COASTAL BEND
NSIDE
MD APRIL-MAY 2014
ORTHOPAEDIC EXCELLENCE
SOUTH TEXAS BONE & JOINT
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This is not the place to start a conversation about your long-term care desires. You already know what you want for your future. Why not tell your family? You’ve always told your kids how to run their lives. Now it’s time to tell them how you want them to run yours. The Plaza is the health care neighborhood at Mirador—Corpus Christi’s only true Life Care retirement community. You’ll find spacious private residences, first-class amenities and outstanding care, with the consistent staffing that makes such a difference.
Don’t let 911 be the first call your children have to make. Call 1-877-507-5372 to get the conversation started.
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NSIDETHISISSUE APRIL/MAY 2014
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COVER STORY SOUTH TEXAS BONE & JOINT
This leader in patient care for more than 40 years continues its tradition of orthopaedic excellence with a patient-first focus.
DEPARTMENTS 08 12 22 26
Feature Education Health & Wellness Senior Care
SMARTPHONE WITH APP ICONS, RASHEVSKYI VIACHESLAV; SANDY FEET, DRAZEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM COVER AND TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTOS OF SOUTH TEXAS BONE AND JOINT BY DUSTIN ASHCRAFT
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NSIDE FEATURE
CHRISTUS Spohn associates honored Dr. Edwin “Ben” Groner during a special ceremony at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline.
HONORING A LEGACY
CHRISTUS Spohn honors Dr. Edwin “Ben” Groner with a plaque in commemoration of a man who served the people of South Texas well for nearly 50 years.
CHRISTUS Spohn associates recently honored Dr. Edwin “Ben” Groner during a special ceremony at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline. Friends and relatives of the longtime physician, along with community leaders, paid tribute to the beloved doctor who served patients in South Texas for nearly 50 years. After Groner passed away in July 2013, colleagues established the Dr. Edwin “Ben” Groner Nursing Excellence Fund made possible through the generosity of the community and the John G and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation. The fund will provide educational advancement opportunities for CHRISTUS Spohn nurses, continuing the doctor’s legacy of caring for others. “Dr. Ben Groner was one of the best-liked and most respected physicians I have had the pleasure to work with, as well as one of the most dedicated and compassionate,” said Dr. John Pettigrove, vice president of medical affairs for CHRISTUS Spohn Health System. “Ben truly lived by his credo, which
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ALL PHOTOS BY STEVEN ALFORD
By: [STEVEN ALFORD]
Rabbi Kenneth D. Roseman pays tribute to his friend, Dr. Edwin Ben Groner, by wearing the physician’s trademark beret and bowtie. Groner was recently remembered with a commemorative plaque unveiled inside CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-Shoreline.
Corpus Christi MRI Center
Blue Star Radiology Official Radiologists of the Dallas Cowboys
“DR. BEN GRONER WAS ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED AND COMPASSIONATE PHYSICIANS I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH.”
Michael B. Jones, M.D., DABR
Diagnostic Radiologist Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Imaging
David T. Larsen, M.D., DABR
Diagnostic Radiologist Fellowship in Magnetic Resonance Imaging was to always put the needs of patients first.” Beginning in 1951, Groner practiced medicine in Corpus Christi with boundless good humor and a selfless devotion to patients. He was known for his trademark smile and his Scottish Tam cap. Early in his 57-year career, Groner came to recognize the key role that nurses play in patient care. The fund is Groner’s friends’ and family’s way of saying “thank you” to a man who provided decades of service to his beloved community. After fond remembrances and humorous stories of Groner’s life, the dozens of attendees watched as the doctor’s daughter, Ticia Groner Hanisch, unveiled a special plaque in the hospital’s lobby commemorating the doctor’s life and works – a testament to a man who served South Texans and called Corpus Christi home. “I encourage everyone to consider giving a generous gift to the fund,” Pettigrove added. “I know Dr. Groner would be proud, thankful and honored.”
Michael E. Patyrak, M.D., DABR Diagnostic Radiologist Fellowship in Musculoskeletal Imaging
1.5 GE Tesla Open Ended Magnet Same Day Appointments Report Turnaround Within 24 Hours 2-3 Hour Stat Interpretations
10 Years Serving South Texas To contribute to the Dr. Edwin B. Groner Nursing Excellence Fund, contact Linda Arnold, director of the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Foundation, at 361881-3940; visit www.christusspohnfoundation.org; or mail your donation to the CHRISTUS Spohn Foundation at 600 Elizabeth St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78404. And to learn more about CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, visit www.christusspohn.org.
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NSIDE FEATURE
A GRAND ANNIVERSARY CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-South celebrates 20 years of service. By: [STEVEN ALFORD]
This Valentine’s Day marked the 20th anniversary of the opening of CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi-South, which has brought a new level of health care to the growing south side of Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. To celebrate, Corpus Christi City Council marked the occasion with an official proclamation naming Feb. 14, 2014, “CHRISTUS Spohn-South Day.” Twenty years ago, the first baby born at Spohn-South was Alison Wheaton, who weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Corpus Christi news outlets featured her premier birth on Feb. 15, 1994. That week, Wheaton also celebrated her 20th birthday up in North Texas, where she currently attends Southern Methodist University, majoring in music. In the two decades since that first birth, thousands of families have chosen CHRISTUS Spohn-South to welcome their children into the world and to receive high-quality care conveniently close to home. “We’re privileged that we’ve been able to operate on the south side for 20 years providing high-quality care,” CHRISTUS Spohn-South VP/COO Mark Casanova told television crews at the ceremony. Back when the hospital’s doors first opened, associates recalled that there was little more than open fields surrounding the area. Now the south side has become a burgeoning hub of businesses and residential properties. “We have many, many associates who have been with us since we first opened,” Casanova added, “and we’re very happy to have this opportunity to celebrate with them.” The 20 years since have flown by for those
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“MANY OF OUR ASSOCIATES HAVE BEEN WITH US SINCE WE FIRST OPENED, AND WE’RE HAPPY TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM.” CHRISTUS Spohn associates who still remember when CHRISTUS Spohn-South opened. As longtime associates shared heartwarming stories about their time at Spohn-South, students from the nearby Church of Reconciliation Day School dropped off birthday and Valentine’s cards to the large group gathered in the hospital’s cafeteria. Nearby, a special slideshow displayed countless pictures and memories from the hospital’s 20 years of service. In that time, associates at the hospital have grown close, becoming like a large family, Casanova noted. Though some have come and gone, the lives they touched and the appreciation from their patients for the compassionate care they provided will always remain.
ABOUT CHRISTUS SPOHN HEALTH SYSTEM CHRISTUS Spohn Health System is the largest hospital system in South Texas, consisting of six hospital campuses throughout the Coastal Bend. The health system is consistently ranked as a health care leader in the area and has received national recognition for several pioneering programs, including cardiac care, clinical excellence and oncology. For more than 100 years, CHRISTUS Spohn has been distinguished by its high-caliber staff and affiliated physicians, its comprehensive and inno-
For more information, visit www.christusspohn.org.
vative services and its long history of responding to the needs of the community it serves.
NSIDE EDUCATION
THE FLIPSIDE OF THE COIN
Del Mar College Continuing Education moves Coastal Bend high school students toward careers in health care. By: [MELINDA EDDLEMAN]
Both sides of a coin are different. Or are they? If one side represents Del Mar College’s (DMC’s) continuing education health care programs and the other represents traditional academic programs at DMC, student results may be equally beneficial. Historically, continuing education courses were geared toward older students looking for new skills, continuing certification for current employment or wanting to fulfill personal interests. Today, high school students from Banquete and Tuloso-Midway Independent School Districts have flipped the coin and taken the bet, and they’re winning. By completing DMC Continuing Education’s Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training course, these students are building a foundation that leads to jobs as home health aides, CNAs and patient care technicians or getting ahead in their studies toward entering the health care industry.
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During the past three years, 53 Tuloso-Midway High School students have taken the course, including nine who prepared to complete their CNA certification this spring. Those nine students make the fifth cohort Tuloso-Midway has sponsored by providing books, supplies and tuition. Two years ago, 14 Mathis High School students took the course. “Each student has his or her own goals and can pursue different paths in health care,” says Katherine McClendon, R.N., and health care programs coordinator. “The possibilities are copious. Completing this program is just the beginning for these students.” Careers in physical therapy, nursing and even dentistry are among the dreams of eight Banquete High School students who completed the CNA training course in December. They’re also the first group from Banquete to participate in the pro-
INAUGURAL CLASS During a Dec. 9 pinning ceremony, eight Banquete High School students received their pins and certificates after completing the CNA training course with Del Mar College Continuing Education. The students include (from left) Alyssa Zarate, Jassel Ramirez, Guy McClendon III, Ricky Benavides, Rogelio DeLaPaz Jr., Ashley Garcia, Itzel Fernandez and Maritza Perez.
gram, which is now offered at the college’s northwest center in Calallen. Coming from a small, 2-A rural institution and including one sophomore, four juniors and three seniors, the students finished the required 144 hours of course and clinical work needed to earn pins for the CNA training course. Clinical work included putting into practice what they learned in class at Retama Manor Nursing Center in Robstown using the 22 skills they mastered that were required as part of the curriculum approved by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. Completing the course also paved the way for these students to take the Texas Nurse Aide Registry examination for CNA certification. Six passed the exam in December, with the other two students scheduled to retake the test. Their accomplishment opens up a whole new world of opportunities before they finish high school. On average, a CNA can earn $10 per hour, plus benefits, with employment at hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. That’s more than teenagers make per hour holding typical summer jobs, and McClendon says the Banquete stu-
“THE POSSIBILITIES ARE COPIOUS. COMPLETING THIS PROGRAM IS JUST THE BEGINNING FOR THESE STUDENTS.” dents can’t wait for summer to start earning money using the skills they’ve acquired. CNAs help care for physically or mentally ill, injured, disabled or infirmed individuals confined to hospitals, long-term care nursing facilities and mental health settings. Aides perform routine tasks under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. “These students are at a developmental stage when many teenagers are self-absorbed,” McClendon notes. “However, students taking the CNA training course learn to switch gears, learn to look outward and serve others – and they tell me how good that feels. They also have a means to earn and save money if they plan to further their studies for a two- or four-year degree.” The Banquete students are now taking medical terminology and electrocardiography (EKG) courses to qualify for further certification. Five of their peers have also followed their lead and enrolled in the CNA training course this spring. DMC Continuing Education also offers Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Medication Aide, Unit Clerk/Coordinator, Medical Insurance Coding Specialist and Electrocardiography Technician through their health care programs. DMC’s traditional semester credit programs also continue to fill a vital role educating the Coastal Bend’s health care professionals, ranging from respiratory, occupational and physical therapy assistants, health information technologists and pharmacy technicians to nurses, dental assistants and hygienists, nuclear medicine and radiological technologists and surgical techs, among others. No matter which side of the coin they get, students win.
To learn more about continuing education offerings by Health Care Programs and other areas, visit www. delmar.edu/ce or call 361-698-2122. And for more information about Del Mar College’s academic health care programs, visit www.delmar.edu and click on “Degrees, Certificates & Programs.”
TRANSFERRING Guy McClendon III (right) uses a transfer belt to help fellow Banquete High School classmate and Del Mar College CNA training course graduate, Maritza Perez, move from the bed to the wheelchair. This is one of the skills students learned during coursework at the college’s northwest center in Calallen.
NEED ASSISTANCE Banquete High School student Jassel Ramirez (left) demonstrates how a CNA assists with changing clothes as fellow classmate and CNA training course graduate, Alyssa Zarate, fills the role of patient. Students learned the 22 skills that CNAs must master through classroom instruction and clinical experiences as required by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. A P R I L- M AY 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D
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A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE South Texas Bone & Joint: a leader in patient care since 1972 By: [SARAH TINDALL] Photography: [DUSTIN ASHCRAFT]
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ince 1972, the orthopaedic doctors at South Texas Bone & Joint have offered communities throughout the Coastal Bend multispecialty, musculoskeletal health care services with a patient-first focus. In the past 40 years, the group has grown from the original two founding physicians, Drs. Charles Kennedy Jr. and David Parker (who have since retired), to include eight doctors, five physician assistants and a total of 74 staff members. From its start in a small office on Reid Drive, the center has grown to 20,000 square feet of space, inhabiting an entire floor in the Corpus Christi Medical Center Charles Clark Building at 601 Texan Trail. The center offers diagnostic X-ray, musculoskeletal ultrasound, casting and durable medical equipment, complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access, three patient lobbies, 26 examination rooms and a priority care clinic for same-day, musculoskeletal-specific urgent care needs that allows patients to forego long waits in an emergency room. A primary goal of the priority care clinic is to help patients with non-emergent orthopaedic injuries avoid the expense and wait times associated with the traditional ER visit. The group also opened the Corpus Christi MRI Center in 2003, which enables patients to have MRI appointments directly after office appointments – a true convenience, especially for out-of-town visitors. Physicians then are able to see the MRI images immediately and receive a report in approximately an hour. The imaging center also accepts external referrals for the convenience of referring physicians and businesses throughout South Texas. The substantial improvements and growth of the organization have not detracted the group from their mission to strive for orthopaedic excellence in the treatment of musculoskeletal injury,
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arthritis and disease. The founding physicians’ vision of establishing a team of orthopaedic doctors, each with a different subspecialty so that patients receive the pinnacle of care for their particular needs, has set South Texas Bone & Joint apart as a leader in patient care. The group is also highly focused on technological innovation, remaining at the forefront of research and treatment options in their fields. Medical records are electronic and orthopaedic specific, and the medical equipment utilized incorporates the most advanced technology available. The doctors are leaders in their subspecialties who travel the country to educate others in the medical community on advances in orthopaedic medicine. For the patients (who range from those in need of joint replacement surgery or arthritis treatment to adults with workplace injuries and athletes with sports-related injuries), a focus on individuals receiving the best care possible is paramount. The group maintains memberships in the Nueces County Medical Society, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Texas Medical Association, the Better Business Bureau, the Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. South Texas Bone & Joint also supports the American Cancer Society through their annual golf tournament, Making Strides 5K and the Cattle Baron’s Ball, as well as the Rise School and the Women’s Shelter. Additionally, the physicians and
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physician assistants volunteer at Moody, Miller, King and other surrounding schools performing physicals, as well as serving as team physicians and providers.
MEET THE DOCS
The doctors of South Texas Bone & Joint are all experts in their fields who serve the Coastal Bend community in various capacities on charitable boards and foundations.
DR. BERNARD M. SEGER Dr. Bernard M. Seger graduated from his parents’ alma mater at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where his mother was the first Hispanic woman to graduate with a degree in medicine. Seger went on to complete his orthopaedic residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, finishing in 1984 with fellowship training in arthroscopic surgery. He served on the clinical staff at Baylor College of Medicine, as well as Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital, for three years before relocating to Corpus Christi with his wife, Kim, and now three children. He was board certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1986. He specializes in arthroscopy of the knee and shoulder. Seger has been with South Texas Bone & Joint since January 1986, and his major areas of interest include cartilage abnormalities, ligament reconstructions and realignment procedures. He performs the majority of unicompartmental knee arthroplasties in the Corpus Christi area.
South Texas Bone & Joint offers multispecialty, musculoskeletal health care services with a patient-first focus. Seger is on the board of Doctors Regional Hospital and the University of Texas McDonald Observatory Board of Visitors. His wife, Kimberley Hall Seger, is an immigration attorney with Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi who serves on the boards of Catholic Charities, the Mother Teresa Shelter, the Diocesan Telecommunications Corporation and the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation. The couple also supports KLUX, KEDT, the Bishop’s Guild, Timon’s Ministries, the American Heart Association, Charity League, Odyssey After School, the Nueces County Livestock Show and Incarnate Word Academy. The rewards come for Seger when he sees his patients able to return to the sports they love. “I am
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truly passionate about orthopaedics,” he says. “We have made great strides in the care of shoulder and knee pathology, with many exciting breakthroughs yet to come. We have seen the majority of shoulder and knee surgeries previously performed open through large incisions now being performed primarily arthroscopically. “Athletes with career-ending injuries can now hope to be back on the field, often the next season. I would have to say that the most exciting event in sports medicine is to see an athlete recover from his injuries and go on to compete at the college level.”
helping patients. “At its essence, orthopaedics is human carpentry,” she says. “Many of the problems orthopaedists encounter can truly be ‘fixed,’ rather than managed, and I find this very rewarding. I gravitated towards the subspecialty, foot and ankle, because of the variety of pathology encountered in a complex area. I also enjoy the camaraderie and personality of the orthopaedists in this field.” Grosser has been with South Texas Bone & Joint since September 2006, and she truly enjoys it. “At the end of the day, I am grateful for the experience I get with each patient, working side-by-side with them during the healing process,” she says. “There is a trust and unique relationship between physician and patient that enriches my life. The day-today nature of this field is changing and challenging, and never dull.”
DR. JOHN P. MASCIALE Dr. John P. Masciale is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty focused in adult spinal surgery. He is a graduate of Cornell University, and he received his Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in 1985. After completing his orthopaedic residency at Downstate, Masciale completed a fellowship in spinal surgery at the Alamo Bone & Joint Clinic in San Antonio, Texas, from 1990 to 1991. He has been in practice with South Texas Bone & Joint since August 1991, and he is the longest-practicing spinal surgeon in the city. He feels strongly about the work he does and giving back to the community in which he lives. “We have a responsibility to this city, to our patients, referring doctors and to ourselves that when we’re done, we leave something behind better than we found it,” he says. “We’re in a position to positively impact lives for many years, and we take that seriously.” That tradition of excellence means patient care is never compromised, no matter how many patients walk through the door. “Our staff makes a huge difference to our product and our brand,” Masciale says. “We’re very good at figuring out what to do for our patients, striving to avoid surgery whenever possible – and having multiple specialists in the office means that we can consult each other frequently, which minimizes the likelihood that patients are getting unnecessary treatment.”
DR. CHARLES W. BRECKENRIDGE Dr. Charles W. Breckenridge is a graduate of UHS/ The Chicago Medical School who received his Doctor of Medicine in June 1989, after which he did a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, a foot and ankle fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and a sports medicine fellowship at the Tahoe Fracture & Orthopaedic Clinic. He was board certified in 1997, he has been with South Texas Bone & Joint since August 1995 and he specializes in sports medicine, as well as arthroscopic, shoulder and knee surgery. Breckenridge and his wife, Cristal, support many local charities, including KLOVE, Catholic Charities, Foster Angels of South Texas, the Wounded Warrior Project, Save the Children and Triumph Over Kid Cancer. He says he enjoys specializing in shoulder and knee surgery because “it’s concrete – you can see the results fairly quickly. You see and do, as opposed to think and decide. I like working with my
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DR. RYAN THOMAS
hands, and this is work that lets you use them to help people.” Breckenridge is passionate about caring for military families, seeing it as a moral duty to help them and ensure they are cared for.
DR. JOHN M. BORKOWSKI Dr. John M. Borkowski did his orthopaedic surgery residency at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, followed by a spine fellowship at the University of Washington. He was board certified in 2002, he has been with South Texas Bone & Joint since October 2001 and he specializes in adult reconstructive spine surgery. He graduated from the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. He and his wife, Dr. Catherine Bussieres, support Doctors Without Borders, the Corpus Christi Amateur Hockey Association and Triumph Over Kid Cancer. Borkowski also serves as an assistant coach for the Junior IceRays, provides medical assistance for the Youth and Men’s Hockey League and is the orthopaedic surgeon for the Corpus Christi IceRays. He says he enjoys working in orthopaedics, especially as an athlete himself. “I can see meaningful and immediate results in patient care,” he says. “Furthermore, being a competitive hockey player [Borkowski plays in the men’s league of the Amateur Hockey Association], I enjoy treating sportsrelated injuries. Orthopaedics has been more than a job for me; it’s a life-fulfilling career.”
DR. DAWN GROSSER Dr. Dawn Grosser is a subspecialty-trained orthopaedic surgeon who completed a fellowship in foot and ankle surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Grosser obtained a B.A. in pre-med/religion from Baylor University in 1994. She graduated from Yale Medical School in 2000 and finished her orthopaedic residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital before completing her fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in 2006. She was board certified in 2008. Grosser picked this field because she enjoys
Dr. Ryan Thomas is a subspecialty-trained orthopaedic surgeon who completed a fellowship in hand and upper-extremity surgery at the Hand Center of San Antonio. Thomas grew up in Corpus Christi and attended the University of Texas in Austin. He graduated with honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed his residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He was board certified in 2010. He and his wife, Holly, are members of the Nueces County Medical Society and Alliance. Thomas has been with South Texas Bone & Joint since August 2011, and he says he enjoys being an orthopaedist because he really likes taking care of patients. “This is one of the greatest professions,” he says. “We are able to take people with discomfort, pain and/or poor function and make them better. That’s the thing about orthopaedics: ninety-five percent of our patients get better from what we do to and for them.”
DR. JUSTIN KLIMISCH Dr. Justin Klimisch earned his medical degree
from the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine. After finishing medical school, he remained at UT Medical Branch and completed his internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery. Later, he completed an accredited fellowship in adult reconstruction and joint replacement surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. After completing his fellowship, Klimisch was in private practice at the Bone & Joint Center of Seattle and an assistant clinical professor at the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. He was board certified in 2012.
“We’re in a position to positively impact lives for many years, and we take that seriously.”
Klimisch has been with South Texas Bone & Joint since March 2013. He is trained in the latest evidence-based hip and knee surgery techniques, and he offers minimally invasive hip and knee replacement surgery utilizing computer navigation, which ensures more precise positioning of joint implants. He offers a wide range of solutions for the treatment of hip and knee disorders, ranging from hip and knee injections to arthroscopy, partial knee replacement, hip resurfacing and total joint replacement. Klimisch is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients with hip and knee disorders, with the goal of helping each individual attain their highest level of function. He also serves as a consultant for a development team working on a new type of knee replacement, which will pivot like a normal knee. He travels around the country teaching courses on knee replacement, and he is at the forefront of research on patient-specific implementation. Klimisch enjoys orthopaedics because of its potential to so dramatically improve the quality of life for patients. “Part of orthopaedics is dealing with injuries, and you can have a direct and significant impact on patients’ lives,” he says. “Instead of chronically treating problems, you can fix them. You can take a patient who is prevented from doing what
they like to do and in a great deal of pain because of arthritis or an injury, and help them go back to doing what they like to do.”
DR. FRANK LUCKAY Dr. Frank Luckay specializes in general orthopaedics – most specifically in orthopedic impairment evaluations – at South Texas Bone & Joint. He graduated from Ohio State University, he has been in private practice in Corpus Christi since 1962 and he has been with the group since November 1993. “My favorite part of coming to work every day,” he says, “is interacting with the patients.” For the doctors, physician assistants and staff at South Texas Bone & Joint, spending every day improving the lives of patients means time very well spent.
To learn more about South Texas Bone & Joint, please call 361-854-0811, visit www.southtexasboneandjoint.com or follow the group on Facebook and Twitter. And for more information about the Corpus Christi MRI Center, call 361-561-0635 or visit http:// corpuschristimricenter.com. A P R I L- M AY 2 0 1 4 / N S I D E C O A S TA L B E N D
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BRATING 10 YEARS E L CE
2004
2014
A HOME HEALTH AGENCY YOU AND YOUR DOCTOR CAN TRUST! BENAVIDES
119 W. Railroad Ave. Benavides, Texas 78341 Ph: (361) 256-3980 Fax: (361) 256-3981
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6262 Weber Rd. Ste. 302 Corpus Christi, Texas 78413 Ph: (361) 853-3971 Fax: (361) 853-4309
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HAPPY FEET
The importance of keeping comfort in mind when you select your footwear By: [DR. DAWN GROSSER]
Winter is over, thankfully, and our Corpus spring/summer is here. It’s time to dust off the sandals and open-toed shoes and let our feet enjoy the breeze. Some of us have shoes that have already seen many a summer (ones well worn in and ready to go), while others of us prefer only the newest fashion each season and are ready for our 2014 debut. And some of us have numerous flip-flops for every occasion. But for those of us with painful feet, many of the shoes in our closet don’t work any more or only work for very short periods of time. Still, we hang on, hoping desperately we will be able to wear them again one day. As a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon, I see all sizes of feet and all sorts of problems. Most of the time, shoes are both the culprit and the cure for many issues. Daily, I treat women in my practice with painful bunions. Shoes with a pointed toe region
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THE HEIGHT OF THE HEEL CAN INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON ALL OF THE TOES AND IN THE BALL OF THE FOOT. (called the toe box) usually exert a constant inward pressure on the foot. If this stress continues over any length of time, bunions can form on the big toe and bunionettes (also called tailor’s bunions) can form on the small toe. Furthermore, the height of the heel can increase the pressure on all of the toes and in the ball of the foot. The higher the heel, the higher the pressure.
The stress of the shoe pushing against the toes can lead to hammer toes, claw toes and painful callouses on the ball of the foot. Ouch! The biggest culprit: the stiletto and all variations thereof. Stilettos were developed in the post-war 1950s by French designer Roger Vivier, who clearly did not have to wear them. The word, “stiletto,” stems from the Latin “stilus,” meaning “stake.” The heel was made with a steel rod enclosed in a wooden or plastic material. This causes the wearer to walk more on her toes – a position that makes the calves appear more shapely and elongated and emphasizes the buttocks. It also makes the feet appear smaller than they actually are – all of which can be a desirable look. Unfortunately, the price we pay is often deformed feet from years of wearing shoes too high and too narrow in the toe box. High heels are Western society’s form of the foot binding so often criticized in the Chinese culture. In China, the tradition of foot binding typically began with girls ages 5 to 7, and it continued for two years binding the heel toward the toes and raising the arch to create a lotus leaf appearance of the foot. The ideal foot length was 3 inches. Small feet were desirable, and they commanded a high bride price. This practice was banned in 1949 – just about the time the stiletto was introduced in the West. So, a few words of advice as you gaze into your closet and decide which style of shoe to adorn your feet with today:
BAREFOOT FATHER AND SON ON BEACH, SOLOVYOVA LYUDMYLA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
NSIDE HEALTH & WELLNESS
1
Choose comfort over fashion for a long day on your feet.
2
Make sure you have your feet measured each year, as most feet increase in size and the size you’re choosing may be too small.
3
Get rid of shoes that hurt you to wear and even old tennis shoes you “only mow the lawn in.” The cushion and support are gone, so you may start developing other problems like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis and even stress fractures.
4
Look for roomy toe boxes. You know how your feet look when you’re barefoot? Choose shoes that most closely allow this natural spread.
5
Go shopping intentionally to find a pair of shoes you like, but that also feel good. Be willing to spend time and money picking out the next pair of shoes. A good pair of shoes is worth it and may help you avoid painful problems that can be hard to resolve.
DO L A R I G BOL T Ú F ELITE SCIENCE OF SOCCER WITH STYLE
Thankfully, not all “good for you” shoes are ugly. In Corpus, we’re lucky to have a few shoe stores geared for comfort and fashion combined. I often suggest William’s Fashion-Shoes, Julian Gold, Functional Foot Fitness, Dillard’s (the comfort shoe area) and Fleet Feet Sports. Online shoes at Zappos.com or 6pm.com can also be good, but you have to know a little bit about the styles that are comfortable to your feet. Some other brands that have comfort in mind include Josef Seibel, Dansko, Pas de Rouge, Naot, ECCO, Finn Comfort, Mephisto, Sofft, Gentle Souls, Kork-Ease, Helle Comfort, Arcopedico, FLY London, FitFlops and OluKai flip-flops. This is a start.
.1923 2 4 4 . 1 » » 36 ol@gmail
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PARAGON BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU also offers classes in Mixed Martial Arts
TOP-NOTCH EQUIPMENT:
• Muay Thai Bags • Full MMA Ring • Dressing Room • Lockers
For more information, contact South Texas Bone & Joint at 361-854-0811 or visit www.southtexasboneandjoint.com.
(361) 549-3597
6313 Wooldridge Suite #8 Corpus Christi, TX 78414 www.paragonbjj.com
NSIDE HEALTH & WELLNESS
MASSAGE IS A SENSUAL PRACTICE THAT HELPS RELAX CLIENTS, BUT IT ALSO HAS ACTUAL MEDICAL BENEFITS.
A SLICE OF SERENITY The art of the massage – a wonderful indulgence for mind, body and spirit By: [WEI CHUNG YI]
Massage: what a wonderful indulgence to give to yourself or a loved one. For those of you who have had a massage or enjoy massages regularly, you know what I mean. When life provides you with the opportunity to be pampered, take it! Women have known this for ages – men, not so long. I vividly remember the first time I received a massage and my feelings of uncertainty regarding what was about to happen, but the massage process itself works to reduce anxiety and stress, which I needed and still need. Many people, myself included, carry a significant amount of tension in their neck and shoulders and in their lower back. In my case, it is the result of years of employment that required me to stand, walk, lift and carry, blended with hours on a computer. Regular exercise helps me reduce stress and tension, but it increases muscle soreness. Massage, on the other hand, helps calm both my mind and my body and helps me avoid the doctor. Massage was an art practiced in multiple ancient cultures and appearing in some of our oldest written accounts, including the Bible. The Hebrew practice of ceremonially washing one’s feet and anointing them with oil can be viewed as a form of reflexology, which is the massaging of the hands and feet – an art apparently practiced by Jesus on a regular basis, according to the Bible. The Hebrews may have discovered it from the Egyptians or the Mesopotamians. The Egyptian tomb of Akmanthor (the physi-
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cian), built around 2,300 B.C., includes an etching of two men having massage work done on their hands and feet. Reflexology includes not only washing the feet, but also applying warm towels to relax the many small muscles and open the skin’s pores. Scrubs such as salt and sugar, along with many other ingredients, have been used for ages to invigorate the skin and nerves and promote the flow of both blood and chi (energy). The Neijing, an ancient Chinese medical instruction guide and the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine, specifies the use of different massage techniques in 30 different chapters, delineating how each technique should be used in the treatment of specific ailments and injuries. In neighboring India at approximately the same time, Jīvaka Komarabhācca became the founder of traditional Thai massage and Thai medicine. According to the Pāli Buddhist Canon, Komarabhācca was Buddha’s physician who codified a healing system that combines acupressure, reflexology and assisted yoga postures. Today, licensed massage therapists benefit from the accumulation of ancient and modern knowledge of many cultures and receive training in multiple massage modalities. There are dozens of forms and styles of massage – too many to list here; however, a few of them are: • Deep tissue • Lymphatic drainage • Myofascial release • Reflexology • Shiatsu • Hot stones • Swedish • Thai • Trigger point
At Orchid Tea Garden, Spa Coordinator and Lead Therapist T’ai Li Lawson-Muniz practices most of the aforementioned massage modalities, while the newest therapist, Becca Priesmeyer, previously chose to focus on the relaxation and deep tissue modalities. Lately, however, Priesmeyer has been expanding her repertoire with several additional modalities, including hot stone treatments, reflexology, etc. There is no doubt that massage is a sensual practice that helps relax clients, but one might wonder if there are actual medical benefits. The answer is a resounding yes! Medical research has shown that the benefits of massage include pain relief, reduced anxiety and subclinical depression and temporarily reduced blood pressure and heart rate. Additional medical theories suggest that massage might also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which may stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis and scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph and improving sleep. Orchid Tea Garden is a unique addition to the Corpus holistic day spa community. The moment you walk in the door, you sense an aura of calm and tranquility as you are greeted with the sounds of running water and the twitter of chirping birds. You can sit and sip a hot cup of one of more than 100 fine teas while you feast your eyes on dozens of beautiful orchids of all sizes, shapes and colors. I’ll end with a few short reviews from the Orchid Tea Garden Facebook page: “The space feels natural and relaxing, and the owners are lovely and very informed. They have a soothing massage waiting room filled with orchids. Great space.” “Had an amazing massage with Becca today! I’m a serious massage devotee, and she did a truly fabulous job! I am so enthused about this lovely place! Awesome tea and beautiful orchids with a koi pond! Great service with honest businesspeople … will be busy spreading the word to support a great small business!” “Go … you will love this place! Mark and Nancy Weber have created a little bit of serenity for your chaotic life.”
Orchid Tea Garden is located at 3751 S. Alameda in Corpus Christi, Texas. For more information, call 361334-1719.
Welcome to the SOUTH TEXAS BRAIN AND SPINE CENTER. Our surgeons provide neurosurgical care in many of the major hospitals in Corpus Christi, Texas. Our surgeons and staff provide individual and conservative treatment using the most effective and modern technologies available in the world.
SOUTH TEXAS BRAIN AND SPINE CENTER 1227 3rd Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
361.883.4323
www.southtexasbrainandspine.net
NSIDE SENIOR CARE
GETTING CONNECTED
Research shows that senior citizens are becoming increasingly tech-savvy, thus enjoying both better connectivity to their friends and family and a number of health benefits. [SPECIAL TO NSIDE]
Seniors are leading the way as part of the technology wave. Nearly 70 percent of adults aged 65 and older use mobile phones, more than half use email and a third of older Internet users are on Facebook, according to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. Research shows that once online, seniors are very enthusiastic about using technology and the Internet for their interests. Most seniors agree that one of their favorite things about technology is the access to photos of family and friends both near and far. Sending and receiving emails and staying connected through social media can help seniors stay engaged and fight loneliness. It can also create a real
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support network online if they or loved ones are experiencing illness. Another benefit of technology is health apps designed to help seniors stay healthy and age well. These apps provide a multitude of information, from tracking symptoms and steps taken daily to apps that recommend stretches related to specific aches and pains. Seniors also enjoy going online to play games and search for information and research topics of interest to them – all things that stimulate the mind. “At Mirador, the entire community is wired for Internet and we have a great business center for residents to get connected,” said Aaron DeNovellis, executive director of Mirador. “We want to make sure our residents have the resources to age successfully in all aspects of life. Technology is evolving daily, and if used properly, can provide many health benefits. It’s also great to see residents helping other residents with questions about their devices.”
For further information on Mirador or The Plaza at Mirador, please call 361-288-7027 or visit www.miradorretirement.com.
ABOUT MIRADOR
Located in the heart of south Corpus Christi, Mirador is the area’s only full-service life care senior living community. The community includes 125 customized independent living apartment homes, each with a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer and a 24-hour emergency response system. The Plaza consists of 44 private assisted living suites, 41 private rooms for dignified nursing care and 18 private Alzheimer’s certified residences for memory support. Designed to enrich the lives of seniors, Mirador features 25,000 square feet of commons areas on a lush, 17-acre campus with a premier location close to local restaurants, shops and attractions.
SMARTPHONE WITH APP ICONS, RASHEVSKYI VIACHESLAV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
A THIRD OF OLDER INTERNET USERS ARE ON FACEBOOK.
WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN
KEEPING YOUR SMILE BEAUTIFUL For 30 years, over 30,000 patients have placed their trust in the Vela Dental Centers. With three offices in the South Texas area, we make sure excellent dental care is convenient, accessible and affordable. Vela Dental Crosstown, near Spohn Memorial Hospital, serves our downtown, Callalen, Robstown, and Portland areas. Vela Dental Southside, located at Holly and Everhart, serves as our flagship office, providing complex implant and dental rehabilitation for all of South Texas. Vela Dental Kingsville, located at 14th and Henrietta, serves all of Kingsville and the surrounding community. Our highly skilled team of dentists and staff take pride in keeping your smile beautiful or restoring your smile to the way you deserve.
WE HAVE THE ANSWER TO ALL OF YOUR DENTAL NEEDS • Fix damaged or painful teeth • Replace single or multiple missing teeth • Enhance your smile • Remove wisdom teeth & other bad teeth • Clean and prevent gum disease
BEFORE
BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER - 6-unit bridge and fillings
AFTER - full arch rehabilitation with 11 porcelain crowns and 2 implants
AFTER - full mouth rehabilitation with 24 porcelain crowns
Benjamin Vela DDS & Associates • General Dentistry
SOUTHSIDE - 361.994.4900 CROSSTOWN - 361.884.2266 KINGSVILLE - 361.592.4373
veladental.com
CCRH is the
only free-standing
Acute Rehabilitation Hospital in the Coastal Bend Area You have a choice We understand that YOU HAVE A CHOICE when it comes to your rehabilitative care. At Corpus Christi Rehabilitation Hospital (CCRH) we value teamwork and are connected at our core by the treatment needs of our patients. We are proud to be a freestanding acute rehabilitation hospital serving Corpus Christi, providing attentive and compassionate patient care to the community in which we serve.
Brain Injury • Amputations • Stroke • Neuro • Orthopedic CCRH is now part of the Ernest Health network of facilities. Eight of Ernest’s rehabilitation hospitals have consistently ranked in the top 10% of Inpatient Rehab Facilities in the United States by UDSMR®. Ernest Health strives for all their hospitals to receive this recognition. To learn more about CCRH and our services, visit our website at
CCRH.ernesthealth.com
5726 Esplanade Drive • Corpus Christi, TX 78414 • 361.906.3700
WE WILL PUT YOU BACK IN THE GAME OF LIFE
TREATMENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR: Musculoskeletal Injuries Pregnancy (Pre/Post Natal Care) Diabetes Fall Prevention Neuropathy Cardiovascular Therapy Osteoarthritis Vertigo (Dizziness) Osteoporosis Athletic Rehab (Sport Specific) Thoracic-Outlet Syndrome Orthotic Evaluation/Fabriation Pre-Op/Post-Operative Therapy
ALL 6 LOCATIONS OFFER CAREFULLY DESIGNED AND SUPERVISED EXERCISE PROGRAMS IN STATE OF THE ART GYMS AND LARGE INDOOR HEATED POOLS:
1
CORPUS CHRISTI
2
CALALLEN
3
ALICE
5026 Deepwood Cir. • 361.854.2278 4040 Five Points Rd. • 361.241.7399 1302 E. 5th St. • 361.664.9675
4
PORTLAND 114 Lang Rd. • 361.643.8243
5
ARANSAS PASS 2150 W. Wheeler Ave. • 361.758.5199
6
ROCKPORT 1811 Broadway (a.k.a. Fulton Beach Rd.) 361.729.8777
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3237 S.P.I.D., Corpus Christi, TX 78415
•
361.806.2085 www.ProPerformanceTC.com
Orthopaedic Associates of Corpus Christi
Announces the Formation of
bone & joint
BERNARD M. SEGER, M.D. Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Knee & Shoulder Surgery
JOHN P. MASCIALE, M.D. Adult Spine Surgery
DAWN M. GROSSER, M.D. Foot & Ankle Surgery
CHARLES W. BRECKENRIDGE, M.D.
JOHN M. BORKOWSKI, M.D. Adult Spine Surgery
RYAN B. THOMAS, M.D. Surgery of the Hand & Upper Extremity
JUSTIN KLIMISCH, M.D. Adult Joint Reconstruction & Hip and Knee Replacement
FRANK A. LUCKAY, M.D. General Orthopaedics
Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Shoulder & Knee Surgery
Se habla espa単ol
(361)854-0811
601 Texan Trail, Suite #300 WWW.SOUTHTEXASBONEANDJOINT.COM
Nueces
MoNuMeNts “Creating Everlasting Memories” OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Specializing in: • BENCHES • MONUMENTS • MARKERS • BRONZES
• SOLAR LIGHTS • DATES OF DEATH • PICTURES & VASES
STAY IN THE KNOW! “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK
Hablamos Español
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Layaway Available / No Interest Payment Plans Accepted By All Cementeries / Home Appointments Available
~361.452.2366~ 2501 S.P.I.D, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78415 WWW.NUECESMONUMENTS.COM Monday-Friday: 8:00am-6:00pm • Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
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WE HAVE YOUR
FAMILY FUN!
1314 SPID, Corpus Christi 361-814-8770
Christina Kubala Velazquez Owner + Instructor
tumbling + cheer prep + adult tumbling + toddler tumbling + todder cheer prep Private tumbling/ cheer lessons + Hip hop dance class + Competitive cheer teams ages 4-18 + College competitive cheer teams 6801 Weber Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78413 (B) 361.334.2774 (C) 361.774.0112 /// AdvancedCheerAndAthletics@gmail.com
www.ronhoover.com
The Corpus Christi Education Foundation (CCEF) recognizes the following 2013-2014 Honor Society Inductees who have made a real difference in education for thousands of CCISD students. Since 2008, their contributions have resulted in more than $650,000 to provide new classroom programs and scholarships. many thanks to these outstanding partners, who are Building the future of corpus Christi by making education a priority today.
Superintendent’s Circle of Lifetime Membership - $50,000 +
Principal’s Circle - $30,000 + NSIDE Coastal Bend Magazine Optimist Club of Corpus Christi Trafigura Terminals, LLC
Educator’s Circle - $10,000 + AG|CM, Inc. Coastal Bend Community Foundation CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery Flint Hills Resources Friends of Mary Helen Berlanga Fulton-Coastcon Gignac & Associates, L.L.P. H-E-B Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP Family & Friends of Lt. Cdr. Rick Mead Thompson & Horton LLP Stripes LLC - Donor of the Year
Student’s Circle - $2,500 + Bill’s Sparkling City Charter Borden Insurance Port of Corpus Christi W.B. Ray High School Class of 1973
Your City. Your Students. Your Support. ... Our Future. | www.ccef-ccisd.org
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