New Hampshire Women Magazine

COMPLIMENTARY

May 2021

NEW HAMPSHIRE

WOM EN

Inspiring Women of New Hampshire

MAGAZINE celebrating the women of New Hampshire

Meet World Record Breaking Skydiver Carolyn MacRae Goldman (pg. 6)

Inside:

Plus, Seven Summer Staycation Spots(pg. 4)

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NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

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Melissa Diorio Editor-in-Chief Melissa@nhwomenmagazine.com Cover Photo By Robert and Carolyn MacRae Goldman

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New Hampshire Women Magazine’s print publication is published by Melissa DiOrio of Gracant Communications (melissa@nhwomenmagazine.com). The name ‘New Hampshire Women Magazine’ is registered as a trade name with the State of New Hampshire by SG Communications, LLC and is used herein with its permission. The term ‘New Hampshire Women’ is registered as a trademark with the State of New Hampshire by SG Communications, LLC and is used herein with its permission.

NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

Written for New Hampshire Women Magazine

Seven Summer Staycation Spots Even though this summer may still look different from ones in the past, we are so fortunate to live in New Hampshire and are able celebrate its uniqueness and beauty. Here’s a list of activities to try this summer.

Note: Please follow COVID-19 guidelines for each activity.

Clam Digging and Shellfishing - Seacoast This is a great pastime for families. To participate in this activity, you must be a New Hampshire resident and obtain clamming and oyster licenses.

To purchase a license, visit nhfishandgame.com. You can find available sites by going to this website: https://www. wildlife.state.nh.us/marine/ coastal-access.html There are various areas along the coast where you can participate in this activity. You can make stops along the coast, Great Bay and Hampton/Seabrook estuaries, and the Little Harbor/back channel areas of Portsmouth.

Please check the NH Coastal Atlas webpage to get the most up-to-date information on openings and closures. You can find that information by visiting: https://www4.des. state.nh.us/CoastalAtlas/Atlas. html.

Hiking at the Massabesic Wildlife Sanctuary - Auburn Lake Massabesic is a beautiful area to bring the family and enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of this area. Used as the water source for Manchester, the beautiful body of water is protected to preserve the health and vitality of its ecosystem and water. This map shows where walking/

hiking is permitted: https://www. nhaudubon.org/wp-content/ uploads/MAC-map-2018-Update.pdf. At the sanctuary, there is a 3.75 mile trail marked as the Yellow Trail with the Battery Point Loop extension and the Red Trail. You will also see areas for dog walking, field trails, and more.

Lake Massabesic also has an active sailing season and it’s fun to watch the boats with your family.

Bayventure Grab-n-Go Kits at the Great Bay Discovery Campus - Greenland Great Bay Discovery Campus’s Bayventure grab-n-go is a free outdoor activity for kids and families. It’s intended to help kids learn more about the wildlife and nature at the beautiful Great Bay estuary. There is a different kit each week with fun activities and/ or crafts for kids in grades 1-6 to participate in. According to the website, feature topics include Project Feederwatch, Outside with Owls, Animal Adaptations in Winter, and more. For the most up-to-date information, we suggest you visit the Great Bay Discover Campus website at https://www.greatbay.org. To learn specifically about this program, visit https://www.greatbay. org/60561-2/.

Great Island Common - New Castle A beach, field, grilling areas, and a playground! What more can you ask for? Great Island Common in New Castle is a gorgeous location overlooking the ocean and comprises 32 acres of seaside green space and beach. Families can spend an entire day enjoying the sun and sea breezes. You can see two lighthouses, Maine, and water as far as the eye can see.

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There is an admissions fee from the Town of New Castle and it is open from 9AM to 9PM daily.

Enjoying walking, playing, sightseeing, and more at this slice of heaven right in our backyard. To learn more about pricing and any closures during COVID-19, please visit https://www.newcastlenh. org/great-island-common.

Half-Day Guided Wildlife Kayaking Tour - Androscoggin River Northern New Hampshire is an absolute treasure of wildlife and natural beauty. Many companies and organizations have family-centered activities throughout the year to get you and your family outside and enjoy all the state has to offer. One that stood out

to us was the half-day guided wildlife kayaking tours on the Androscoggin River from Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Gorham. The tours run at 8:30am or 12:30pm and bring you through a quiet area of Androscoggin’s watershed. On their website, they list participants as young as five years old, but we always suggest calling to find out all appropriate safety information. For more information, visit their website at https://greatglentrails.com/ halfdaykayak.

Bird Watching at the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge Located 12 miles northwest of Mount Washington, this area was designated the First Continued on Next Page

Important Bird Area in New Hampshire in 2004. According to the US Fish and Game website, “This area, including Cherry and Little Cherry Ponds and the surrounding complex of wetlands and swamps, has long been known for its high quality habitat and rich, diverse assemblage of wildlife species, particularly birds. In 2004, the Pondicherry area was designated the first Important Bird Area in New Hampshire for its rich variety of breeding and migrating birds.” (April 14, 2021 - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Silvio_O_Conte/about/nh.html). According to the Audubon website, hunting is allowed here, so check in advance at the seasons for safety reasons.

Also according to the Audubon website, “The ‘laughing’ call of Common Loon is a true north woods sound at Pondicherry. More than 15 species of warblers nest here including Mourning, Blackburnian, Palm, and Canada. Some

of the other breeding birds here are also researched and found there is what’s Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Ruffed called a sunken forest or “Drowned Grouse, American Bittern, Broad-winged Forest” there at very low tide. This Hawk, American Woodcock, Black-billed sunken forest will expose tree stumps Cuckoo, Black-backed Woodpecker, Yel- that researchers say are between 3,500 low-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, - 4,000 years old. Examples of the types Willow Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, of trees are white pine and hemlock. You Blue-headed Vireo, Red-breasted may also get to experience periwinkle Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, snails, crabs, and lobsters! Visit the SeaVeery, and Hermit Thrush.” (April 14, coast Science Centers website for indoor 2021 - https://www.audubon.org/news/ exploration activities as well by going birding-new-hampshire) here: https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/.

Tide Pool Exploration at Odiorne State Park - Rye This is a great spot to experience tide pool exploration with your family. Check the tide schedule using a website such as https://www.usharbors.com/harbor/ new-hampshire/portsmouth-harbor-nh/ tides/ to ensure you get to the area about an hour before low tide. We have

NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

Written for New Hampshire Women Magazine

“PASSION IS EVER THERE”

MEET WORLD RECORD BREAKING SKYDIVER CAROLYN MACRAE GOLDMAN skydivers exit the plane in a freefall and then come together to form a star). She has jumped in over 25 countries, has earned several licenses including tandem instructor and Safety and Training Adviser (S&TA), and is the Photo By Robert and Carolyn MacRae Goldman Chief AFF Instructor, videographer, and S&TA Freefalling at 120 miles per (appointed by the United States hour, Carolyn MacRae GoldParachute Association) at Skydive man’s goggles were quickly Pepperell in Pepperell, MA. filling with blood. She had hit When asked what started her her chin and nose jumping skydiving career, MacRae Goldfrom the small Cessna that man said it began in Switzerland. had brought her up for her “I worked for eight seasons in first skydiving experience. “I Verbier, Switzerland as a ski guide flew back to Paris that night and there I learned how to paraand went to work at [the pente (paraglide).

I then moved to Organisation for Economic Paris and decided to start an AFF Co-operation and Developcourse, which involved jumping ment] looking as though I with two instructors, but freefallhad been attacked and badly ing, opening your parachute, and beaten,” she explained. After flying yourself to the ground - as that, she returned to the opposed to a static line. So, I United Kingdom and Avignon, found a course first in London, France to work on completthen Avignon, France and finally in ing several more training Empuria Brava in Spain.” levels, or accelerated freefall Note: A static jump is when the new (AFF) programs. “I think [my skydivers parachute is deployed after next jump] was about two the jump from a static line attached to weeks after my nose and chin the aircraft. healed.”

For MacRae Goldman, skydiving Now, 30 years later, this has also been quite the family adScottish-born athlete turned venture. “My husband, Robert, is New Hampshire resident an AFF/tandem instructor and an has a stunning list of acextremely accomplished skydiver complishments, records, and with over 6,000 jumps,” she said. once-in-a-lifetime experi“We travel the world together ences packed into her 16,000 attending “boogies,” or skydiving (yes, 16,000) jumps. MacRae meets, in exotic locations. Both Goldman holds three world my father and my brother have records and five national done tandem jumps, which I records, along with various filmed. [My] father made three speed star records (where jumps - one at 65, one at 75, and

the other at 80. [They] both took up flying and Dad flew up to two years before he passed away at age 90. So, the jumps I have done with him are very special.”

As a disciplined person, MacRae Goldman keeps detailed log books documenting her jumps. “I have several log books, I think about four, in which I record all my jumps. Since I do so many work jumps in a day, I record them on one page,” she said.

When asked if MacRae Goldman marks dangerous or memorable encounters, she answers with a definite yes. “Yes, I do mark specific jumps, usually when I have had a malfunction which involves cutting away [the] main canopy and deploying the reserve,” she explained. “I have had five of those in 16,000 jumps. I also note down night jumps done during a full moon, records, and any ash dives where I have had the honor to be on releasing a deceased jumper’s ashes in a freefall. We put glitter in the ashes and family and friends can see it all from the ground.”

So, what does the sensation of freefalling feel like? Noisy?

Windy? Peaceful? “We wear full face helmets now, so the noise is greatly reduced,” explained MacRae Goldman. “Freefall speed at belly-to-earth is approximately 120 miles per hour, so not very flattering on exposed skin. Temperature depends, of course, in which country and season one is in. I have jumped over the Swiss and French Alps in -25 degrees celsius (-13 degrees fahrenheit) temperatures and in Africa in +35 degrees celsius (95 degrees fahrenheit). Peace...it is all dependent on the type of skydive one is doing, but it is utterly impossible to

think of anything else in the world other than what you are doing in freefall during those 60 seconds.”

What’s it feel like after the parachute has deployed?

“Peace comes after deployment when one realizes one has a good canopy above one’s head and then the concentration of flying the parachute, avoiding others, and landing safely,” she said.

MacRae Goldman admits she’s not a fan of certain types of activities that involve heights. “Well, I am utterly terrified of roller coasters because I have no control whilst on them, but jumping out at 13,000 feet does not scare me...the earth is so far away it resembles a Google map!” But, what keeps her coming back? “The passion is ever there,” she said. And, this is where the interview really got exciting. By asking the simple, expected question of describing her favorite jump locations, MacRae Goldman was able to detail once-in-alifetime experiences that are truly mind blowing. “[My] most special would have to be in Belize where [my] husband and I, along with others, flew 60 miles off the coast to the Blue Hole.

We exited at 13,000 feet and landed in the deep waters of the Blue Hole where a dive boat awaited us. We ditched our parachutes and donned scuba gear and dived to 135 feet and swam amongst stalactites (resembling icicles formed from calcium salts deposited by dripping water) and bull and hammerhead Continued on Page 8

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Photographs provided by Robert and Carolyn MacRae Goldman

NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

Photographs provided by Robert and Carolyn MacRae Goldman Continued from Page 6

sharks,” she said. “We were fortunate to do this two years in a row. Only a handful of people in the world have done this as it requires special permits and permissions.”

“A demo jump for the birthday of President Chisano of Mozambique was another memorable one,” she explained.

“Eight of us were invited to fly to Maputo from Durban, South Africa and we were proffered a variety of aircraft from which to jump. We landed to cheers from hundreds of spectators and a banquet prepared by the president’s staff was laid out for us.”

MacRae Goldman has also had many jumps in Pepperell teaching royalty. “[I’ve had] many jumps in Pepperell teaching the (former) Royal Crown Prince of Jordan to skydive.

He invited [my] husband and me to Jordan to teach some of his men to jump, but due to war beginning in the middle east, we elected to forgo that opportunity.”

“Over the Swiss Alps, I climbed onto the lap of a paraglider pilot (not a tandem) and hung on until we reached 6,000 feet and I jumped off,”

| Inspiring Women

MacRae Goldmad explained. “I ented athletes landed in a small village at the of all time. “I foot of the mountains, far away was asked to from my ski resort in Verbier.” do a demo “Two years ago, I was asked to jump into a work in Nepal to film tandem stu[golf course] dents jumping in the Himalayas,” in Chicago for MacRae Goldman said. “[My] Michael Jorhusband came with me on one dan’s private particular jump and we realized birthday parthat we were not going to make ty,” she said. it back to the designated landing “The landing area. There were few choices on area was so the sides of mountains, other than tiny and I just rice paddy fields surrounded by made it in small stone walls. Fortunately, we and landed both landed safely but the outwith panache. come could have been so different [Jordan] was if we had landed and got hurt.” so impressed, Then there was the time she he drove me landed near a group of wild baaround all afboons. “Jumping outside Johanternoon on his nesburg, I also realized I was not golf cart and going to make the dropzone and introduced ‘phorty’), SOS (skydivers over I landed in a secure, fenced-in me to a lot of sixty), JOS (jumpers over sevenbaboon quarantine park. I landed celebs. It was my 36th birthday ty), JOEs (jumpers over eighty) and was quickly surrounded by a that day and it was one of my and JONS (jumpers over ninety). troop of wild baboons. I covered most memorable birthdays.”

I’d like to be a JON!” myself with my parachute and sat The experiences haven’t come MacRae Goldman said she is motionless in 35 degrees celsius without some physical cost. Macalso turning 60 years old in June (95 degree fahrenheit) temperaRae Goldman is currently nursing and plans to do wing walking. tures for what seemed like a long a shoulder injury and has faced “No parachute allowed,” she time until a ranger came and several serious injuries in her said.

Wing walking is pretty rescued me.” career. “Oh lord, where to begin? much what you expect it to be.

Her jumps have even led her to My goal is to jump [again] in Terrifying, yes, but exhilaratdemo jump onto a golf course June,” she explained. “I’ve crushed awaited by one of the most talmy ankle, broken my back, broken ing all the same. There are no parachutes involved as MacRae my second rib, had two Goldman explained. A wing prior shoulder surgeries walker is harnessed to the wing from wear and tear, torn of a biplane that gently rolls, meniscus, total hip replaceproducing experiences with ment...obviously not all on zero gravity and speeds of up the same jump, but enough to 140 miles per hour. to keep me grounded for There isn’t a place MacRae a while. When I resume Goldman hasn’t jumped, but jumping, I am so focused yearns to.

Well, except for that I forget the injury.” maybe two.

“Jumps have been With this year marking done in Antarctica and over her 30th anniversary of her the Pyramids, so that may be skydiving career, MacRae something we will do.”

On Goldman said she has no the opposite side of the coin, jump number in mind to MacRae Goldman said perhaps achieve before retirement.

Mozambique may be a place “I would like to continue as she won’t go back to. “Jumplong as possible,” she said. ing in Mozambique was a little “We have several groups: dicey and we were surrounded POPs (parachutists over

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Continued on Page 9

NHWM | Inspiring Women

by spectators on landing and one of the female jumpers was stabbed.”

The best advice comes from people with the most experience. One of MacRae Goldman’s cherished times is providing guidance and encouragement to new skydivers at Skydive Pepperell where she films many people jumping for the first time. “If you can jump out of a plane, you can do anything,” she said. “I get to experience this all the time and the thrill of seeing their faces never grows old. Our jokes and quips continue to be old and used, but still amusing,” she joked.

When asked what the future of her skydiving career looks like, MacRae Goldman’s reply is as expected. “I will wind down a little in terms of the number of jumps performed in one day, but I will jump as long

as mind and body allow.” And, as concise as her answer about her future, so is her succinct and beautiful explanation of life as a skydiver, “It is said skydivers

know why birds sing. I suppose that is true! We feel we are quite an elite group of people.”

NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

| NHWM

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10 / VOL 3 ISSUE 4 / NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE

EDUCATION How Hybrid Education Models Have Helped Combat Digital Fatigue & Supported Socio-Emotional Growth Amid The Pandemic

By Samantha Wingate, Director of Admissions and Advancement Over the past year, average daily screen time has increased for many of us—and most dangerously, for children at integral, transformative stages in their lives.

In the face of rises in digital activity, one resource has been there to stand in between students and an overwhelming reliance on virtual communication: hybrid education models.

The Digital Side Effects of the Pandemic In response to being mindful about the time we spend in public spaces, parents and children alike have turned to digital sources of entertainment to pass the time.

With remote learning responsibilities on top of digital activities during their free time, children are logging a significant amount of screen time day-to-day.

Technology has become a multipurpose mechanism: a source of education and a primary way to pass the time.

The question that remains: during the

pandemic, when aren’t children spending time with their technology?

Finding A Compromise With Hybrid Education For schools that found a way to balance safety precautions with in-person classes, hybrid education has been a key factor in limiting screen time.

In the face of these digital usage increases, in-person class time has become all the more valuable by substituting time spent in front of a digital device with crucial social interactions.

Hybrid education has not only moved children away from a screen, but also put them in front of teachers and peers for invaluable socialization time.

Every week, it replaces what would have been more screen time with time spent collaborating with other students, partaking in hands-on projects, and connecting with people in meaningful ways that virtual communication doesn’t always allow.

Samantha Wingate Director of Admissions and Advancement

vides students with an opportunity to learn and actively practice socio-emotional skills, get exercise, and know that, even outside of their home, they have a support system in the form of educators and advisors rooting for their success.

During the current school year, we’re incredibly proud of our team of educators and community of students at World Academy for allowing us to safely provide opportunities for students to participate in in-person classes. We’re confident that it has kept our students prepared for the learning that lies ahead—and will make all the difference when transitioning back to a fully in-person schedule.

Preparing for the Road Ahead Beyond its ability to carve out non-screen time in students’ schedules, preserving the role of in-person class time is vital for several reasons. It pro-

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NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

Written for New Hampshire Women Magazine

Stressed Out? Box It Out at Southpaw Boxing and Fitness Photos Provided By Southpaw Boxing and Fitness

You wrap your hands and put on your boxing gloves.

Moving to the punching bag, your heart rate quickens.

The instructor begins the class and you launch into an hour-long journey of throwing punches and kicks with a community of like-minded people ranging in age and ability. When that last jab or kick is completed, you wipe the sweat from your forehead and feel a familiar sense of accomplishment. And, that’s just the way Kim McBrine, owner of Southpaw Boxing and Fitness (Southpaw) in Windham envisioned it when she started the gym with her husband, Mike, two years ago.

“For me, boxing is a way for me to get out of my head,” McBrine explains. “With boxing, I am so focused on the technique and the combinations that I can’t think of anything else. Before I know, it’s been an hour and I am dripping sweat.” McBrine and her family have always done some form of boxing, kickboxing, muay thai or mixed martial arts (MMA) as a workout. So, when they moved to New Hampshire in 2018 and couldn’t find a gym that had everything they were

looking for, they decided to take on the challenge. “I wanted to create a community where people can get a great workout, build confidence, find a new passion, and train hard both at competitive and non-competitive levels,” McBrine says.

At first glance, you may feel intimidated going into a Southpaw boxing class, but all are truly welcome. “Ages [at] Southpaw start at six and we have members in their 80s,” McBrine says. When pulling into the parking lot, you might even see staff members meeting people outside who are nervous about walking into the gym for the first time. “We tell them we will walk in together,” explains McBrine. “Once they walk in, they feel the vibe.

Everyone is so welcoming.”

What sets Southpaw apart from traditional gyms, is it’s focus on the art and technique of boxing. “Southpaw is a no-frills gym,” says McBrine. “We focus on function, not fashion. You will not see any steam room, no tanning beds - just top notch classes led by knowledgeable, passionate trainers.” The gym has several trainers with varying backgrounds providing a

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NHWM | Inspiring Women

well-rounded and extensive achieved at Southpaw is member understanding of boxing for longevity. “I’ve had a client say, all of its members to learn ‘I’m a runner and I’m only doing from. “One class you could these classes for three months.’ have a trainer that has a very Well, a year and a half later, they technical background,” says are still here!” This longevity has McBrine. “The next class your also helped during the coronatrainer could be very fitness virus pandemic - even when the based. There are so many gym had to shut down operadifferent ranges.” tions for three months. McBrine The range of classes offered also saw an opportunity to help at Southpaw are a direct keep the sport of boxing going result of the qualified staff at during the pandemic by working the gym. “It really grew legs,” with Boston Boxing Promotions McBrine says about the at their gym to have closed, growth of the gym. Southpaw live-streamed professional fights. provides a youth program “Together we were able to get aimed at ages six to 15 years boxing back to New Hampshire old focusing not only on the during the pandemic and do it technique of boxing, but also safely and without incident.” discipline and self confidence; McBrine says she can “see the personal one-on-one training and light at the end of the tunnel” sparring to build fundamentals with the pandemic and is excited and achieve personal goals; and about the future growth of the several adult classes aimed to gym. “We would love to see the make you sweat, get you lean, and community grow and be able to build muscles. add on more classes during the Along with the physical benefits day, all while keeping it in the achieved at Southpaw, McBrine great community it is.” says the “mental health piece Southpaw offers a free week for is right up with the fitness, if potential members to come and not outweighs it.” She explains check out the gym. the mental focus required from boxing gets people out of their For more information, visit heads so they aren’t thinking https://southpaw-boxing. about anything else during the classes.

Several members have said boxing at the gym reduces their stress and anxiety leading to better relationships out in the world. “It really helps kids who are shy,” says McBrine whose 16-year-old daughter’s confidence has flourished and she now teaches classes at the gym.

“It’s something she couldn’t have done before.”

A side effect of the physical, mental, and commuKim McBrine nity-feel benefits

Written for New Hampshire Women Magazine

NHWM | Inspiring Women

A Holistic Balance to Mental Health Care: The Psychiatric Wellness Center in Bedford neutrals as well as elements from nature to create a calming and de-escalating For Psychiatric Nurse atmosphere to help mimic Practitioners Amanda our natural surroundings,” (Mandi) Sadat, PMHNP-BC, explains Sadat.

MSN, RN, MA, 200-RYT The center specializes and Meredith Hogarty, in the treatment of womPMHNP-BC, MSN, MSW, en struggling with anxiety, both graduates of the MGH depression, postpartum and Institute of Health Profespre-pregnancy challenges, sions, it was time to break eating disorders, seasonal the traditional mental health affective disorder, life trauma, treatment mold. Years of and many other mental health having to put time limits on struggles. Sadat, Hogarty, and patient appointments and their team work collaboraa lack of a multidisciplinary tively with patients’ primary approach inspired them care physicians and women’s to open a holistic private health clinics to review and practice dedicated to treatorder blood work, monitor ing the whole person while vitals, properly prescribe providing a nurturing and medication, and provide insafe environment. Together, dividualized therapy sessions. these skilled practitioners Increasing medical and therstarted the Psychiatric Well- apeutic appointment times ness Center located at 258 S. to meet each patient’s needs River Road in Bedford and provides the base for a long it is one of the few to offer term relationship and allows both medical and therapeufor individualized healing. tic professionals on site.

“Once you are a patient, we When patients enter the are sticking with you through practice, they will hear soft the test of time,” says Sadat. music playing and smell Built on their mutual comscents of lavender, rose, or mitment to put patients’ well bergamont all chosen based being first, Sadat and Hogarty on evidence to relieve stress ensured they’d have dedicatand increase dopamine and ed space to offer mind and serotonin. They’ll be spoken body connection therapies with in soft tones and have like yoga, reiki, massage thera comfortable place to sit apy, and more to work collaband drink tea while waitoratively with their traditional ing for their appointment mental health practices. Hoto begin. Sadat, who has garty, who also holds a Mastaken the Mindfulness for ters in Clinical Social Work Healthcare Providers course from Boston College says, “I at Massachusetts General have found that practicing Hospital (MGH) and also has with a holistic approach and a Masters in Expressive Arts adding holistic therapies to Therapy, used her education the standard mental health to intentionally design and treatment involving psychodecorate the office space in therapy and medication has a way that reduces cortisol offered great benefit to those and promotes relaxation. “I in our practice.” Hogarty choose calming colors and continues to explain, “By

using a holistic approach in combination with traditional mental health treatment, many are willing to begin treatment and explore holistic and traditional methods of reaching their optimal health and well being.”

“I actually did my thesis on how yoga and exercise increase serotonin and GABA (neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety) in the brain,” explains Sadat. “Serotonin and GABA are neurotransmitters that we typically use medication to increase in the synaptic space such as SSRI or SNRI. Research shows that regular exercise like yoga, meditation, running can increase GABA specifically and reduce anxiety.” Hogarty says yoga therapy has been found Amanda to be “an effective treatment for many mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

Sadat and Hogarty’s genuine care and concern for their patients is palpable. This past year has been especially difficult during the pandemic for the practice with the technological obstacles they had to quickly master to provide secure telehealth and hybrid models, yet it has always remained patients first. “Many of the patients here are nurses and therapists,” explains Sadat. “I liken COVID-19 to the grief cycle.

The shock, fear, anger, depression, now bargaining. [COVID-19] has strengthened our desire to help patients.”

When asked what joy opening their practice has brought to them, the answers were thoughtful and inspiring. Hogarty says, “Taking time to reflect on the past few years of our practice, the most rewarding aspect is to

be able to practice in a way that allows me to provide high quality mental health treatment, instilling hope in the lives of others and encouraging mental and emotional wellness.” Sadat says, “I’m proud of the quality of care we provide to patients and collaboration we are able to give. I’m incredibly mindful of the responsibility healthcare providers hold, especially at this time. When I look back, at

Sadat, PMHNP-BC, SN, RN, MA, 200-RYT what we’ve done, I see a paved road for possibility for what we are capable of doing in this amazing community in the future. I see a light moving us forward. That is really exciting.”

For more information about the Psychiatric Wellness Center in Bedford, visit their website at psychiatricwellnescenter.org

Meredith Hogarty PMHNP-BC, MSN, MSW NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

MEDICAL SPA | SPECIAL SECTION

THE PLASMA PEN PREDICAMENT 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.

What would you do for smoother, tighter skin?

There seems to be no end to the products and remedies advertised and the number of interventions offered at spas, salons and medical offices across the world. Results range from zero to dramatic, and it is difficult, if not impossible, for the average consumer to successfully navigate this ever-growing swarm of options without professional guidance.

Medical grade interventions often begin with wrinkle relaxers like “botox,” injectable wrinkle fillers, and some form of exfoliation- lifting the superficial skin layerssuch as with a medical grade chemical peel. These approaches are certainly helpful but often not sufficient to fully address unwanted wrinkles. And, we are often in the position to move on to energy-based devices to stimulate the skin to produce brand new

collagen.

Our skin contains cells called fibroblasts, which are capable of producing collagen and elastin in response to an injury. This is how we heal from a cut for example.

Medical microneedling, radiofrequency assisted microneedling, microfocused ultrasound and laser resurfacing are some of the ways in which medical aesthetic professionals can safely create a controlled injury which will stimulate collagen to form in a predictable way without scarring. Who is licensed to perform these procedures varies according to the type of the device, and even state by state.

In 2019 I became increasingly concerned about a lot of “hype” I was seeing on the internet regarding “Plasma Pen” technology. In particular, I noticed rampant misleading photography, result claims that were blatantly unrealistic, and descriptions of risk and downtime that were completely inaccurate.

Additionally concerning was the fact that aesthetic education companies were actively training estheticians to use these heat generating devices, despite the fact that creating this type of injury is not considered to be within their scope of practice. When I brought this to the attention of one such company in Massachusetts, I was told “It’s not our job to know what their licensing board

14 / VOL 3 ISSUE 4 / NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMEN MAGAZINE

allows them to do, that’s their problem. We can still train them and sell them the device.”

A so called “plasma pen” or “fibroblast pen” concentrates electrostatic energy at the skin surface to cause a burn, plain and simple. If you search the internet with these terms you will see any number of images in which it looks like hundreds of brown dots on the skin. The hope is that this injury will heal with new collagen and smoother skin as a result. The reality is that most patients who have this done are disappointed with the result, have very prolonged and scary looking recoveries, and many are left with marks or scars which then need to be treated by some other modality.

The plasma pen procedure has been banned entirely in Canada due to the potential associated health risks including prolonged pain, swelling, redness, sagging skin, hyperpigmentation and other scarring. In the United States, the FDA had not cleared ANY plasma pen for use on consumers until very recently. In 2020, Cartessa Aesthetics, a device company, received FDA clearance to market a plasma device they call Subnovii. All other plasma devices being sold in the US are neither FDA cleared nor FDA approved for any indication. I was puzzled then why many of them listed on their websites that they were FDA cleared, and was advised by the FDA that they were

not cleared and that it was illegal for these companies to misrepresent their devices in this way.

When a product is FDA cleared this means it has been registered with the FDA and can be sold and marketed to professionals, and in some instances to the public.

This is not the same as FDA approval, which is a multiyear, arduous process requiring the submission of results of clinical studies and safety data. There is no FDA approved plasma pen device. Practitoners who use non FDA cleared devices when treating patients may not be covered by their medical malpractice insurance in the event that a lawsuit arises from patient injury.

On the consumer site RealSelf, plasma pen treatments currently have a low 49% “worth it” rating, compared to for example : Botox 96%, Dermal filler 94%, Smart Skin (CO2 resurfacing) 87%, Secret RF 89%, Laser Hair removal 88%. Those who rated plasma pen “not worth it” generally complained of post procedure pain, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (which is often permanent), and failure to achieve the promised results.

If you are considering a plasma pen treatment: • Ask to see the device. If it is not the Cartessa Subnovii device, it has not been FDA cleared and I would recommend that you not have any procedure performed with Continued on Next Page

tell you otherwise (overpromise), it would be a good idea to walk away.

• Know who will be performing your treatment.* This procedure is not within the scope of practice of estheticians in the state of New Hampshire. Be sure that you have been evaluated by and will be treated by an MD or Nurse Practitioner. This person is burning your skin, you should be in a setting where potential complications can be adequately evaluated and addressed- such as a Dermatology Office.

(NB: At Renew MediSpa we offer SmartSkin CO2 laser skin resurfacing. We do not offer Subnovii treatments.) a device that has not gone through at least that process.

• Ask to see multiple before and after photos of results obtained by your provider. Be wary of photos done with obviously different lighting, different camera angles, etc.. and do not use immediate after photos

(with visible brown dots) as any indicator of end result. Heated skin will temporarily lift and contract, causing the appearance of a “lift” when in fact that will be gone as soon as the tissue relaxes hours later.

• This is a multi-session process, with significant downtime. If they

NH Women Magazine / VOL 3 ISSUE 4

Everyone should have someone they trust to deliver predictable and effective anti-aging therapies

Meet JoAna Byam, RN JoAna leads our Women’s Sexual Wellness Program, assisting women in selecting the best treatment options for concerns such as vaginal pain and dryness, stress incontinence, difficulty with orgasm, and lichen sclerosus, and performing the indicated regenerative procedures with MD supervision. She is also available for “botox” appointments, IV infusions, microneedling and laser services.

JoAna is the Nursing Team leader for our Laser Assisted Liposuction procedures- SmartLipo and Precision TX-and for SmartSkin CO2 Laser skin resurfacing. JoAna enjoys spending time with her family, lake life activities, gardening, and staying current on changes in the fields of aesthetics, wellness, and anti-aging medicine.

We’ve combined cutting edge technology with over 15 years of experience to help you look and function your best at any age Featuring: • Dermal Filler and Sculptra • Botox, Dysport, Xeomin • Non Surgical Face Lift • Advanced Korean Thread Lifting • Neck and Jawline Tightening • SmartSkin CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing • Medical Microneedling • Hydrafacial MD Elite • Chemical Peels

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603-894-0070 RenewMediSpa.com