done by men, and Girls Inc. taught them the skills they needed. Over time, the organization has kept pace with societal changes, adapting to give today’s young women the foundation they need. Girls Inc. “inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold,” according to its motto, and focuses on developing “the whole girl,” through experiences, mentoring, and a positive, pro-girl environment. Duffy-Cullity spent 23 rewarding years with Girls Inc., and reflects on why the organization has been so important to her. “We see girls overcoming tremendous challenges every day,” she says. “Their stories are incredible. We’ve seen girls
sign up to run in our charity road race who only had flip flops to run in. Other girls have dinner here and it’s their only meal of the day. There are girls who have made dresses in sewing class and wear them all the time because these are the only clothes they have. Other girls have told us that their biggest fear, when transitioning to a new school—whether in a new town or just moving up from say, elementary to middle school--was walking into that lunch room the first day and not knowing anyone. Here, we have Lunch Buddies so no one eats alone. The Buddies help girls gain the social skills they need to make new friends. We give girls the sustenance they need and the tools to be successful in school and in life, and we see results. To see these girls come into their own is powerful and so rewarding.” Making a Difference Duffy-Cullity recalls a young teen who successfully advocated to the Girls Inc. board for financial support. “She was a good student taking an advanced math class and she needed a special calculator, but could not afford it. It cost around $100. She also noted that there were other Girls Inc. girls in the class in the
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same bind. Not having the necessary equipment was keeping them from achieving in that class, and reaching their goals. We were very impressed with her presentation and the courage that it took for her to speak out and ask for what she needed. Needless to say, we made sure that the girls got the calculators that they needed!” One story nearly brings Duffy-Cullity to tears. “A few years back, a young girl in Nashua saw her mother murdered by her father in their home. He would have killed her and her siblings if she had not had the courage and presence of mind to lock them all in the bathroom. She called 911 from there. Through the tragedy and the aftermath, we were there for her, giving her the support and caring that she needed. She recently sent us a thank you note, saying that she is now at the third-ranked pharmacy school in the country, studying to be a pharmacist. Out of that horrific childhood, she still managed to rise to her potential. That’s the power we know is in these girls.” Sometimes the role of Duffy-Cullity and her team, and of Girls Inc., is just to be there—a friendly, caring presence at the end of the school day, or to provide some fun in lives that can otherwise be stressful and bleak. “One little girl came running up and gave me a hug and said she liked seeing me because I made her love herself,” she recalls. “I felt that there could be no better compliment. Loving yourself is so important. Sadly, we do get girls who are suicide risks. I had one girl tell me, some years later, that she was all set to kill herself when my face flashed in front of her. I happened to call at about that time.
She didn’t go through with taking her life because she said she couldn’t do that to me. We had been close and she knew I’d be devastated. Today, she is doing well. I’ve always said, it only takes one person to make another person feel loved, to change their life, and that’s so true.” Sometimes the girls’ needs are especially poignant, illustrating how important little pleasures are that other children take for granted. “Some girls mentioned to us how they dreaded the back-to-school season when other kids went shopping for clothes and supplies,” explains DuffyCullity. “Not only was there no money for these things, but often there was no one to take them. They heard about other kids having special days out with their parents, and such days were not possible for them. It was heartbreaking.” Girls Inc. understands the importance of such moments, so the staff pooled resources and took those girls in need out for a day of school shopping and lunch. Everyone had a wonderful time, and the staff knew that this small gesture would have a lasting impact. An Important Legacy Throughout her two decades with Girls Inc., Duffy-Cullity faced many challenges, with the most persistent one being raising funds. “The director of any nonprofit knows that fundraising is always going to be the number one priority, and the biggest challenge,” she says. “You are constantly trying to make connections, to find new sources of income. You may have some great resources for several years, and then those go away, and you have to start again. You just accept that this will be an ongoing battle.” And to DuffyCullity, one always worth fighting. “The benefits of working with Girls Inc., far outweighed any difficulties. To see
these girls grow and change always gave me the energy to do what needed to be done.” As Duffy-Cullity looks to her retirement, she remembers what got her involved with Girls Inc. in the first place. “I was the youngest of three girls and we grew up in Michigan,” she recalls. “My mother was a single parent and she was determined that we were going to have the best upbringing possible, with every opportunity. She worked incredibly hard to make sure that this happened. She got us into an excellent school, and every day, when we were little, she would check our clothes and hair and sing this little rhyme to us, ‘I think I can; I think I can; a Duffy girl knows she can!’ She was ahead of her time. My mother knew that if she told us every day that we were special; that we could do amazing things, that we would take that confidence with us out into the world--and we would accomplish whatever we set our minds to! And we have! When I heard about Girls Inc., I felt it had the same philosophy: Teach girls to believe in themselves and they will do achieve incredible things.” Duffy-Cullity will miss “her girls” and Girls Inc., but is also looking forward to time with her husband, children and grandchildren, and to travel. She believes that her legacy is in good hands with the new director, Sharron McCarthy, and the excellent staff. “My wish for Girls Inc. is that it continues to grow and thrive,” she says. “Its work is needed today more than ever. We need to continue to help our girls become strong young women and realize their potential. I also want us to be able to continue our tradition of never turning any girl away because she cannot pay, as these are often the girls that need Girls Inc. the most. Our ‘graduates’ have shown how transformative this organization can be, and that you can never underestimate the power of a girl. Let’s keep showing the world what our girls can do.”
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MEDICAL SPA | SPECIAL SECTION
FROM HELL TO HEALING Written by Dr. Lisa Vuich, Owner of Renew Medi Spa
Dr. Lisa Vuich is a graduate of Tufts University (1988) and Tufts University School of Medicine (1992). She opened Renew MediSpa in 2006 and has worked steadily since then to ensure that Renew MediSpa remains at the cutting edge of the latest advancements in nonsurgical aesthetics. She is a nationally recognized injector, a member of numerous aesthetic organizations, a Key Opinion Leader for several aesthetic companies, and a Master Clinical instructor for Specialty Med Training. She is board certified by the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine and regularly instructs physicians and other providers on injection technique, platelet-rich plasma therapies and other aesthetic procedures through the Renew MediSpa Training Institute.
In 2009, I sold a private Internal Medicine practice that I had spent seven years developing to a local hospital, in order to focus my attention more completely on aesthetic and regenerative medicine. In the decade since then, I will occasionally be asked if I “miss” traditional medicine. The good news is I don’t miss the rat race of arguing with insurance companies, uncompensated work hours, and being forced to see more and more ill patients in less and less time in a setting of increased documentation requirements and inadequate support staff. Sad, but true. Fortunately and simultaneously, advances in alternative and regenerative medicine were opening up exciting opportunities for providers to treat medical conditions that in some cases were inadequately addressed with traditional medicine drug intervention. Enter the modern-day medical spa, where treatments go beyond the “fluff and buff”. I quickly sought training in
platelet rich plasma (PRP) techniques, which had been used for many years in orthopedics and in burn and wound centers but were newer to the aesthetic arena. Soon after that, non-surgical “vaginal rejuvenation” (for lack of a better term) was all the buzz- the treatment of urinary incontinence, vaginal atrophy/ dryness/laxity and vaginal pain- with a number of new devices coming into the market over a fairly short period of time. The first one I obtained was ThermiVa, which I immediately began combining with PRP. We were helping women heal who had already failed everything their PCP and OBGYN had tried, and that felt great. One such patient taught me a lot about women and the power of regenerative medicine. Sandra had been a MediSpa client for some time, for the treatment of her acne scars. One day in the treatment room, her voice became hushed and she asked if she could talk to me about something else, something she was “embarrassed” to discuss. She had overheard a conversation about vaginal treatment, which up until that point she did not know we were offering. She went on to tell me that she had been suffering for years with a condition called lichen sclerosus (LS). She was desperate for anything that might help her, and she wanted my opinion as to whether the treatments we offered might provide her with any relief whatsoever. Lichen sclerosus is a chronic skin condition that affects six times as many women as men. It is most often diagnosed in women between the ages of 40 and 60, though younger women can be affected as well, and it has a strong predilection for affecting
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the genital region. Sandra had been to her PCP and OBGYN numerous times with debilitating symptoms- intense itching, burning pain and irritation, and for a long time did not have a diagnosis. She was treated as if she had an infection of some sort. Finally a dermatologist told her “I think you have LS” and referred her to a “Vag Clinic” in Boston. Her condition was proven with a skin biopsy, and for the first time she had some hope that the end was in sight. Her symptoms had become debilitating. There were many days she could not leave the house due to the discomfort. There were many times she was out for social engagements and had to leave because she was in so much pain, or run into a public bathroom and try to apply something topically to soothe the symptoms long enough for her to tolerate being there. Sexual relations with her husband was out of the question. The V Clinic gave her topical prescriptions similar to what her PCP had already been trying, which had been causing her to get more frequent urinary tract and yeast infections. She was discouraged. Over 60 doctor visits, and she felt no closer to an answer. I was honest with Sandra that up until that point I had not personally treated LS with PRP, but I was aware of some success stories amongst my colleagues and I felt the healing potential of the radiofrequency treatment ThermiVa might also add benefit though there were no formal “studies” to prove this. We made the decision to proceed, and for Sandra it has been life changing. With an initial series of three ThermiVa sessions and one PRP injection, Sandra was symptom free
and back to functioning normally. On her return to the V Clinic in Boston, she describes that her doctors were shocked and amazed at the health of her tissues and her lack of symptoms. They could not believe that she was not dependent on topical creams, and they asked for more information about the treatments she had received. We repeat the PRP injection approximately every 6 months and perform the RF treatment yearly. She is symptom free, and eternally grateful. As a woman and as a healthcare provider, I am reminded of how much we as women become accustomed to putting on a brave face; how often we project to the world an appearance that everything is “great”, when inside and behind closed doors there is suffering. I would have never imagined back in 2015 that the Sandra I had been treating for acne scars had been simultaneously suffering so acutely, had she not had the courage to ask me about it when we started offering the procedure. Fast forward to 2020, and Renew MediSpa now has the Renew MediSpa Training Institute in Derry, New Hampshire, where we teach physicians and nurses how to perform these and other regenerative procedures for women and men. I encourage providers who wish to learn more to contact us at any time for more information.
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NH Women Magazine / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / 13
MAULING
Elliot Hospital: Ask the Pediatric Surgeon
Q.
Dear Dr. Soukup, Our 2 year old daughter has a lump on her belly, just above her belly button. Her pediatrician has been watching it, because it doesn’t bother her, but we notice it gets much bigger when she is running around. Is it time to have it checked out? Thank you, Peter and Jen Z.
Dear Peter & Jen,
Your description sounds a lot like an epigastric hernia, which is a common type of hernia seen in infancy and childhood. Epigastric hernias are found in the midline of the upper abdomen, somewhere between the belly button and the chest. The lump that you have noticed is caused by a small amount of fat that protrudes through an opening in the strength layer of the abdominal wall. Parents notice the lump most obviously when the child is standing or straining, because abdominal pressure pushes the fat out. It typically falls back inside and flattens out when laying down or relaxed. Although we don’t exactly know what causes epigastric hernias, the area of weakness is more likely present at birth rather than caused by injury or straining. The hernia opening starts out very small (typically just a few millimeters across), although the fatty lump can feel and look much larger. Because the opening is so small, epigastric hernias are very unlikely to develop emergency complications, such as “incarceration” (when the intestine gets stuck) and are therefore safe for “watchful waiting” at first. Epigastric hernias are usually asymptomatic in babies and young children; In older children, however, they are more likely to cause
symptoms because the opening can enlarge over time, and the fat can get stuck in the hernia opening leading to pain or discomfort. Because epigastric hernias do not close by themselves, I typically recommend surgical repair once a child is 2-3 years of age or older. At this age, anesthesia is very brief and safe, and the abdominal wall is still thin enough to allow for repair through a tiny incision over the lump. The procedure is very well tolerated in children, and most are running around by the next day, back to their usual selves. For your daughter, since your pediatrician has been following this closely, there is no urgency for evaluation by a pediatric surgeon, but it is certainly a reasonable time to start the discussion if you wish. Hope that helps. Thanks for your question! Thanks for your question! Dr. Soukup #askthepediatricsurgeon askthepediatricsurgeon@elliot-hs.org.
Elizabeth S. Soukup, M.D., M.M.Sc. Pediatric Surgeon
Dr. Soukup is a Pediatric Surgeon at the Elliot Hospital and has an interest in educating families about pediatric health and wellness. Her mission is to provide expert specialty care for children of all ages in New Hampshire – newborns through teenagers – striving to keep them close to their families and communities. If you would like more information, call 603-663-8393 for an appointment, or visit our website at http://elliothospital.org/website/pediatric-surgery.php. Check out her previous articles at #askthepediatricsurgeon. Dr. Soukup earned her Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where she received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Medicine, graduating first in her class. She completed her General Surgery training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and her fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Children’s Hospital Boston. During her time in Boston, she also completed a Masters of Medical Sciences degree in clinical investigation
Please send your questions to: askthepediatricsurgeon@elliot-hs.org
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from Harvard Medical School. She was awarded Elliot Hospital’s “Physician of the year” for 2018. She is board-certified in both Pediatric Surgery and General Surgery. She has specialized training and experience in minimally invasive surgical treatment for babies, children and teenagers. Her practice includes all areas of general pediatric surgery, including common pediatric surgical problems as well as neonatal surgery, congenital anomalies, minimally invasive surgery, and complex thoracic surgical problems.
EDUCATION COLUMN Switching Schools? Choose One Ready to Help your Child Acclimate Seamlessly By Samantha Wingate, Director of Admissions and Advancement How do you help children feel at home in a new environment? The first weeks at a new school might be marked by uneasiness. However, it helps for students to know that a supportive, understanding team of adults is there for them when they need it.
Relocating to a new school can be stressful. To ensure your children’s seamless transition into their new schools, it’s important to think broadly about this move. Here are three major questions to ask to find a program that understands the transition process and their role in making it easier and effective
When screening new schools for your child, ask school officials what they specifically do to assist children new to the area. If they have thoughtful answers for you, it demonstrates that they’ve taken the time to consider these situations and identify the best methods for approaching them. What do you do if new students have trouble finding friends among their new classmates? Switching to a new school can be seamless, but it helps to prepare for minor bumps along
the way. Nervousness can be combated by encouraging students to explore friendships outside the classroom. When researching schools for your children, ask about their before and after school programs and extracurricular activities. These programs give students the opportunity to get to know their peers beyond a typical school day, helping them to make friends with similar interests. Is the school experienced in taking in students mid-year? Life can be unexpected. That can mean finding a new school for your child after the school year has already begun. This poses the added difficulty of ensuring new students are able to catch up on missed material. If you find yourself facing this
challenge, address your concerns with educators directly. Ask how they addressed similar concerns in the past. How did they get these new students caught up? By the end of the school year, how did those students fare academically and socially? How should we move forward with confidence? We’ve had our fair share of new students, and we’ve been there to see the process unfold. While you’re researching new schools, it’s vital to ask these three questions to find a school that will be a great fit for your child.
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NH Women Magazine / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / 15
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Elliot at River’s Edge, 185 Queen City Avenue, Manchester, NH 03101 603-314-6450 | elliothospital.org 16 / VOL 2 ISSUE 9 / NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE