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in good January 2014 • Issue 101

Sexting See inside: Teens’ sexual behavior and technology

12 Foods and Ingredients That May Help Weight Management

Wintertime Heart Attacks

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Rochester–Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

Should You Go

VEGAN?

In the last few years, vegan diet has become more and more popular.

People say it helps them lose weight and keep their heart healthy. Is it something you should try? We talked to the pros Page 11

How to guard against them

Time to Get Fit: Deals Abound at Local Gyms Facilities try to offer more flexible plans to attract more people

Page 7

Why We Should Go Nuts for Almonds Living Alone: Renew your spirit in 2014 INFERTILITY

Doctors discuss potential causes and way to treat them

Meet Your Doctor Timothy E. Quill named one of the 30 most influential leaders in hospice and palliative medicine

Lean and Green

Area restaurants strive to accommodate the health-conscious Some restaurants are a haven for the health-conscious, such as the Natural Oasis Café on Monroe Avenue in Rochester, with its vegetarian menu and Ethiopian buffet. Among the rest, however, most offer at least a few healthy options sprinkled throughout their menus.

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Book: Cochlear Implant Users Share Experience A medical device that has allowed thousands of deaf individuals worldwide the opportunity to hear — sometimes for the first time — is the focus of 15 personal experiences in a new book published by RIT Press.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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The Experience of Using Cochlear Implants Book brings personal stories from 15 cochlear implant recipients

A

medical device that has allowed thousands of deaf individuals worldwide the opportunity to hear — sometimes for the first time and well enough to talk on the telephone — is the focus of 15 personal experiences in a new book published by RIT Press at Rochester Institute of Technology.

“New Beginnings, Acquiring and Living with a Cochlear Implant” is a compilation of stories written by deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals who have had cochlear implants. Their personal stories will give readers insight into the struggles and challenges they endured through the process as well as the delights and disappointments they faced after surgery.

The book was edited by Michael Stinson, a research faculty member at

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RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and NTID President Gerry Buckley. Both Stinson and Buckley have cochlear implants and each has been involved in education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students for more than 30 years.

“When Gerry and I were considering getting our implants, we could find no resource that described the possible outcomes we might experience,” Stinson says. “We decided to create the resource by bringing together diverse cochlear implant users to write about their experiences so that others considering an implant would have a better idea of what to expect.”

Buckley also hopes the book will help others going through the same process.

“This book is designed to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and their families with additional insights into the diverse experiences of individuals who are cochlear implant users,” Buckley says. “It is our desire to see this book of experience serve as an information source for individuals who are considering this option in their lives.”

Cochlear implants involve a surgical process that enables some individuals to hear sounds via an implanted

electronic device that converts sounds to electrical signals that directly stimulate peripheral parts of the auditory nerve.

Early attempts with using cochlear implants weren’t always successful, but technological advancements now enable some implant recipients to hear more frequencies. What used to involve an overnight hospital stay for implant patients, is now typically an outpatient procedure.

There are some who question the decision of hearing parents who get implants for their young, deaf children, saying that it would deprive them of knowing about deaf culture and becoming part of it as their identity. In 2000, the National Association of the Deaf took a position that views cochlear implants as a technological aid that could be used in some instances, much like hearing aids, while affirming that it is also important for deaf children who receive implants to become aware of deaf culture.

In 2002, there were an estimated

70,000 cochlear implant users worldwide. That number tripled by 2010. At the end of 2013, a record 360 students at RIT/NTID had cochlear implants.

That’s more than 28 percent of the deaf and hard-of-hearing students who attend RIT/NTID. New Beginnings is available in softcover, for $17.99 through RIT Press or by calling RIT Press at 585-475-6766.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

January 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Jan. 7

Hard-of-hearing students will share experience The Hearing Loss Association Rochester will hold two meetings Jan. 7 to discuss hearing loss issues.

• The 11 a.m. meeting will address a number of questions that the organization has received over email and website. Addressing some of the questions is Barbara Bushart, a faculty member at SUNY Empire State College and associate pastor of Community of the Savior in Rochester. She will share her thoughts about hearing loss and its effects on relationships and communication. She invites the audience to ask questions, too. Her presentation is planned to be a bit like a call-in talk show. People with questions can email them to hlaa.rochester@yahoo. com. Bushart has worked as a disability rights activist for the last 30 years, especially focused on hearing loss issues. Her own hearing began failing when she was 23, and she has worn a cochlear implant since 2005.

• The 8 p.m. meeting is titled “HLAA Scholars Tell Their College Stories.” Chapter vice-president Cindy Kellner will moderate as scholarship winners relate their experiences as hard-of-hearing college students. Away from their protective parents, they must advocate for themselves within a larger student body. Hard-of-hearing students from a number of colleges will share their experience.

HLAA-Rochester chapter meetings are held in the Vestry Room at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, East Avenue at Westminster Road, across from the George Eastman House. All programs are audiolooped and captioned.

For more information visit www. hlaa-rochester-ny.org or telephone 585266-7890.

Jan. 9

Mended Hearts holds discussion on mindfulness Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine of New York Chiropractic College School of Applied Clinical Nutrition

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Mended Hearts Rochester is in its 47th year of giving support to people with heart disease and their families, by visiting those recovering from heart surgeries at Strong Memorial and Rochester General Hospitals and through its informative monthly meetings.

The group will hold a meeting from 7–9 p.m. Jan. 9 at RG&E Family

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

Room, in the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, Thompson Health, 350 Parrish St., Canandaigua. Education director and consultant Sandra J. Voigt will speak about “Mindfulness: Insight to Self.” For more information, contact Mary Allhusen at 585-396-6253.

Jan. 14

Fibromyalgia group holds meeting in Greece The Fibromyalgia Association of Rochester New York (FARNY) will hold a support group meeting at 7 – 8:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at Greece Town Hall meeting center, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd. Discussing fibromyalgia and wellness will be Barb Cacia, health and wellness educator and certified personal trainer. She specializes in chronic health conditions and is a coordinator of a variety of group and individualized wellness programs at the Pieters Family Life Center. Cacia also facilitates an employee wellness program for Heritage Christian Services. As a health educator, she includes in her teaching how to develop healthy sleep habits, how to have a manageable exercise program, enjoy good nutrition, and how to manage stress. The Fibromyalgia Association of Rochester New York (FARNY) was formed in Spring 1993 to educate and inform others about fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), as well as to serve as a support system. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.farny.org or email info@farny.org.

Jan. 21

URCM cardiology chief discusses cardiac surgeries Physician George Hicks, chief of cardiac surgery and professor of surgery at URMC, will be the guest speaker at a Mended Hearts Rochester’s meeting at 7:15 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Jewish Community Center Senior Lounge, 1200 Edgewood Ave. in Rochester. The topic of his presentation will be “Advances in Cardiac Surgery.”

Hicks received his medical degree and completed his residency and fellowship at URMC. His areas of special interest include coronary artery disease, aortic and valve surgery and the use of cardiac simulation for educational purposes.

For more information, please visit www.mendedheartsrochester.org or call Sharon Feldman 585-544-1565.

Transplant Policy May Help Reduce U.S. Organ Shortage Act lifts the ban on transplanting HIV-positive organs to HIV-positive patients

C

ongress has passed legislation to end the federal ban on the transplantation of organs from deceased HIV-positive donors to patients with HIV. The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) worked closely with Congress and other organizations to promote the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act. This milestone legislation could add up to 600 organs per year for HIV-infected transplant candidates and expand the total pool of available organs.

Because the HOPE Act will pave the way for research into positive-topositive transplants, patients with HIV should one day get faster access to a new supply of organs. While HIV is no longer a death sentence, kidney and liver failure is now a leading cause of death of HIV-positive patients.

“This legislation will preserve valuable organs and save lives by establishing guidelines for HIV+ to HIV+

transplants,” said physician Michelle Josephson, who leads the ASN transplant advisory group.

Other patients on the transplant list will also benefit from expanding the pool of available organs. “The HOPE Act could reduce waiting times for a life-saving transplant, which is why ASN so passionately advocated its passage,” said ASN President Sharon Moe. Shamey Cramer, a patient advocate who has been living with HIV for nearly 30 years and was instrumental in advocacy efforts, notes the law will help all patients, both with and without HIV. “The HOPE Act really does give new hope to all patients who are waiting for the gift of life.”

While the HOPE Act does not directly affect federal spending, it has the potential to decrease Medicare spending by providing more opportunities for patients to move off dialysis and receive a kidney transplant.

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Know Your Risk

By Ryan J. Hoefen, MD

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he first step in prevention of cardiovascular disease is understanding your level of risk. This depends on your risk factors, including gender, age, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol level, diabetes, etc. Calculators have been developed to estimate your level of risk based on these factors. By inputting basic information about yourself on one of these calculators (such as the one at ucva.com), including your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, you can see whether your risk is in the low, intermediate, or high range.

If your risk is low, it is important that you keep it that way with a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a healthy low-fat diet, and tobacco cessation if you are a smoker.

For those in the intermediate range, the healthy lifestyle recommendations mentioned above still apply and are perhaps even more important.

Look for any risk factors that stand out such as smoking, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol and focus on improving them.

If you are in the high risk range, you have work to do. A healthy diet and regular exercise are essential. Talk to your doctor for help with tobacco cessation, controlling high blood pressure or lowering your cholesterol. Also ask your doctor whether medications such as a daily aspirin or a statin are warranted to help prevent a heart attack or stroke.

Make a resolution to do something new to improve your health this year.

Gathering your numbers, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and using an online calculator to determine your risk of cardiovascular disease may be the best place to start.

Ryan J. Hoefen, MD, PhD, FACC is a cardiologist with UCVA Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care (ucva.com).

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Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers and Contributing Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Mike Costanza, Kevin DeValk • Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Amber Dwyer Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Officer Manager: Laura Beckwith No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

January 2014 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Meet

Your Doctor

By Mike Costanza

Timothy E. Quill, MD Recognized as a pioneer in hospice and palliative medicine, Rochester physician is named one of the most influential in the country Q. How did it feel to be named one of the 30 most influential leaders in hospice and palliative medicine by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine last October?

A. It’s exciting. I’ve been in this field a long time, and it’s great to be recognized by your peers, and told that you’ve really made a contribution, gotten people to think about things, and pushed the envelope a little bit. It’s a nice thing, very nice.

Q. Before we go on, can you give us quick, general definitions of hospice and palliative care?

A. Palliative care is biological, psychological, social and spiritual care for people with serious illnesses. It’s to help people feel better and alleviate suffering, but also help people negotiate the [medical] system, and make good decisions about what treatments they want and what treatments they don’t want.

Were doing a lot of helping people figure out which treatment they can benefit from. You can get palliative care alongside the most aggressive

treatment course.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is similarly biological, psychological, social and spiritual care to alleviate suffering, but it’s really for people who have accepted that treatment of their underlying disease is not going to help a great deal. People who are more likely than not to die in the next six months. You [hospice patients] have to make this huge decision to stop medical treatments. It’s exclusively symptom-oriented, and focuses on the relieving of suffering at the end of life. The exclusive focus is comfort and dignity.

Q. How did you come to focus upon hospice and palliative care?

A. I was a resident and a medical student back in the era where medical technology was really starting to take off, and be able to really make some difference. It was a really exciting time in medicine,

but it also was sobering, at times, to see technology being thrown at people who were clearly dying, and not a lot of conversation about what was really going on. I loved the technology and medicine, I really loved to apply it, but I also saw it being misapplied, or applied in circumstances that just didn’t make any sense.

Q. “Not a lot of conversation about what was really going on?”

What do you mean by that?

A. They [patients] were dying, and nobody knew very well how to tell them that. Sometimes, it was the patient and family who could not face up to it, but a lot of times, it was the clinicians and physicians who could not face up to it. Sometimes it was both.

Also, [physicians] didn’t know what to do if somebody was dying. What they knew how to do was try to treat using medical technology. So, you’d see technology being used to fight death and fight off death, and not a lot of conversation about what was really going on.

Q. What was really going on?

A. They [patients] were reaching the end of their lives, and technology was not the answer. Technology was becoming the problem. We still struggle with this today a lot—throwing technology at folks and sort of overvaluing that in some sense—but then, I think it was even more so. Palliative medicine didn’t really exist when I first started out in practice as a formal field, and hospice was just really getting started as a formal program.

Q. What’s wrong with helping people who are terminally ill or injured stay alive by any means possible?

A. There’s nothing wrong with keeping people alive. When suffering gets way high, and prognosis gets very poor, and what it takes to keep people alive involves suffering, it really becomes a very harsh end process. If it’s really worth it for somebody, and they really understand what is happening, I can live with that. I’ve made a peace with that. But, if they haven’t been told what’s really going on, or it’s really the doctors who can’t give up, not the patients, or [physicians are] not at the same time doing everything they can to make the pain go down…then I do have a problem. I’ve worked hard throughout my career to sort of right those areas.

Q. You have written extensively of the issues surrounding physicianassisted death, and were the lead physician-plaintiff in a 1997 U.S. Supreme Court case that challenged New York state’s law prohibiting physician-assisted death. The court allowed the law to stand. Can you tell us how you view the rights of terminally ill patients?

A. I’ve never had any particular notion that it’s the doctor’s job to have people achieve immortality or fight off death, no matter what. I have viewed death as part of the life cycle, in that sense.

We give people lots of leeway if they want super-aggressive

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

treatments, but there are other kinds of things that people might want that we’re more hesitant about. We need to help people get better informed [regarding their choices[ but then give them a fair amount of leeway about what they choose or don’t choose, what kind of pathway they want to take. My own personal belief is that as people get really sick, we need to bend over backwards and try to be responsive to their values, their views, their situations.

Q. I’m sure you’ve had many rewarding experiences in palliative or hospice care. Can you tell us of one, say, that involved palliative care?

A. A patient…appeared to be dying of liver failure. She was not going to be a transplant candidate, and she was in severe pain. We were asked to see her because she wanted to stop treatment and die. We treated her pain and her depression, and she felt quite a bit better. She still had severe liver disease, she still wasn’t going to get a transplant, but she no longer wanted to stop treatment. The long and short is she lived another three-and-half years before she died of that same liver failure.

She had a pretty good quality of life during that time.

Q. What challenges do the fields of palliative and hospice care face in the coming years?

A. The biggest challenge is personpower issues. There’s a lot of really seriously ill people, and there aren’t enough palliative care-trained doctors and nurse practitioners and others to see them all. How are we going to address all these tremendous needs?

Q. What is the answer?

A. I think the way we’re going to do that is to try to train up people in primary care, and most of the specialists, to do basic palliative care. Then, palliative care becomes formally involved in the tougher cases—the harder to control symptoms, the tough decision making—when the usual treatments aren’t working.

Q. Do you find your work rewarding?

A. It’s a great field.

Lifelines: Current Positions: Director of the University of Rochester Medical Center Palliative Care Program, Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Medical Humanities at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Education: Residency in internal medicine and fellowship in medicine/psychiatry liaison, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry; undergraduate degree in psychology, Amherst College, Amherst, Mass.

Personal: Lives in Rochester. Married, with two grown children.

Hobbies: Enjoys bicycle riding, long-distance running, reading fiction of all genres, watching films at the Dryden Theatre, and writing.

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or Harland Becker, exercise is a fun activity. It’s not supposed to be some dreaded task. As manager of Bounce Aerobics, 311 Miracle Mile, in Greece, he helps oversee an array of exercises for clients to fit their particular needs. In addition, the gym offers flexible membership plans that are now becoming a trend nationwide.

Years ago, exercise facilities were rigid, forcing customers into long term, inflexible contracts making them feel like they had just purchased a minimortgage. Today, people can pay for individual classes, go month-to-month or seasonal deals that allow them to exit the plan whenever they see fit.

Bally’s had a deal last summer for $10 per month with no contract and even threw in a $25 restaurant gift card.

Rochester Athletic Club, which has sites in Pittsford Irondequoit, Henrietta and Greece, also ran a $10 a month promotion for new members with an initiation fee. So whether it’s chains like Planet Fitness or LA Fitness or Rochester specific sites like Downtown Fitness Club on Chestnut Street, it’s now a buyers’ market.

“People don’t always want to feel like they are locked in for a year,” said Becker. “You don’t want to feel forced to come here or any gym because you think you are losing money if you don’t go. That’s the fastest way to lose motivation and you really end up wasting your money and maybe never joining a gym again.”

Bounce Aerobics offers its clients an option of paying $8 per class with no contract and no calls for membership. People can also be part of a $40 per month, no contract, no enrollment fee or pay $35 a month for a one-year contract if they feel the gym is right for them. There is even a deal that offers essentially two free months at the oneyear price if they pay the entire year up front.

Bounce focuses on exclusively group fitness classes. There are slots for yoga, Pilates, cardio as well as P90X and “insanity” workouts, made famous from the late night and weekend infomercials.

“There is something about being part of a group workout that makes it more motivating,” said Becker. “When you work out by yourself you can give up at any moment. But when other people are right there in the class giving their all, it makes you want to work that much harder.”

He said the group workout also allows people to form bonds that help energize them into exercising. It becomes a social event that helps you lose weight.

“Working out by yourself can feel like a job,” added Becker.

At Downtown Fitness Club, 50 Chestnut St., patrons are given a gym that is a health club first and foremost.

Owner John Hutchings created a workout facility for people who truly want to work out.

“We don’t waste time just capitalizing on workout gimmicks. We try not

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Downtown Fitness features high intensity workouts, conditioning, cardiovascular and weight training.

Hutchings thinks a viable gym gives its customers a broad range of workouts in both the cold and warm weather months.

Downtown also offers tailor-made pricing for those who want a shortterm membership.

“In Rochester, we have people who work contract jobs where they may only be in town for three or four months and that fits their needs,” said Hutchings. “Then you have people who work for Xerox, Kodak or Frontier that have gotten laid off but they still want to go to the gym so that is why having shorter commitments work for them.

He believes that more gyms will be forced to either go short term or very low monthly pricing. It’s a sign of the times.

“We don’t like to scare the public

like some gyms which have deals that say ending soon and try to fear people into joining a gym maybe prematurely,” said Hutchings. “That being said it seems like the trend is short term options and we can’t ignore that. If you don’t alter your game plan in life you go out of business.”

Becker said some members have two memberships; one at a place like Planet Fitness which is a no frills gym that offers solid exercise equipment.

Then they pair that membership with Bounce because it offers interactive, high impact classes.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to get people to want to join a gym in the summer time because Rochester only has a small amount of good weather so people want to spend it outside,” said Becker. “But because we try to make it fun we will have a zumba class packed with 75 people even in the summer. It’s an hour of their time and it gives them some peace”

January 2014 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Contemplate this: Renew your spirit in 2014 T

he anticipation of a New Year.

New possibilities. Maybe a new start. For many people, the start of a New Year is the perfect time to turn the page and vow to make some meaningful changes.

If you are among those who make resolutions, 2014 just might be the year to expand your New Year’s “to-do” list.

Contemplate adding one more item: Renew your spirit.

My work with those who live alone has enriched my perspective on life and what it takes to be successful in the broadest sense of the word. Almost without exception, the women and men who have found their way after a divorce or the death of a spouse have been bolstered by a healthy spiritual life.

Many of the participants in my Living Alone workshops take good advantage of spiritual opportunities and occasions. They regularly attend worship services, find comfort in prayer and hymns and faithfully observe religious holidays.

Others march to a different drummer and nourish their spiritual life in private moments, by listening to music,

communing with nature, reading or writing or just sitting quietly.

However it’s expressed, my observations tell me that those who nurture their spiritual life fare better when challenged by life’s transitions.

I consider them fortunate.

Fortunate because they take time to renew their spirit, and by doing so, find the inner strength to navigate uncharted waters and to help others along the way.

Even when their own sense of self-worth is fragile or failing, I’ve seen devout divorcees and widows reach out to others with encouragement and prayer. Spiritually grounded, their empathy runs deep and their desire to support others is steadfast.

Last month, I heard from a woman whose husband abruptly left her and their three teenage children after 28 years of marriage. She was in shock and consumed with pain. She shared with me how comforting it would

have been to hear from her minister and church friends, but they were unaware of her situation. It had been years since she had been to church and those relationships had fallen by the wayside.

Similarly, a neighbor of mine confided that he stopped going to temple after he lost his “bride” to breast cancer. Mad at the injustice of it all, he couldn’t bring himself to attend services without her. This led to years of isolation, during which he was overcome with loneliness and guilt. I wasn’t surprised when he talked of numbing his pain with alcohol.

My suggestion to both was simple: Renew your spiritual connections.

It’s easy to imagine how difficult it might be to contact a minister, priest, rabbi or other spiritual adviser and ask for help if you’ve been absent from services for many years, or when loneliness has you in its grip. But any

How Heart Healthy Are You? Is it time you

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, call (585) 624-7887 or e-mail: gvoelckers@rochester. rr.com.

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A warm embrace is waiting for those who walk through the door.

Likewise, if other doors beckon — if nature or poetry or music feed your soul — go forth and embrace those opportunities. My spiritual battery gets recharged when I take time out from my busy schedule to be still and meditate. Quiet times in inspirational settings allow me to contemplate my most deeply held beliefs. I emerge grounded and motivated.

The power of a spiritual life is mighty. When you pursue your spiritual goals and teachings, life can become more manageable and your ability to cope with loss, loneliness and everyday struggles is strengthened.

However you pursue a spiritual connection, I encourage you to make that connection or re-connection now.

Today. An idea bigger than yourself, a set of beliefs, and the company of people who share your faith can lead to a richer, more meaningful and peaceful existence.

While you may live alone, you do not have to go through life alone. And what a blessing that is.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

Sexting: Teens’ Sexual Behavior and Technology

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echnology has affected many facets of our lives, including teens’ sexual lives. The demographic that’s quickest to embrace new technology may also experience more of technology’s influence on their sexual behavior. And not all of that is negative.

“In general, we advise parents and health care professionals to be specific and open with teens about sex, sexuality and risky behaviors,” said physician Margie Urban, an infectious disease expert and an associate professor of medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center.

Unfortunately, teens in general feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for sexual information from their family or health care providers. As with any other information they want, they turn to the Internet.

“The Internet has led to an enormous increase in immediate access to good information about STDs for teens and others,” Urban said. “There are far too many websites to mention but some very reputable sites include the American Social Health Association [www.ashasexualhealth.org], and iwannaknow.org. Both CDC [www.cdc.gov] and the Erway American Academy of Pediatrics [www.aap. org] have Web-based information for parents and health providers.”

Apps also influence teens’ sexual behavior. The National Abstinence Clearinghouse [www.abstinence.net] released Love & Laugh ($1.99, Android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch), an app that sends users a daily affirmation “to educate and motivate young people to make positive, moral, and healthy choices in their lives” the site states.

STD Triage (free, for Android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) diagnoses sexually transmitted diseases in less than six hours, on average. Hula (free, for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) finds local STD testing clinics and offers a portable, verifiable test record.

While these apps help teens take better control of their health to prevent spread of STDs, they also make the consequences of promiscuity easier to manage.

Technology has also enabled teens to up the ante when it comes to promiscuous behavior. Arranging a hook-up is as easy because many teens own cell phones and no longer rely upon using an extension on the family’s land line.

Urban has read studies which link “sexting” — sending sexually charged images and messages — with an increase in sexual behavior “and thus presumably more risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections,” Urban said. “There are also the risks of loss of privacy, forwarding of personal information or pictures and the many consequences of those kinds of exposures.”

Sending a nude Snapchat photo to a boyfriend may seem sexy and daring; however, when images go viral online or even around a teen’s school, the damage is hard to undo. Risqué behavior begets more risqué behavior, both as the teens strive to further impress a love interest and outdo their peers.

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Of course, teens have engaged in sex long before smart phones. Michael G. Martin, M.D., a pediatrician of Gladbrook Pediatrics in Rochester, sees two root issues: discouraging teen sexual activity, and preventing STDs. “If teens avoid premature sexual activity, the second problem takes care of itself,” Martin said. “Discuss sexuality with your children in an age-appropriate manner. There are many resources for such discussion.”

He cited the American Academy of Pediatrics website [www.aap.org] and the Centers for Disease Control [www. cdc.gov] as sources of information for both teens and parents.

The CDC website has patient information about STDs for parents and teens.

“Don’t leave such matters to health class at school,” Martin said. “Leave yourself open to questions. Find out what your kids know, and correct any misinformation.”

Martin encourages parents to discuss their teens’ friends’ attitudes as a way to generate an open conversation.

“Don’t pontificate about the dangers of teen sex; rather, ask your kids if they can think of their own reasons for avoiding having sex,” Martin said.

“Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of the family dinner for encouraging conversation.”

Teens often can’t connect the dots between their actions today and the consequences they will face today, tomorrow and years from now.

“Discussing the future with your children is helpful,” Martin said. “Inquiring about their goals, and which things will help further them along, as opposed to which may prevent them from being able to do what they want.

Often times teens will realize on their own that deferring sex is in their own best interest.”

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Page 9

FOOD Lean and Green Area restaurants strive to accommodate the health-conscious

By Kevin DeValk

I

t’s a fear people sometimes have.

You’re watching what you eat because you either need to or want to.

Are carefree nights of eating out at a nice restaurant and having any type of selection, gone forever?

The health news headlines are rife with bad news about fast food entrees, or some health group warning about the latest calorie packers at your favorite chain restaurant. But with a little determination and information, nutritional experts say you don’t have to skip the dining scene to eat well.

Some restaurants are a haven for the health-conscious, such as the Natural Oasis Café on Monroe Avenue in Rochester, with its vegetarian menu and Ethiopian buffet. Among the rest, however, most offer at least a few healthy options sprinkled throughout their menu.

Applebee’s, which has become the darling of some health magazines for its “weight watcher” meals, also has provolone-stuffed meatballs with fettuccine — which clocks in at over 1,500 calories.

There is plenty people can do to eat healthy while dining out, said Karen Gesell, a registered dietitian for Unity Health System who teaches classes to educate people about weight management.

“With a lot of restaurants today, you can go onto their websites, see their calories, and get a basic idea,” she said. Among foods to avoid, Gesell said, are creamy, crunchy foods that are smothered in cheese. High fat is

bad; even salads can be, depending on what’s in them, she said. Gesell recommends asking for salad dressing on the side, and dipping your fork into it before picking up your salad.

Food demons

High calories, salt and fat are the major things to avoid, and appearances can be deceiving.

Salt is often added liberally to improve flavor, Gesell said. That broiled fish you ordered, priding yourself on not ordering fried? It may have been swimming in oil and butter when it was cooked.

You can always ask the restaurant if they can broil it in wine instead, she said.

According to the National Heart and Lung Institute, the average adult needs about 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day, although it varies by factors such as gender and age.

According to a study earlier this year by the University of Toronto, surveying several hundred meals at 19 sit-down restaurant chains, the average meal at a restaurant contains over 1,100 calories.

Most restaurant entrees provide three to four times the portion sizes of what someone actually needs, so splitting an entrée is an excellent idea, said Darcy Prunoske, a clinical dietitian at F.F. Thompson Medical Center, Canandaigua. For example, most pasta dishes at Italian restaurants come with three servings of pasta.

If you can’t, she recommends

asking for a container and portioning some of the entrée into it immediately when the food arrives to take home.

People should inquire how their food is prepared and specify what changes they would like to make to the preparation to decrease the sodium, fat and caloric content, said Kylie Lambert, a dietetic intern at F.F. Thompson Medical Center. Items that appear healthy, like a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato, can have added calories or fats that are not immediately apparent, she said.

Substitutes are more common today, too. Gesell suggested asking for a salad instead of fries, and Egg Beaters instead of egg whites.

“Since you are the paying customer, most restaurants will do whatever they can to accommodate most requests,” Prunoske said.

For more advice on healthy eating, and weight management programs, visit: • www.rochestergeneral.org/ centers-and-services/nutrition-andweight-management-center • www.thompsonhealth.com/ HealthCarebrServices/HealthServices/ DiabetesNutritionTherapy When seeking nutrition advice, Prunoske said it’s important to do so from a registered dietitian. While anyone can be a nutritionist, registered dietitians have a bachelor’s degrees in their field, including an internship, and have to pass rigorous national exams.

For more information, check out www.calorieking.com.

Aladdin’s is known for its menu of natural foods, including vegetarian selections that are devoid of artificial preservatives. It has several locations in the area.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

Area restaurants get lean and green

L

ooking for restaurants that offer healthier fare, or print their nutritional information on their menus and websites? Here are some ideas: • Aladdin’s Natural Eatery: With locations in Pittsford, Henrietta and downtown Rochester, Aladdin’s is known for its menu of natural foods, including vegetarian selections that are devoid of artificial preservatives. Its menu includes a dozen kinds of salads and several varieties of vegetable soups.

• Applebee’s: According to a 2010 story on the magazine Live Strong’s website, many of Applebee’s meals fit well with the Weight Watchers diet, and are low in fat, sodium and cholesterol. The garlic herb chicken was recommended due to having only six grams of fat.

• Chipotle: Live Strong gave this growing Mexican chain accolades for using healthy ingredients and vegetarian meals. The magazine recommended ordering meals in a taco or bowl instead of a burrito.

• Lorraine’s Food Factory: Celebrating its 30th year, this restaurant and catering business on Culver Road on Rochester’s east side, offers meals that are low in fat, sodium and glucose.

• Olive Garden: Earlier this year, the website Health.com named it “one of America’s best dining spots,” recognizing its garden fare such as Venetian apricot chicken and whole wheat linguine.

However, it also pointed out menu items to avoid, such as the baked pasta, and noted there is no nutritional information about most items on its menu. Available on its website.

• P.F. Chaing’s China Bistro: Health.com praised the popular Asian chain for its menu rife with fresh vegetables and protein, along with brown rice, Alaskan salmon and all-natural chicken.

• Pizzeria Uno: This may surprise some, because of its guilt-laden, high-calorie deep-dish pizzas. But in a survey earlier this year, Health.com ranked it as No. 1 on a list of best casual dining restaurants.

The website noted Uno’s trans fat-free menus and selection of grilled entrees, along with whole grain pasta, organic coffee and tea, and flatbread pizzas, which have half the calories of deep-dish pizzas.

• Red Lobster: In a 2010 report, Men’s Health named Red Lobster “the best all-around sit-down restaurant,” noting its abundance of heart-healthy seafood. The magazine said the chain relies primarily on healthier cooking techniques, like broiling, blackening and wood-fire grilling, although if you don’t order from the fresh fish menu, you can expect high sodium.

FOOD Should You Go Vegan?

Pros and cons in a diet that excludes meats and other types of food

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he vegan diet has received a great deal of attention lately thanks in part to high profile people — such as former president Bill Clinton – who have adopted the plan. They swear it’s the ideal diet that will keep them fit and with a healthy heart Does it mean you should follow suit and become a vegan?

Suellen Pineda, registered dietitian with Finger Lakes Health, said that most people “should in general eat more fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods. The health benefits would be great. But it’s tricky for most people to find non-animal sources of protein.

“Going vegan requires a lot of reading and getting informed and educated about nutrition sources.”

Eating more produce and whole grain foods increases the vitamins, minerals and fiber in the diet, along with reducing calories (provided the person’s portions are within his ideal calorie range and he does not over-indulge in highly caloric foods).

Cutting out animal products such as red meat and whole dairy can also reduce intake of saturated fat and cholesterol; however, red meat offers iron, dairy offers calcium and both are sources of protein.

Eating enough protein is usually pretty easy for vegans. Beans, lentils and tofu all represent good sources.

Supplemented soy or almond milk may provide enough calcium, and nearly all dark, leafy greens contain calcium. Monterey mushrooms are a fairly good source of vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption.

Amanda Tourtellotte, registered dietitian with Finger Lakes Health,

reminds people interested in eating vegan that sources of healthful fat are also important to include, such as canola oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds.

She also encourages people going vegan to focus on health, not just on eliminatiion of animal-based products.

“You can go vegan but still eat unhealthful foods,” she said. “Many unhealthful items are vegan, such as highly processed foods. Your best bet is to cook it yourself.”

Joanna Lipp, registered dietitian at the University of Rochester Medical Center agrees that “you can have a poor quality vegan diet or a good quality, like any other diet.”

Some nutrients can’t be obtained naturally on a vegan diet, such as vitamin B-12.

“You have to take a supplement of B-12 if you’re eating vegan,” Lipp said.

A severe B-12 deficiency can result in neurological damage.

“Some in the vegan community have a belief that you can get B-12 from some forms of algae, but that’s a different source and that compound isn’t usable by the body,” Lipp said.

Lipp said that vegans also miss out on long chain omega-3 fats, the “fatty fish” oils EPA and DHA found only in seafood. Short chain omega-3 is found in flaxseed and walnuts, but seafood is the best source.

Vegans should also include plenty of legumes and dark, leafy green vegetables to get their fill of iron, zinc, and iron and supplement if they don’t eat enough.

Some vegan-friendly foods like tofu burgers are supplemented with nutrients their animal-based coun-

terparts offer inherently, so it pays to read labels.

Key Thing to Have in Mind if You Go Vegan

If you’re interested in reducing intake of animal-based foods, try these tips:

Vegan sandwich wrap with lavish bread made from flax, oats and whole wheat, stuffed with fresh spinach, sprouts, mushrooms, red peppers and avocados for a healthy lunch.

• “Have a plantbased food like avocado to substitute for meat.

• “Use beans instead of meat in a dish.

• “Use soy milk instead of regular milk.

Suellen Pineda, registered dietitian with Finger Lakes Health.

• “We’re very meat-centric. Rather than think about what meat you will eat, start with a vegetable and make the meal vegetable-centric.

• “Make sure at least half our plate is full of vegetables.

• “Try almond milk or soy milk if you want to eliminate some animal products.”

Amanda Tourtellotte, registered dietitian with Finger Lakes Health.

• “If you like to cook, there are lots of recipes like stew, soup and casserole, chili, where you can easily cut down on the meat you put in and add more vegetables and legumes.

• “Try it completely meatless or cheese-less: a completely vegan chili,

Nuts Anyone?

Large study links nut consumption to reduced death rate

I

n the largest study of its kind, people who ate a daily handful of nuts were 20 percent less likely to die from any cause over a 30-year period than were those who didn’t consume nuts, say scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Their report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, contains further good news. The regular nut-eaters were found to be more slender than those who didn’t eat nuts, a finding that should alleviate the widespread worry that eating a lot of nuts will lead to overweight.

The report also looked at the protective effect on specific causes of

death. “The most obvious benefit was a reduction of 29 percent in deaths from heart disease — the major killer of people in America,” said Charles S. Fuchs, director of the gastrointestinal cancer center at Dana-Farber, who is the senior author of the report. “But we also saw a significant reduction — 11 percent — in the risk of dying from cancer,” added Fuchs, who is also affiliated with the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s.

Whether any specific type or types of nuts were crucial to the protective effect couldn’t be determined. However, the reduction in mortality was similar both for peanuts and for “tree nuts” — walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, pecans,

cashews, pistachios and pine nuts.

Several previous studies have found an association between increasing nut consumption and a lower risk of diseases such as heart disease,Type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, gallstones and diverticulitis. Higher nut consumption also has been linked to reductions in cholesterol levels, oxidative stress, inflammation, adiposity and insulin resistance. Some small studies have linked increased nuts in the diet to lower total mortality in specific populations. But no previous research studies had looked in such detail at various levels of nut consump-

January 2014 •

for example.

• “It’s easy to use frozen or pre-cut veggies or canned beans to get them into your diet to replace some meat.

• “Try website that gives vegfriendly ideas, like www.vegmondays. org, www.vegetariannutrition.net and www.veganhealth.org.

• “If you’re eating at a less vegfriendly restaurant, consider ordering a meat- or cheese-based appetizer and make the rest of the meal vegetarian, like shrimp cocktail and then a salad.

• “A lot of ethnic cuisine is more plant-based. Indian cuisine uses chickpeas and lentils, but it may not be 100 percent vegan.”

Joanna Lipp, registered dietitian at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

tion and their effects on overall mortality in a large population that was followed for over 30 years.

For the new research, the scientists were able to tap databases from two well-known ongoing observational studies that collect data on diet and other lifestyle factors and various health outcomes. The Nurses’ Health Study provided data on 76,464 women between 1980 and 2010, and the Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study yielded data on 42,498 men from 1986 to 2010.

Participants in the studies filled out detailed food questionnaires every two to four years. With each food questionnaire, participants were asked to estimate how often they consumed nuts in a serving size of one ounce. A typical small packet of peanuts from a vending machine contains one ounce.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

SmartBites

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

Why We Should Go Nuts for Almonds

I

f Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon were alive today, all bets are in that he would declare nuts — not mystical water — the true fountain of youth.

Swayed by Harvard’s most recent and largest study on nuts and mortality, Ponce de Leon would see the light of these nutritious nuggets.

Harvard’s findings? In a nutshell: People in the habit of eating a daily handful of nuts are more likely to live longer compared with people who rarely consume nuts.

Although researchers don’t know why nuts may boost health, data suggest that their unsaturated fatty acids, minerals and other nutrients lower cholesterol reduce inflammation, and help control blood sugar.

Does one nut reign supreme? All things considered, and in moderation, all nuts are healthy additions to any diet. Nutritionists, however, do recommend certain nuts over others.

Almonds and walnuts, for example, are good to eat daily, while cashews, macadamias and Brazil nuts should be consumed less so.

Page 12

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1 gram of saturated fat. If 160 sounds high, keep in mind that nuts help us feel fuller, faster, and take a while to digest — two sensations that thwart the urge to snack.

Personally, I reach for almonds, midday, when my sails are sagging.

Packed with more riboflavin (an essential B vitamin that helps convert food to energy) than any other nut, almonds provide a delicious pick-me-up.

Last but not least, recent evidence has emerged that eating nuts may stave off weight gain. Go, almonds!

Helpful tips: Store almonds — both shelled and unshelled — in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place.

Refrigerating almonds extends the shelf-life of both. If buying almonds in bulk, be sure to smell the almonds.

They should smell sweet and nutty, not sharp or bitter (a sign of rancidity).

Almonds are today’s featured nut because—ounce per ounce—they’re one of the most nutrient-dense tree nuts on earth. Just one handful (about 24 nuts) serves up 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and over a third of our daily requirement for vitamin E. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from free-radical damage, which can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, and Alzheimer’s.

Almonds are also lower in fat and calories than many nuts, delivering per handful: 160 calories, 14 grams of “good” unsaturated fats, and just

Almond Butter Hummus Adapted from www.almonds.com 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained ½ cup plain Greek-style yogurt 1/3 cup almond butter* 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon water ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper ½ teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

Place garlic in food processor and process until minced. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until the hummus is well blended and smooth, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed. Taste for seasoning, and serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to five days. *To make your own almond butter, first roast two cups almonds at 375 degrees for nine minutes. Let cool.

Process in food processor until creamy (about 10 minutes). Add salt, if desired.

Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes.

She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.

FOOD 12 Foods and Ingredients That May Help Weight Management

S

atiety, lean protein, low carb and fat burning are four buzzwords that are commonly associated with weight management. In the November issue of Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists editor Linda Milo Ohr writes about 12 foods and ingredients that are tipping the scales toward better health.

1. Dairy Protein: Diets high in protein, specifically dairy protein can have a satiating effect, helping consumers feel full for longer periods of time.

A pilot study conducted by Fronterra North America found that females who supplemented their regular diet with an additional 20 grams of protein at both breakfast and lunch over a threeweek period lost two inches from their waist.

2. Rice Protein: A recent study indicated that rice protein helped recovery time after exercise and improved body composition and exercise performance.

3. Dietary Fiber: Using a doubleblind, randomized cross-over design, researchers from Iowa State University found that an emerging fiber, soluble fiber dextrin, may help promote satiety from three to eight and a half hours after consumption.

4. Raisins: A recent study showed that consuming raisins as an after school snack compared to potato chips or cookies in children 8-11 years old led to a lower cumulative food intake.

5. Almonds: Consuming almonds as a snack has shown to reduce hunger and the desire to eat during non-meal times, and also helped study subjects meet the recommended dietary intake of vitamin E without affecting body.

6. Korean Pine Nut: After eating Korean pine nuts in the form of oil or other extracts, the release of the satiety

hormone cholecystokinin was significantly increased in the blood of test subjects. In a separate study, participants showed a reduction in food and caloric intake.

7. Potato Protein Extract: Potato protein extract in weight management bars has shown to help people feel full sooner and longer.

8. Saffron: An ingredient derived from saffron showed a satiety effect that contributed to body weight loss in a study with 60 mildly overweight female subjects. The average snacking frequency decreased and level of the neurotransmitter serotonin improved.

9. Conjugated Linoleic Acid: A new ingredient, tonalin, derived from safflower oil has shown to decrease the amount of fast the body stores after eating, increase the rate of fat breakdown, increase the rate of fat metabolism, and decrease the total number of fat cells.

10. Coffee Bean Extract: An ingredient developed from the decaffeinated green coffee bean may help increase the rate of fat release from fatty tissue. A recent clinical study followed 50 people ages 19 to 75 over 60 days and found that those who consumed the coffee bean extract lost an average of nearly six percent of their body weight and increased their lean muscle mass.

11. Canola Oil: Research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism 2013 scientific sessions showed that canola oils can lower abdominal fat when used in place of other selected oil blends in a heart-healthy diet for weight maintenance.

12. Polyphenols: Polyphenols from blueberries and green tea have shown to have a prolonged spike in metabolism after people exercised and often while they slept.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Women’s issues

INFERTILITY

Doctors discuss potential causes and way to treat them

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

T

he average couple can take up to one year to become pregnant.

Many have described that time period as more stressful than sexual.

It’s all due to wanting the desired results on a pregnancy stick. While many factors play a role, there are several common diagnosis for infertility.

For women under 35 years old, infertility is defined as trying to conceive for one year without pregnancy. For women over 35, infertility is defined as trying for six months without conceiving.

Ovulatory disorders remain the leading cause of female infertility. Ovulation occurs when an egg is released Cyton from the ovary, a condition which occurs when a woman does not ovulate regularly or has ceased ovulation. For most women with ovulatory disorders, periods are irregular or absent. However the situation is not dire.

At least 75 percent of women who receive treatment for an ovulatory disorder will become pregnant, according to physician Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron of Fertility Centers of Illinois, a reproductive endocrinologist. For patients with hormone, thyroid, insulin or other endocrine imbalances, medication can aid in restoring ovulation. She also said women who suffer from the disorder to focus on maintaining healthy weight, exercising and decreasing stress.

“It’s a misconception that stress can cause you not to be pregnant.

However, stress can affect you while you are pregnant so we tell mothers that they need to reduce it if they want a healthy pregnancy,” said HirshfeldCytron.

Another issue is poor ovarian reserve. Women are born with six to seven million eggs, which is reduced to 300,000-400,000 at the onset of puberty. During the next 40 years, about 400-500 eggs will ovulate. Ovarian reserve declines as a woman ages, with egg supply taking a rapid decline in the late 20s and again in a women’s 30s. Options can include intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, and donor eggs.

Then there are women who must worry about fallopian tubes that are blocked or damaged, which affects where the eggs can travel to meet the sperm and become fertilized. Surgical treatment can remove scar tissue or repair damaged tubes, allowing eggs to travel properly down the fallopian tubes.

“One thing people need to know is there are a lot of options available,” said Hirshfeld-Cytron. “People just need to seek out the information. The treatment process can be an emotionally grueling Kiltz experience which cause some people to drop out along the way because they are stressed out. But many of these procedures work so I would tell people to keep being diligent.”

For men, infertility is mostly tied to low sperm count or mishappen and immobile sperm. Male infertility can be caused by a number of reasons, such as injury, illness, health problems and lifestyle choices. Doctors suggest exercise, proper nutrition and abstaining from drugs, cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption.

In extreme cases, men can go through a semen wash, where the most

viable semen are collected. Sperm can then be injected directly into the uterus in an intrauterine insemination. Or they can do a vitro fertilization, where the highest quality sperm can be selected and injected into eggs.

Physician Rob Kiltz, founder and director of Central New York’s first successful IVF center, said it’s important to treat the whole person, body and mind. His Syracuse-based CNY Fertility and Spa has grown to clinics in Rochester and Albany. He also believes that too often treatment is limited in a manner of speaking.

“I have been blessed to help during the infertility process. I wholeheartedly believe in Western medicine through testing and treatment we know how to better help our clients in the process.

That is important to see a specialist,” said Klitz. “But you need to take the journey and steps looking at Eastern medicine like acupuncture, massage, medication and support groups. You’ve got to do both.”

Kiltz said many people get stressed out because this is a situation that they cannot fully control. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“Sometimes you are not sure what to do. That is an OK spot to be,” said Klitz. “ We are human beings and our instinctual nature is to react, respond and feel like we have control. And when it is not happening the way we believe it should, then that is when we feel we have lost control. But sometimes in that waiting moment, it comes.”

Several other conditions can lead to infertility. Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that affects at least 6.3 million women in the U.S. and millions across the globe. Each month when women menstruate, they shed the endometrial lining found in their uterus.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

When the endometrial tissue normally found in the uterus grows outside the uterus, it is known as endometriosis.

About 35 to 50 percent of women with infertility have the condition.

“There could be so many factors on why a couple is not getting pregnant,” said Hirshfeld-Cytron. “The essential part to remember is there are solutions.”

A trend that medical officials are beginning to see involve women freezing their eggs in their 20s so their eggs are young and viable when they are ready for children maybe a decade later.

“Women are having careers where maybe they decide to delay having children until later in life,” said Hirshfeld-Cytron. “It just gives them more options when they get older where age no longer becomes a large looming factor. Women can focus on their professional life first and not have to worry about if they waited too long to start a family.”

Both doctors Klitz and HirshfeldCytron suggest that maintaining a healthy weight both before and during pregnancy remains essential. Pregnancy already becomes a risk once women get older, but an unhealthy mother can lead to problems during her nine months.

Ditch Formula Feeding

What They Want You to Know:

Experts: Formula does not provide the boost to the immune system that nursing does. And that’s one of many advantages of breast-feeding

Hospital Social Workers

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

ou know that “breast is best” for your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization and innumerable other organizations have touted nursing for its aid in strengthening the motherchild bond, convenience and unsurpassed nutrition.

Breastfeeding is also virtually free, except for disposable nursing pads, nipple cream and possibly the cost of renting or buying a pump. But formula feeding bears much greater costs than the $1,700-plus annual cost at the store.

Formula does not provide the boost to the immune system that nursing does. This can result in more sickness for baby.

“Formula fed babies have significantly more upper respiratory infections and many Derby more cases of gastro-intestinal illnesses,” said Ellen Derby, DONA-certified lactation consultant serving Ontario County.

“These have the cost of doctor visits, antibiotics, and lost time at work for both the parent and the employer. In a non-monetary cost, living with a sick baby means more sickness for other family members, sleepless nights, and the cost of worry and irritation from having a cranky youngster.”

Exclusive bottle feeding may lead to problems with how the baby’s teeth and mouth form. A bottle’s shape does not perfectly conform to what babies need and may incur “a greater need for orthodontic correction of the baby’s teeth when she gets older,” Derby said.

Nursing’s benefits extend beyond minor babyhood illnesses and dental issues. Derby said that “formula-fed babies are at higher risk for childhood cancers, child and adult diabetes, the onset of autoimmune diseases.

“Formula-fed children are more likely to be overweight which leads to other diseases and costs over a lifetime including social and emotional costs.

The costs to our society for chronic diseases like diabetes is extremely high.”

Beyond the hassles of cleaning

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care states that its membership “addresses the psychosocial components of health and illness.” These professionals help family members and patients beyond the medical aspects of health care.

bottles, keeping formula on hand and warming it to the proper temperature each time, formula feeding offers more drawbacks to mom compared with nursing. Formula feeding does not provide the kick start to mom losing pregnancy weight. Every healthy mother gains around 35 pounds (depending upon her pre-pregnancy weight). These “maternal fat stores” are, in part, to supply the body with energy for nursing, since it uses about 300 calories a day.

Alia Gervasi, a Pittsford mom and a past Rochester-area leader for La Leche League, found that nursing helped her lose the majority of her baby weight.

“It’s true for some but not for all,” she added.

Over time and multiple pregnancies, these extra pounds can add up to unhealthful obesity. Carrying extra pounds has been linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, arthritis, and many other health problems.

Nursing moms receive a lower lifetime risk of breast cancer. Beyond the enormous benefits nursing offered her children, Gervasi likes the fact that nursing has helped reduce her risk of breast cancer, which runs in her family.

“There’s a 3 to 5 percent reduction of lifetime risk per year of breast- feeding,” she said. “If I can do any little thing to reduce the risk it’s worthwhile.”

She also thinks that many nursing moms are health-conscious to begin with and “it sets them up for a healthy diet in the long run as they try to do their best for the baby.”

Any healthful habits formed during nursing may stick long after baby grows.

• “People have misconceptions that include that social work only works with the poor and that medical social workers work for Monroe County.

• “I love my ability to positively influence health outcomes for individuals and at population-based levels and opportunity to work with diverse populations and to continuously grow professionally and personally.

• “Social work interventions include assisting families with resources needed to help parents and families support their child through their stay or help them utilize and comply with outpatient health care. Resources such as local housing for out-of-town families, transportation to clinics and to visit children in the hospital, financial support for food, parking and pharmaceuticals for under-insured families • “We work to keep patients safe, assessing for interpersonal violence and child abuse, neglect. We complete child protective reports and coordinate with child protective services to assure safe discharge plans.”

Mardy Sandler, licensed master social worker, chief social worker, Social Work Division, University of Rochester Medical Center/Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong.

• “Every day is different and every patient situation is different. As I tell all new employees, ‘I can guarantee you two things: You won’t be bored, and once you think you have seen the most challenging situation, an even more challenging situation arises.’

• “We’re assisting patients and families navigate the health care system, assisting patients and families in communicating with their health care team, [and providing] emotional support throughout the health care continuum from a new diagnosis, treatment planning, end-of-life.

• “We’re also assisting patient and families with referrals to community resources for additional support, care and safety. We provide coordination of patient discharge and planning for aftercare needs, needs upon discharge from the hospital.”

Peg Bierley, licensed master social worker, manager, adult social work services at University of Rochester Medical Center.

January 2014 •

• “A common misconception is that we are the physician because we wear lab coats.

• “People should have their current medical insurance cards on hand.

It makes arranging for home care, durable medical equipment, skilled nursing home services much easier when we have the correct patient information.

• “List of current medications or bring in all their bottle of medications that they have in the house in their name. This helps with medication reconciliation for medications that they take at home.

• “Don’t be afraid to speak up to the care manager that they cannot afford the cost of specific medications or co-pays. They’re in the ‘doughnut hole.’ We can work with the physician to see if there is a comparable, compatible medication that they can take instead, pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs we can access.

• “Talk with their family members or friends...regarding what their wishes are regarding medical treatment: want and what they do not want done; palliative care/hospice and surgery • “When and if the time has come or needed for short term rehabilitation or long term care placement in a skilled nursing home, there is financial information that is needed during the application process. Why is this important?

Financial information helps the nursing facility gauge your financial resources to help pay for your co-payments, private pay and helps us to guide you and your family member when to start the application process for Medicaid with the last county that you resided in.

• “I am an advocate for the patient and family. It is rewarding to know that I have been able to help someone when in need, ensuring that the patient’s discharge plan is the most appropriate and safe.”

Karen Fitzpatrick, nurse, director care management at Geneva General Hospital.

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant is a writer with In Good Health.

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

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

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

By Jim Miller

How to Guard Against Wintertime Heart Attacks Dear Savvy Senior, When I had a mild heart attack about six months ago my doctor told me I needed to be extra careful during the winter when recurring heart attacks are more common. Is this true?

How can the seasons affect your heart?

Leery Senior Dear Leery, Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but most people don’t know that it’s also the prime season for heart attacks too, especially if you already have heart disease or have suffered a previous heart attack.

Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself.

Heart Attack Season In the U.S., the risk of having a heart attack during the winter months is twice as high as it is during the summertime. Why? There are a number of factors, and they’re not all linked to cold weather. Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk.

Here are the areas you need to pay extra attention to this winter.

Cold temperatures When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to help the body maintain heat.

This causes blood pressure to go up and makes the heart work harder. Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase the risk for blood clots. So stay warm this winter, and when you do have to go outside, make sure you bundle up in layers with gloves and a hat, and place a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air before you breathe it in.

Snow shoveling Studies have shown that heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days after a major snowstorm, usually a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with the cold temperatures and the risks for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, Page 16

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hire a kid from the neighborhood to do it for you or use a snow blower. Or, if you must shovel, push rather than lift the snow as much as possible, stay warm, and take frequent breaks.

New Year’s resolutions Every Jan. 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part of their New Year’s resolution to get in shape, and many overexert themselves too soon. If you’re starting a new exercise program this winter, take the time to talk to your doctor about what types and how much exercise may be appropriate for you.

Winter weight gain People tend to eat and drink more, and gain more weight during the holiday season and winter months, all of which are hard on the heart and risky for someone with heart disease.

So keep a watchful eye on your diet this winter and avoid binging on fatty foods and alcohol.

Shorter days Less daylight in the winter months can cause many people to develop seasonal affective disorder — or SAD — a wintertime depression that can stress the heart. Studies have also looked at heart attack patients and found they usually have lower levels of vitamin D (which comes from sunlight) than people with healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, consider taking a supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day. And to find treatments for SAD, visit the Center for Environmental Therapeutics website at cet.org.

Flu season Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heart attack risk. It’s known that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting which can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people.

So, if you haven’t already done so, get a flu shot for protection. See flushot. healthmap.org to find a nearby vaccination site.

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

Now Is the Time to Prepare for Tax Season Provided by Social Security Office

W

ise taxpayers may want to take advantage of winter months indoors to prepare for tax filing season this spring. Whether you are a small business owner, a retiree or a new parent, here are some Social Security tax tips that may help you.

• Are Social Security benefits taxable?

Yes, for some people with higher incomes. About one third of those receiving Social Security benefits must pay taxes on some of their Social Security benefits, depending on the amount of their taxable income. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/ taxes.htm.

• Will I get a tax form for my Social Security benefits? Yes. Beneficiaries should receive their Social Security Benefit Statements (Form SSA-1099) for tax year 2013 on or before Jan. 31. If you receive Social Security and don’t receive your 1099 by the end of January, you can request one online at www. socialsecurity.gov/1099.

• We had a baby in 2013. Does our child need a Social Security number? Yes. Most people apply for their baby’s Social Security number while they’re still in the hospital at the same time they register for the birth certificate.

But if you didn’t, you’ll need to apply for your child’s Social Security number before you file your tax return in order to claim the child as a dependent.

You’ll also need it if you ever apply for government benefits on behalf of your child or your family. Learn more about Social Security cards and numbers at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

• I changed my name when I got married last year. Do I need to report it to Social Security? Yes. If you’ve legally changed your name due to marriage, divorce, court order or for any other reason, make sure you change your name with Social Security, as well as with your employer. If you change with one

Q&A

Q: I get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because I am elderly and have no income. My sister recently died and left me the money she had in a savings account. Will this extra money affect my SSI benefits? Will my SSI payments stop?

A: The money inherited from your sister is considered income for the month you receive it and could make you ineligible for that month, depending on the amount of the inheritance.

If you keep the money into the next month, it then becomes a part of your resources. You cannot have more than $2,000 in resources and remain eligible for SSI benefits ($3,000 for a couple).

Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800325-0778) to report the inheritance. A

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

source but not the other, it could cause your earnings to be improperly recorded and you may not get all the benefits you are entitled to when you become eligible for Social Security in the future.

Failing to change your name on your Social Security record could also cause a delay in your receipt of any federal income tax refund. You can learn more about your Social Security number and how to change your name at www. socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

• I own a small business. Can I report my employees’ W-2s to Social Security electronically? Yes, and we encourage you to do just that at www.socialsecurity.gov/ bso. Filing your W-2s electronically is free, fast, and secure! Plus there’s an added bonus: when you file electronically, you receive an extra month to file because electronically filed W-2s aren’t due until March 31. You’ll also receive an electronic receipt. And when you enter your W-2 information online, you can simultaneously print out the W-2s for your employees. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/employer.

• Does Social Security have any tips at this time of year for those filing their taxes?

Yes. We encourage you to carefully check: your name, Social Security number, and all data on your W-2s; your online Social Security Statement; and your Social Security card to make sure they all match. If you don’t have access to your card or statement but know your Social Security number, make sure the number and information is correct on your W-2s. A mismatch could delay your tax refund and cause problems with your Social Security benefits in the future. Such errors are much easier to fix early on. If you do notice an error, contact Social Security at 1-800-7721213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or if the information on the W-2 is incorrect, notify your employer.

For more information about Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov.

representative will tell you how your eligibility and payment amount might be affected. Learn more by visiting us online at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Q: My parents recently moved into a retirement community and they are signing their house over to me. Can I still get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or will home ownership make me ineligible?

A: You can own a home and still receive SSI as long as you live in the home you own. In most cases, when determining SSI eligibility we don’t count as a resource the home you own and live in or the car you use. For more information about SSI and Social Security, visit www.socialsecurity.gov, or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800325-0778).

H ealth News NYCC to maintain paid chiropractic residency at VA New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) will soon participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ new full-time, year-round, paid chiropractic residency program slated to begin in July. Administered nationally by VA’s Office of Academic Affiliations and locally by the individual VA facility, the residency programs will enjoy the benefit of a VA facility affiliation with the only Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) accredited chiropractic schools.

Focusing on integrated clinical practice, and emphasizing the provision of chiropractic care in an integrated health care system, NYCC’s VAresidents will hone vital clinical skills as senior VA-chiropractors mentor the hands-on training in Canandaigua and Buffalo, two of only five sites to be awarded such residencies nationwide.

Drawing annual salaries ranging between $36,000 and $43,000 (based on geographic location) the residents will carry out clinical educational rotations through such services as primary care, medical or surgical specialties, mental health, and rehabilitation disciplines.

The residents will also participate in a variety of scholarly activities, giving and attending academic and research presentations at the VA facility and its affiliates.

NYCC adjunct faculty member and chiropractor Paul Dougherty provided oversight and instruction while gathering data on the effectiveness of a pilot residency. Dougherty and chiropractor Andy Dunn will mentor residents under the new program, ensuring quality patient care and clinical education in the unique environment.

Unity’s online diabetes program receives award Unity Health System has been awarded a 2013 eHealthcare Leadership Award for the UnityDiabetesCommunity.com web site.

The eHealthcare Leadership Awards program was developed 14 years ago by eHealthcare Strategy & Trends, a leading industry resource published by Health Care Communications.

UnityDiabetesCommunity.com was one of more than 260 health care organizations that received recognition at a special presentation in New Orleans on Nov. 6. The Unity site was one of several sites awarded in the best interactive category. Winners were selected from more than 1,100 entries.

“We’re so proud of the site that we’ve built and the success we’ve had with our patients and our colleagues in the field,” said K.K. Rajamani, medical director of Unity Diabetes and Endocrinology Services. “This website provides an online community resource for our patients and adds whole new component to our community education efforts.”

The Unity Diabetes Online Community website launched in 2012 as an online resource to help patients man-

age their diabetes. The site includes interactive patient education tools, an events calendar, as well as an opportunity for visitors to connect with diabetes experts or other diabetes patients using the site.

For more information visit unitydiabetescommunity.com.

Michelle Ashby appointed to St. Ann’s board St. Ann’s Community recently elected a new member to St. Ann’s of Greater Rochester Inc. board of directors: Michelle Ashby of Tipping Point Communications.

Ashby is the CEO of Tipping Point Communications, and has accumulated more than 20-plus years of media experience.

According to a news release by St. Ann’s, Ashby is a visionary leader and specializes in business development, account management, online public relations and social media.

She is also on the Ashby board of directors for Flower City Habitat for Humanity and Alternatives for Battered Women.

edge testing techniques and procedures to help our patients prevent illness and recover from many chronic and difficult-to-treat conditions. Our clinician is highly skilled in evaluating and assessing chronic problems such as allergies, fibromyalgia, fatigue syndromes, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, mood and behavior disorders, autism spectrum disorders, heart disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalances and other chronic, complex conditions.”

An open house will also take place Jan. 6 and will the community the community to meet and greet office staff and practice members and learn more about the service the clinic provides.

Restoration Wellness Chiropractic is one of the area’s leading health and wellness centers with a natural perspective. “Our passion is to restore health, one individual at a time, whether you’re 90 seconds, or 90 years old,” said Boheen.

VNS in top 25 percent of homecare agencies

New acupuncturist at Clifton Springs Hospital Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic and The Springs Integrative Medicine Center & Spa recently welcomed Mary Sarratori, a licensed acupuncturist, to their staff. Sarratori is a graduate from the Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at New York Chiropractic College with a Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Sarratori’s practice is focused in traditional Chinese medicine, where the human body is regarded as its own entity; each organ, tissue and other parts have specific functions but are all interdependent on each other. She treats a wide variety of conditions including pediatric concerns, pain management, fertility and gynecology.

Sarratori is also experienced in sports therapy acupuncture and working with athletes of all different levels.

She incorporates tuina (therapeutic medical massage), cupping and Chinese herbs in her practice.

Chiropractic office has new location in Webster As a result of an increase in number of patients, Restoration Wellness Chiropractic recently announced it’s moving to a new location Jan. 6. The practice’s new offices will be located at 657 Ridge Road in Webster.

“Our clinic uses an innovative approach to assessing and treating your health care concerns,” said practice owner, chiropractor Matthew Boheen — or Dr. Matt as he is known to his clients. “We use a variety of cuttingJanuary 2014 •

Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester

(VNS) and Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service (FLVNS) were both named to the 2013 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States.

The HomeCare Elite ranks the top 25 percent of agencies by an analysis of five performance measures: quality of care, quality improvement and consistency, patient experience (HHCAHPS), process measure implementation, and financial performance.

“We are really excited to have two of the top home care agencies in the nation,” said Vicky Hines, president and CEO of both Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service. “Our staff is highly skilled and compassionate, and we have a long and proud history of defining the future of home care through constant innovation. We closely guard both our quality and customer satisfaction, and are honored to be nationally recognized for our contributions to helping people stay healthy in their homes.”

OCS HomeCare by National Research Corporation uses publicly available data from Home Health Compare and the CMS Cost Reports to create the HomeCare Elite List of agencies. The

New York Chiropractic College Graduates 101 Doctors of Chiropractic

Congressman Thomas W. Reed II was the keynote speaker at New York Chiropractic College’ commencement in December. Also shown are Rev. Allison Stokes (far left) and NYCC Board of Trustees Chairman John Rosa (far right).

New York Chiropractic College Dec. 7 held commencement exercises in the Standard Process Health and Fitness Center conferring degrees to 101 doctors of chiropractic. The event also marked the first commencement wherein 24 graduates of NYCC’s bachelor of professional studies program were recognized.

Congressman Thomas W. Reed II, delivered the commencement address while Student Government Association President Nicholas Maio served as the student body speaker.

Drawing upon revelatory moments in his life, Congressman Reed urged the graduates to “never give up” and to take appropriate risks. “Don’t take the easy path, don’t cut corners, but rather take the long term path — the right path — and you will be successful,” he said.

An attorney and former mayor

of the city of Corning, Congressman Reed was elected in November 2010 to represent New York’s 29th district and was re-elected in January 2011 to serve a two-year term in the new 23rd district gaining a reputation fighting for job creation and communicating with his constituents.

Reed was appointed to the Ways and Means Committee and serves on the Human Resources, Oversight, and Select Revenue Measures subcommittees.

The invocation and benediction were given by the Rev. Allison Stokes, author, frequent lecturer and founding director of the Women’s Interfaith Institute in Seneca Falls.

She holds academic degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

H ealth News Centers Receive Award for Successfully Treating Depression

five domains of performance were cumulatively analyzed and performance in each of the domains was compared against the performance of other organizations in New York and nationwide (including U.S. territories).

All About You Home Care has new administrator

Fighting depression: Jennifer Witkowski, depression care staff member (DCSM); Sharon Legette-Sobers, Greater Rochester Health Foundation senior program officer; Cindy Becker, COO of Highland Hospital; Linda Tyll, DCSM; John Urban, president and CEO of the Health Foundation; physician Tom Campbell; Sadaf Rauf, DCSM; physician Barbara Gawinski, and Gina Lamanna, DCSM.

Fighting depression: Sharon Legette-Sobers, Greater Rochester Health Foundation senior program officer, physician Laurie Donohue, chief medical officer at Anthony L. Jordan Health Center; John Urban president and CEO of the Health Foundation; Yathona Kennedy, depression care manager, and dentist Janice Harbin, president and chief executive officer at Anthony L. Jordan Health Center.

Greater Rochester Health Foundation (Health Foundation) has recognized the work of physician Thomas L. Campbell of URMC’s Highland Family Medicine practice, and Anthony L. Jordan Health Center through a Robert Oppenheimer Impact Award.

The award acknowledges their success in reducing depression in targeted patients by more than 50 percent.

Funded by the Health Foundation for a three-year program, Highland Family Medicine and Brown Square of Jordan implemented “Improving the Detection and Treatment of Depression” in low-income and minority patients, an evidence-based model for depression care.

Under Campbell’s leadership, the two sites targeted patients with diabetes, chronic pain patients, mothers of newborns and patients with a history of depression. Over the three-year project, medical assistants screened 9,000 patients and those with a high depression score — one-quarter — were seen by depression care managers who provided education and referred patients to therapy and/or medication, support groups or depression medical group visits. Of the 1,265 patients who enrolled in the program, 698 were successfully treated with resolution of their depressive symptoms.

“Dr. Campbell developed an excellent proposal for an approach to depression and provided the leaderPage 18

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ship to see it through to a very successful conclusion. The two sites exceeded their goal for the number of patients enrolled and realized a statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in their patients,” says John Urban, president and CEO of the Health Foundation.

“Because of the enormous stresses that many of our patients experience, they have very high rates of depression that affect all aspects of their lives, including their mental and physical health, as well as their family relationships and parenting,” says Campbell, chairman of the URMC Department of Family Medicine. “Depression is a terrible disease. Personally, it has been rewarding to see so many of our patients benefit from this program. Not only does their mood and general sense of well-being improve with treatment, but they are also able to take better care of their physical health. They exercise more, eat healthier and are, of course, much happier.”

The Robert Oppenheimer Impact Award is given by the Health Foundation to individuals and teams who help the Foundation to fulfill its mission to improve the health status of residents of the Rochester community, particularly people whose health care needs have not been met because of race, ethnicity or income, by exceeding measureable outcomes.

Michael P. Dunn has been appointed administrator for All About You Home Care, Inc (AAY) and its licensed home care services. The agency specializes in providing quality home care services through the traumatic brain injury (TBI) waiver and the nursing facility transition and diversion (NFTD) waiver.

Dunn will provide oversight for the overall agency fiscal viability and consumer oriented operations.

“Michael is a most welcome addition to the AAY organization,” said Bruce Darling, chief executive officer for Center for Disability Rights (CDR).

“He brings years of experience in program management and community outreach. His dedication and advocacy for the disabled and older adult communities will help enhance AAY’s quality homecDunn are services.”

Serving Upstate New York since 2009, AAY was founded on the premise of full integration, independence and civil rights for all people with disabilities. AAY’s relationship with parent organization Center for Disability Rights (CDR) and sister agency Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL), make it the only disability-led home care provider in upstate New York.

Dunn has more than 20 years experience in serving the disability, mental health, and older adult communities.

Most recently, he served as the director of Eldersource, Dunn earned his MS in Health Services Management and Policy from The New School University and a BA from SUNY Oswego. Dunn resides in Pittsford with his family.

hospital.

Putnam played a crucial role in the formation of Unity Health System as president and chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Hospital. He was instrumental in creating the successful affiliation that restructured Park Ridge Health System and St. Mary’s Hospital to become Unity, and transformed St. Mary’s from an acute care facility to the first-of-its-kind, award-winning community health campus that it is today.

Putnam joined St. Mary’s Hospital in 1984 and served in a variety of administrative roles prior to his appointment as CEO. His accomplishments include the development of a range of community services in inner city Rochester, for which St. Mary’s received the prestigious Foster G. McGaw prize in 1996.

He is active on several community boards, and, notably, is chairman-elect of the national board of the Alzheimer’s Association. He will become chairman of the Unity Health System board in October 2014, where he will dedicate his time during retirement.

“I am thankful to Stewart for his significant role in shaping what Unity has become today, and will be in the future,” said Hern.

Doug Stewart, senior vice president of the health care services division at Unity, has been appointed to Putnam’s position effective Jan. 15.

Stewart joined Unity in 2005 as vice president, behavioral health and has overseen operations of inpatient, ambulatory and support services at Unity Hospital since 2012.

21 Years of Dedication to Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic Auxiliary

Stewart Putnam, longtime Unity leader, retires After three decades of leadership to Unity Health System and the former St. Mary’s Hospital, president of the health care services division Stewart Putnam announced he is retiring March 7.

Beginning Jan. 15 until his retirement date, Putnam will serve as special advisor to Warren Hern, president and CEO, to lend his support in partnership-related activities.

During his time at Unity, Putnam has served for the past two years as president, health care services division, and for 15 years as executive vice president. He has helped transform Unity into a top-quality hospital, attract and retain the best physicians, and guide modernization and expansion efforts to create what is virtually a brand new

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014

Wilma Adams, right, has been a devoted Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic auxiliary member and volunteer since 1990 and has served as the auxiliary’s treasurer since 1992. At the auxiliary’s fall luncheon she was recognized for her 21 years of dedicated service. Prior to volunteering, Adams was the Midlake’s High School librarian. Adams resides in Phelps with her husband Paul. She is shown with Clifton Springs Hospital’s Rev. Gail Conners.

New partners in MS Health Care The National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter recently announced a new partnership with psychologist Nancy Cooper and neurologist Michael Dunn. The local professionals have been officially recognized through the society’s Partners in MS Care program. This formal recognition honors their commitment to providing exceptional MS care and a continuing partnership with the society to address the challenges of people affected by multiple sclerosis.

Officials at the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter say people living with multiple sclerosis can receive optimal care and support when strong collaborative relationships exist between the chapter and healthcare professionals. To become a partner in the Partners in MS Care program, a provider must have clinical experience with multiple sclerosis, have demonstrated knowledge of the disease, involvement in the MS community and in National MS Society activities.

Cooper has several years of experience with MS, including five years as the director of programs with the Upstate New York Chapter. Dunn is a neurologist with the Greater Rochester Neurological Associates, P.C. and has been providing quality neurological care to individuals living with multiple sclerosis since 1984.

“We are so proud to partner with Dr. Cooper and Dr. Dunn to enhance care for the people who live with MS in the greater Rochester area,” said Stephanie Mincer, president of the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter. “In earning this recognition, both providers have demonstrated extraordinary leader-

Shari Mazzella, director of programs and services at the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter, recognizes psychologist Nancy Cooper as a partner in MS care.

ship in MS care, making a tremendous impact on people affected by MS in our community.”

Multiple sclerosis, an often debilitating disease of the central nervous system, affects more than 12,800 people across Upstate New York and more than 2,700 in the Greater Rochester area.

For more information, contact Ashley Greenman at 585-271-0805 x70322 or Ashley.greenman@nmss.org.

Spread the Word Reach healthcare providers, consumers. In 2014, choose to advertise with In Good Health.

Call 585-421-8109

Now Available in Monroe County

Remain safely at home with help from HomeFirst.

More and more people on Medicaid who might otherwise be in a nursing home won’t have to because of HomeFirst.

HomeFirst is one of the oldest managed long-term care (MLTC) plans in the state. Our Personal Care Workers provide assistance with bathing, dressing and meals. You can keep your own doctor, and we provide transportation to medical appointments. There is no cost to participate.

HomeFirst is an affiliate of MJHS, which was founded on the core values of compassion, dignity and respect for every culture. Those core values date back to 1907, when MJHS began a tradition of caring every minute, every day.

Call 1-866-384-3509 or visit homefirst.org Shari Mazzella, director of programs and services at the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter, recognizes neurologist Michael Dunn as a partner in MS care.

January 2014 GOOD – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Page 19 Services covered by HomeFirst are paid• forINby NewHEALTH York State Medicaid.

The services not part Newspaper of HomeFirst• benefits continue to be covered by Medicaid and/or Medicare benefits. All services are coordinated, even those not included

Your independent streak got you this far. ElderONE gets you even further.

ElderONE coordinates your care so you can stay in your home — whether you need medicine, household help or a ride to the doctor. And since you hear from ����������������������������������������� always know what you need. It’s your choice.

Your team. So you can live your way.

ElderONE, formerly Independent Living for Seniors, ������������������������������������������������� and a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.

To learn more, call 585.922.2831 (TTY 800.662.1220), 855.457.4636 toll free or visit www.ElderONE.org.

������������������������������������������ and personalized care services.

MEDICAL CARE | PERSONAL CARE | REHABILITATION | DAY CENTERS | MEDICATIONS | TRANSPORTATION Page 20

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • January 2014