To provide news and opinion to support professional growth and personal connections within the Berks County Medical Society community.
D. Michael Baxter, MD, Editor Editorial Board
D. Michael Baxter, MD
Lucy J. Cairns, MD
Daniel Forman, DO
Shannon Foster, MD
Steph Lee, MD, MPH
William Santoro, MD, FASAM, DABAM
Raymond Truex, MD, FACS, FAANS
T.j. Huckleberry, MPA
William Santoro, MD, FASAM, DABAM President
Ankit Shah, MD President Elect
Daniel Forman, DO Treasurer
Jillian Ventuzelo, DO
Immediate Past President
T. J. Huckleberry, MPA Executive Director
Berks County Medical Society
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We have heard it said many times. We need to take care of ourselves, or we will suffer from burnout.
I recently had a conversation with one of my colleagues about stress, burnout, and self-care. This colleague had just documented the time of death of his patient. This was not in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic; it was just a routine day. He looked very worn and tired as I asked him if he was alright. He told me that the patient had been in the ICU for several weeks and the death was not unexpected. But he, like most physicians, told me it still hits pretty hard when death occurs.
I asked him about burnout, and he told me that he has never experienced burnout because he always makes time every day for himself. Noting that his body language was telling me something different, I asked him to explain to me how he does that, and what he does for his self-care. In a very serious voice, he told me that he makes it a priority to take five minutes out of each day for what he calls, “my time.”
After talking with him more I wondered if he would get as much stress relief if he called it “Mai Tai” instead of “my time.” In this time of what he described as pure solitude, he does five minutes of slow breathing. Sarcastically, I asked him if he ever goes longer than five minutes. Again, in a very serious voice, he admitted that occasionally he has been known to take up to 10 minutes. Physicians and other healthcare providers notoriously do not take time to grieve. Yes, we have family and friends in whom we confide, but no one truly understands. And just like that, he was off to see another ill patient. The sad part about this interaction is that he was serious and truly believed that five to ten minutes of slow breathing each day would negate 12 to 18 hours of daily stress.
I asked another colleague how he manages the stress in his life. He told me that he makes sure that he gets 5,000 steps of walking in each day. I thought this was a great step forward (pun intended) so I pressed further. I wanted to know when, how, where, and with whom he got his walking in. I was picturing a power walk with a little elevated heart rate or a casual stroll with his wife holding hands. But when I questioned him further, I realized that his walking occurs as he moves through the hospital seeing one critically ill patient after another. Other colleagues have told me that they do yoga or take a warm quiet bath at the end of a day. But none of this is what well-being is about.
To ultimately get to the solution, we first need to understand where the problem comes from. Burnout is caused by stress – not a stressful hour, not a stressful day, not even a stressful week. The stress of administrative responsibilities, insurance hassles, and productivity demands all lead to a stressful, if not stress-filled, environment and lifestyle.
As medical providers, we are expected to be resilient. But often resilience means shutting ourselves off from our emotions. The Penn State and Tower Health Systems, to their credit, have been trying to boost morale and keep providers from quitting or retiring early. They have been offering programs of entertainment and collegiality. I encourage the health systems to continue with these endeavors. The staff and providers of a health system are the most valuable assets the systems have. But the efforts are small, even if they are sincere, and honestly the health systems are not well versed in this arena. In the end, it is up to each of us to be responsible for our own self-care.
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As I write about burnout, I want to point out that while all specialties in medicine experience burnout, primary care providers experience the most. Medical education costs are the same for all, but with higher stress and lower pay, it is no wonder it is difficult to attract students to the field of primary care.
The treatment, or the prevention, of burnout will take as much effort, time, and energy as the cause of the problem. Burnout comes from a lifestyle. Self-care, the treatment for burnout and the prevention for burnout, is also part of a lifestyle. People believe that relaxing is easy; however, to truly include relaxation as a part of our lifestyle takes a lot of effort and work. It means that we need to step back and evaluate the work-life balance that we have. Then we need to be willing to make lifestyle changes to correct, or keep, a proper work-life balance.
No, self-care is not as simple as going for an occasional walk, doing yoga, taking a warm bath, or doing breathing exercises. This is especially true when the walking and the breathing are done mixed in with treating very ill patients. As hard as we work in our profession, we need to work as hard in our relaxation. The relaxation needs to be separate from the activity which causes the stress. Exercise, relaxation, and self-care need to be done with no ulterior motive other than the peace of mind that it gives us.
We need to take the time to evaluate the stress in our lives. Then we need to take the time to evaluate how we decompress. Once this has been done, we need to make the effort to balance the two. We need to learn to say no when asked to do more of anything that will cause increased stress. Do not compromise your relaxation time to fit in a stressful project.
It is easy to say we need a good work-life balance, but how does one accomplish this? I am a concrete thinker, or as some have said, I am a blockhead. So, let me give specific, concrete suggestions on how we can do this.
First, create a “No Work Zone.” This might be a particular time of the day or a particular place. Either way, proclaim it a workfree zone when/where you do not work, including not checking your email, not taking, or making phone calls, not charting on a computer, and not even talking shop to a colleague. This “No Work Zone” should not just be a physical no work zone, it should also be a mental no work zone. It is important to learn how to detach our mind from the stressors. Worrying about work, and even just thinking about work, takes a lot of mental energy. When relaxing, make a conscious decision to be in the moment. The physical changes are much easier to accomplish than the mental changes. By setting up a safe haven, we have a dedicated time and space for connecting with our loved ones and escaping the demands of our medical practice.
Get organized. Make a list, physical or mental, of the relaxation activities you most want to include in your “life” side of the worklife balance. Calculate how much time will be needed to complete these “life” side activities. Sometimes our work-life balance is misaligned because we fail to manage our time properly rather than
because we don’t have enough time. Schedule everything that you either need to do or want to do. “Needs” and “wants” are always two separate but interacting categories. Reserve time on your calendar for specific “work” tasks and “life” activities. This will help you keep tabs on what you need to accomplish, ensure that you meet your deadlines, take time for yourself and your family, and enable you to see when you are overextended.
When asked to commit to something in the future, don’t base your answer on how busy your schedule appears around the date of the commitment, base your answer on whether you could fit the activity in now. If you would be too busy to do it now, then you will be too busy when the time comes to do it then because you will continue to add things to your schedule so that you will be as busy later as you are now.
Make sure you set priorities. Not everything on our list holds the same level of importance. This is where your “needs” list and your “wants” list will interact. Determine what is a “must-do quickly” versus a “must-do in the near future” versus a “must-do but not anytime soon” versus a “don’t really need to do at all.”
Take a good long look at what things are interfering with our ability to better balance our time. Today many of us work with nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, care coordinators, social workers, medical assistants, and others. Let the people around you help decrease your work. Make sure that you and the staff you collaborate with stay in your own lanes, or the help can increase rather than decrease your stress. When you are working well with your staff and colleagues, you will find you have more time to focus on your own critical tasks that you, and only you, can tackle. This, in turn, will increase time for reconnecting with family and friends, and getting a good night’s sleep.
This is not a zero-sum game. The work-life balance scale will usually tip in one direction or the other depending on many things: the stage of your career that you are at, and whether you own your own practice or are employed by a health system that is productivitydriven are two examples. Sometimes we will need to make our career our number one priority, and other times we will have to push work aside to pay more attention to our family and friends. There will be an ebb. There will be a flow. We may rarely experience complete balance at any given moment; but overall, if it is done right, over time it will even out.
Finally, while I am recommending that we each work to accomplish this elusive “work-life” balance, try not to worry so much that the attempt at righting the scales causes more stress than the status quo. If you constantly stress over it, your efforts will be counterproductive. Cut yourself some slack as you navigate running your personal life and caring for your patients. It may take time to figure out the formula that will work for you, but with some experimentation and patience, you can master it and prevail.
And just to be honest and transparent, I am writing this as much for myself as I am for my colleagues.
Aweek or two ago, I heard the most outrageous, preposterous, and downright un-American phrase ever uttered by the human tongue. It was so inflammatory that I am not sure I have personally recovered from it. It is so bad that I am worried that it is also not suitable for print (should children or hypersensitive adults read it out loud and cause a riot and mass fainting). But being a man who supports both free speech and open dialogue among my physician-members, I still feel I must share with you what I heard.
Again, I feel I must warn you that this is some incendiary stuff…
O.K., ... here it is.
“Fireworks are useless.”
I know!!! I too have the visual of the Lincoln Memorial being zapped by a UFO, or a nose falling off Mount Rushmore… or Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps needing floaties!!
Fireworks!!!... USELESS??? I mean we are talking about Star Spangled Banner Waving, Bald Eagle Flying, Sherman Tank riding, Neil Diamond’s Comin’ to America Playing aerial explosives here!
I mean, so what if there is no practical purpose for them? So what, that they only last one second and then they are literally just smoke. So what, that every time one goes off my dachshund pees a little on our newest and most expensive rug. Fireworks are great!
And yeah, they are expensive. And dangerous… and illegal in most states. And sure, they are the chief reason for forest fires and their byproducts are literally just air pollutants. OK, so maybe that guy had a point. Maybe this summer we should be focusing on the sensible and not the superficial.
After all, that is what we have been doing at Berks County Medical Society.
To our leadership’s credit, we realized that our previous by-laws and structure needed a massive overhaul. This was done to address the current needs and values of our society and how we address important issues in the future. We made a commitment to focus on the values of our latest generation of physicians with the creation of the Early-Career, Residency, and Medical Student Chairs on our new Board of Directors. Furthermore, through our by-laws we expanded and outlined our ongoing
education and scholarship programs to build on the success of our Pat Sharma Presidential Scholarship Program, Health Talk radio show, and this very magazine.
We hope with these changes we will be able to accommodate the hectic and demanding lives of our physicians while maintaining our commitment to furthering the art of medicine in Berks County. BCMS understands that life has in fact changed since COVID and we need to be the first to adjust to the times.
Again, we understand that our actions will draw more of a heavy yawn then an “ooooo” or “aaaahhhhh,” but what we have done will move this Society ahead for the next generations of members.
Sure, the actions we took this year were not all fireworks, however, they were practical and necessary. And I promise you the work we put in this winter will last a lot longer than those red, white, and blue blasting, Uncle Sam Saluting, Hot Dog Eating Contest Dominating, Bob Denver Rocky Mountain High Hummin’, Fourth of July Freedom Rockets we will all enjoy this summer.
by D. Michael Baxter, MD
“Summertime and the livin’ is easy,” unless you are a Residency or Fellowship Program Director or Faculty. June and July are some of the busiest and most important months of the year for training programs as residents and fellows complete their years of intense study, say good-bye to the staff who have contributed so much to their knowledge and skills, and move on to their exciting careers. Simultaneously, new trainees arrive to begin the cycle once again. We congratulate and wish the very best to those moving forward and extend a grand welcome to the trainees joining our programs in Berks County. We look forward to events ahead where we share the social and professional bonds that unite this great profession. And we thank the dedicated faculty and others who give their time and energy to pass along their knowledge, skills, and our medical traditions.
Summer is also celebrated as a “happy time” of vacations, relaxation, and spending special moments with family and friends. Thus, it seems appropriate in this issue of the Medical Record to explore “What Makes Us Happy.” In addition to anecdotal comments from some of our favorite Berks County neighbors, we have chosen to explore the most recent science regarding the complex interaction of biology, psychology, and even genetics, as well as social factors which contribute to our sense of happiness.
We hope our readers will find this information helpful in their own pursuit of happiness.
In this issue we also celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the St. Joseph Hospital. The contributions of this institution and its dedicated and skilled staff are well recognized and BCMS is pleased to honor them for their work—past, present, and future. Dr. Chuck Barbera also marks an important anniversary of one year as its first physician President and CEO. In addition, we honor and share reflections of a Berks County career in Gastroenterology by Seth Rosenzweig, MD, who steps back (but not completely away) from his stellar career.
Finally, in this edition we note the recent Installation of our new Berks County Medical Society (BCMS) officers: President-William Santoro, MD, President elect-Ankit Shah, MD, and Treasurer-Daniel Forman, DO. We also extend our appreciation to Jillian Ventuzelo, DO, who completes her term as President. It is both a challenging and exciting time for BCMS as we rebound from the pandemic and soon celebrate the 200th Anniversary of our founding in 1824. We are fortunate to have such a great team lead us into our Third Century.
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Medical Director at the Caron Foundation from 1994 until 2002. I continue to work with the Caron Foundation as a faculty member, training physicians in their Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program with Reading Hospital.
My wife Jill and I married in 1982 and have two children. Justin has worked for Giant Food Supermarket for the past 20 years. Alex earned her doctorate in clinical psychology and has worked at the Caron Foundation for the past 5 years.
William Santoro, MD President, Berks County Medical Society Chief, Section of Addiction Medicine Reading Hospital/TowerMy medical degree was earned from Central University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. I then completed my Family Medicine Internship and Residency at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center. From 1985 until 2016 I had a private practice in Laureldale, PA, which is now part of Tower Health Medical Group. During that time, I also served as the Medical Director at Albright College from 1985 to 2012 and health officer for the township of Laureldale from 1987 to 2015.
I was the Medical Director at the Reading Hospital Drug and Alcohol Program for the Center of Mental Health from 1988 until its closing in August 2020. In addition, I served as the Medical Director to New Directions Treatment Services, a methadone maintenance program, from 1999 until 2021, and was the Associate
In 2014, I was appointed as the first Section Chief of Addiction Medicine, Department of Family & Community Medicine, Tower Health System, and since 2016 have focused my practice exclusively on Addiction Medicine. I have served as a Public Policy Chair for the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine from 2018 until 2021, and as President of the Pennsylvania Society of Addiction Medicine from 2021 until 2023. I served as PresidentElect of the Berks County Medical Society (BCMS) from 2021 until 2023 and am now beginning my term as President.
In 1997, I received the Berks County Medical Society William Alexander Community Service Award and again in 2017. I also received the first Jasper G. Chen See Medical Professional Award for work in Addiction Medicine as well as other awards in Addiction Medicine. My community activities include starting the medical clinic within the Reading – Berks Emergency Shelter over twenty years ago. I was the founder and race director to the “To Reading and Back 10K” charity run for the Easter Seals Society, Co-founder, and race co-director of the “Alligator Run 10K” charity run for Crime Alert of Berks County, and Assistant Coach to the Berks County Special Olympics track and softball teams. I was also a volunteer medical director for the US Olympic Training Teams in Lake Placid, New York. As most people know, I like to run and have completed 57 marathons.
Once I became involved in organized medicine, I made some suggestions and realized if I wanted to be heard and make real changes then I needed to be committed and willing to have a seat at the table. The best way to ensure this was to be willing to serve in leadership positions.
Ankit Shah, MD President-elect, Berks County Medical Society Emergency Medicine Physician Reading Hospital/Tower HealthI am originally from northern New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University with a BA degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience. I then went to medical school at MCP Hahnemann (now known as Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia.
I stayed in Pennsylvania, moving up to the Lehigh Valley area to do a residency in Emergency Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital (now known as St Luke’s University Health Network). I then pursued a fellowship in Trauma and Critical Care, also at St. Luke’s. During this fellowship, I did a few moonlighting shifts at Reading Hospital (now part of Tower Health System) and fell in love with the culture, the community, and the hospital – not to mention the volume of patients and pathology (top ten busiest EDs in the country!). I was offered a job here and accepted without hesitation.
Over the 15 years I have been here, I have served in many administrative roles, and was given support from the health system to pursue additional education. I am currently board-certified in Emergency Medicine and Clinical Informatics. My roles at Tower Health include clinical emergency medicine physician, medical director of Telehealth, physician builder for Epic, and clinical informaticist for emergency departments. I also serve as the medical director of the physician assistant program at Alvernia University.
Despite all that, I do occasionally carve out time for our 2-year dog, 12 and 14-yearold daughter and son (respectively), and my physician wife, Dr. Vinti Shah. My two greatest passions outside of medicine and family are golf and hockey. If not playing golf, you can typically find me watching hockey (the sport I played for years when on the right side of 40).
The value of a local medical society cannot be overstated. The wounds, trauma, and emotions physicians experienced over the past three years were absolutely brutal. Not only did we go from health care heroes to zeroes, but the health care system was shown to be a house of cards that started collapsing all around us, while we all dealt with our demons.
BCMS was a beacon of hope and refuge during these trying times. Physicians had a life raft on which to cling to get them through some of the worst situations that one could ever imagine. The focus of our executive director to get free CME, finance classes, collaboration with business leaders, and most importantly, socially safe gatherings were paramount to helping many of us stay sane. Continuing these efforts
to serve chapter members with their state medical licensure requirements, while also focusing on helping each and every provider get “through this” will be necessary to maintain the mental health of one of our most valuable healthcare resources.
BCMS can also help guide the local community through other controversial and politically charged topics that affect public health and individual health. Moving forward, bringing more members into the BCMS fold will be vital to helping our local physicians weather the multitude of crises that we may face in the not-too-distant future.
when we moved to Berks County in 2006 are all grown up now. In fact, my middle child will start working as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at the Reading Hospital this July. Time flies!
I started working at Berks Hematology Oncology in 2006. Since then, Tower Health has acquired this group, and I now proudly work at the McGlinn Cancer Institute (MCI). My role at MCI is somewhat unique; I work full-time in the hospital. My days are dedicated to seeing patients in the hospital with newly diagnosed cancer, cancer-related concerns, or hematologic problems. This work can honestly be quite challenging because it is a rare day when I am giving good news. However, I am supported by a strong inpatient team that consists of two CRNPs, an RN, and a CMA. I also have the pleasure of teaching hematology-oncology fellows, medical residents, and students. The learners keep me on my toes and make my days more rewarding and fulfilling. As for my wife, Liz, she is still working as a nurse, now with the Reading School District.
Daniel Forman, DO Treasurer, Berks County Medical Society Medical Oncologist/McGlinn Cancer Center Reading Hospital/Tower Health
After graduating from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in New Jersey, I set my sails on becoming a primary care physician. I moved to Pennsylvania to pursue my residency in Internal Medicine at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
I fell in love with PA, and found the love of my life, Liz, here as well. After spending four years working in rural Carbon County in primary care, and shortly after the birth of our third child, I decided to pursue a Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at the Penn State Cancer Center.
Although those three years of fellowship were stressful, Liz held down the fort at home, amazingly, while working full-time as a Registered Nurse. After fellowship, we moved from the Lehigh Valley to Berks County. It is hard to believe that those three kids who all needed booster seats in the car
Outside of work, Liz and I enjoy vacationing at Bethany Beach, and spoiling our new Aussie-Doodle puppy, Bailey. Other hobbies include pickle ball (you must play, it is fun!), bingeing Yellowstone, and mountain biking near our home at Blue Marsh.
We currently face many challenges in healthcare, and these challenges will only increase over the next decade. Healthcare spending is out of control and new technologies and pharmaceuticals will only add more cost to the system. Most physicians are now employed by large hospital systems that are working with shrinking profit margins.
The PA Medical Society is constantly reviewing legislation in Harrisburg to ensure that our patients and physician leadership remain a priority in our Commonwealth. I am looking forward to serving physician needs in Berks County with the goal of increasing physician membership and engagement. The future of healthcare is uncertain, and it is up to us to make certain that quality patient care remains the primary focus of all the stakeholders.
The Installation of our new Berks County Medical Society (BCMS) officers was held at the Reading Hospital on Thursday, June 29th.
Following a welcome from Reading Hospital President and CEO, and former BCMS President, Chuck Barbara, MD, former BCMS President, Mike Baxter, introduced outgoing President, Jillian Ventuzelo, DO, and the incoming officers, Bill Santoro, MD, President, Ankit Shah, MD, President-elect, and Dan Forman, DO, Treasurer.
Past President Raymond Truex administered the oath of office to each officer. Dr. Santoro concluded the evening with remarks and an invitation to all members to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of BCMS in 2024 by engaging fully in our programs and events. A more formal dinner celebration will be held in the Fall.
Thank you, Jillian, for leading us through the past challenging years of the COVID-19 pandemic and congratulations to our new enthusiastic officers.
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One of life’s greatest goals is happiness, which imparts meaning to our existence. Happiness makes us healthier, more productive, and kinder. Yet it often remains elusive, especially in the context of residency, which is intensive, demanding, and stressful. However, as reflected by rising physician burnout rates, happiness can remain a challenge to attain after residency as well. As a result, building happiness is an essential skill for any resident physician, for the present and the future.
The quest for happiness begins intrinsically, as we develop ways to cope with stress and find meaning. Over the course of residency, I have worked on improving my consciousness, grounding myself by engaging in activities such as journaling, mindful coloring, meditation, yoga, and running. These activities help me destress and in turn organize my thoughts and stimulate my mind, boosting my happiness immeasurably. Beyond intrinsic happiness, our environment also plays a significant influence. The friends and family members who helped me throughout my journey to residency continue to serve as a constant source of support and validation. Through them, challenges can become opportunities. For example, coming from Philadelphia, I initially found transitioning to Berks County to be difficult, but my partner’s infectious
love for enthusiastically exploring the area has ignited my own excitement for Greater Reading, from the many excellent restaurants to the abundant ways to experience nature. Of course, while fun is absolutely a component of happiness, so is contentment, and being thankful for the simple joys of life is essential. Sometimes a day at home for rest and relaxation is just what this doctor ordered. While these experiences remind us about the simple joys beyond the dayto-day of our busy careers, a crucial aspect of deriving happiness as a resident stems from finding a positive and supportive work environment. As physicians, our work environments are defined by patients and our colleagues. Patients impart meaning to our lives, reminding us why we chose this profession. I am incredibly grateful to be able to support my patients through challenging life experiences, such as menopause, pelvic pain, and pregnancy and labor. Through direct patient care as well as advocacy for women’s health, I have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of many. While not every encounter is marked by patient gratitude, the knowledge that my work makes a difference boosts my satisfaction and imbues my life with a sense of purpose.
Last but not least, my colleagues are essential to my happiness as a resident. From the attending physicians who provide advice and mentoring to the
support staff who help me every day, I am very appreciative for my nurturing environment. Above all, my own co-residents are cornerstones in the foundation of my happiness. Struggling through the trenches of residency together fosters camaraderie, teamwork, shared experiences, and lots of inside jokes.
Residency can be difficult and exhausting, but with intrinsic motivation and a supportive environment inside and outside the hospital, I have confidence in my ability to persevere. While it does require intentional effort, happiness is attainable, and I am fortunate to have many sources of joy and satisfaction in my life. As I plan for the future, envisioning the career and life I will build, I know that prioritizing happiness by reflecting on my own goals and choosing a supportive environment will be paramount, and this guiding light will continue to illuminate the road ahead.
Ashni Nadgauda is a rising third year OB/GYN resident at Tower Health - Reading Hospital. She is a California native, who moved to the Philadelphia area to attend Drexel University and Drexel University College of Medicine. She hopes to become a compassionate, talented, and caring OB/GYN physician like the co-residents and attendings who inspire her daily.
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We have been extremely fortunate that the number of COVID-19 reported cases, deaths and hospitalizations are decreasing. The evolving COVID-19 variants have been less severe, although they have been more infectious. Over 96% of the US adult population has detectable antibodies as of September 2022, providing at least partial protection.1 Our current predominant variant in the US is Omicron variant XBB.1.5. This variant has been predominant for over 4 months and is now being displaced by Omicron variants XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1 which are increasing.2 These newer variants have similar severity to other Omicron variants, with similar-to-increased transmissibility.
Due to declining hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19, the Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended as of May 11, 2023.3 Over the past 3 years
as part of this federal initiative, the US has administered vaccinations to over 270 million people, over 15 million courses of lifesaving treatments, and provided more than 750 million free COVID-19 tests.4 Due to widely available treatments, vaccines and testing, access is being turned back over to the traditional health care systems. These are the changes:
• Vaccinations that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization and Practices (ACIP) will be fully covered without a co-pay for those with private insurance. For those with Medicare Part B, vaccinations will continue to be covered without cost sharing. For those patients with Medicaid, vaccinations will be covered without cost sharing and co-pay until September 30, 2024.
• For treatments such as Paxlovid (nirmalrelvir ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir), these will be covered by private
insurance similar to costs of other medications. Medicaid patients would continue to receive COVID-19 medications without cost sharing through September 20, 2024.
• The FDA Emergency Use Authorizations for medications, tests, and treatments will not be affected.
• Major telehealth flexibilities will not be affected. The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 extended many Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2024.
• HHS will no longer require the reporting of all COVID-19 test results. During the PHE, HHS collected both negative and positive test results to determine test positivity results. This will no longer continue. Hospitals will continue to report as required by CMS conditions of participation
through April 30, 2024, but this requirement is now reduced from daily reporting to weekly reporting.
• HHS began the process to end the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees of CMS-certified healthcare facilities. The new recommendations will now align with other infectious disease vaccinations, such as influenza. It is expected that CMS will encourage ongoing COVID-19 vaccinations through its quality reporting and value-based incentive programs. The proposal for fiscal year 2024 would report number of personnel who are up to date with the current recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.5
It is now recommended that everyone aged 6 years and older obtain the COVID-19 bivalent booster to be up to date. The FDA is recommending that vaccine manufacturers target the current COVID-19 dominant variant, XBB, for fall doses. Vaccine boosters are highly recommended for those at higher risk for adverse outcomes including immunocompromised patients, those with diabetes or chronic kidney, lung, heart or neurologic conditions, and older individuals. Although 70% of the US population has received the 2-dose initiation primary series, only about 20% of adults in the US have received the bivalent booster shot. This percentage is higher for those over 65 years of age with 43% receiving the bivalent booster.6
We cannot forget the over 1.1 million deaths that have occurred in the US attributed to COVID-19. We should encourage those patients at highest risk, and those who interact with them, to continue to obtain the COVID-19 boosters to be up to date to decrease their risk of severe disease.
Adam J. Altman, MD
Angela Au Barbera, MD
Helga S. Barrett, OD
Jennifer H. Cho, OD, FAAO
Christine Gieringer, OD
David S. Goldberg, MD, FAAP
Marion J. Haligowski III, OD
Dawn Hornberger, OD, MS
Y. Katherine Hu, MD, MS
Lucinda A. Kauffman, OD, FAAO
Christina M. Lippe, MD
Barry C. Malloy, MD
Michael A. Malstrom, MD
Mehul H. Nagarsheth, MD
Abhishek K. Nemani, MD
Tapan P. Patel, MD, PhD
Jonathan D. Primack, MD
Kevin J. Shah, MD
Michael Smith, MD
Anastasia Traband, MD
Monica Wang, OD
Denis Wenders, OD
Linda A. Whitaker, OD, MS
With 20+ eye care specialists, Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is the leading eye care practice in the region. Our doctors are always available for consults and referrals on eye issues, and our entire practice is committed to cooperative management of your patient. That means that we communicate and consult 360°. We share information, and we provide direct cell numbers to our partner physicians. And ultimately, it means better care and outcomes for your patients.
For consultations and referrals, call 610-378-1344.
EyeConsultantsOfPA.com
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Offices in Wyomissing, Pottsville, Pottstown, Lebanon and Blandon
1 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/ mm7222a3.htm?s_cid=mm7222a3_w
2 https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-datatracker/#variant-proportions
3 https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19public-health-emergency/index.html
4 https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/ fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-healthemergency.html
5 https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/18/ fact-sheet-hhs-announces-hhs-bridge-accessprogram-covid-19-vaccines-treatmentsmaintain-access-covid-19-care-uninsured.html
6 https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-datatracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-boosterpercent-pop5
by John LeMoine MS III Drexel University College of Medicine/Tower Health Campus
If you witness some Drexel medical students working in the Berks Country area, you might observe a similar pattern. Sure, you might see a few wrinkle lines under our eyes and the frequent accompaniment of coffee, but you would also see an aura of excitement and eagerness marked by welcoming grins, a nod of “Hello,” and quick-paced steps in the wake of our senior physicians. We have just completed the first month of our in-hospital rotations and have begun to transition to a more accurate representation of the physician’s life.
To learn how to be an effective doctor, students must learn the communication and healthcare soft skills in addition to the technical medical knowledge. To demonstrate these skills in a diverse learning environment, students are required to rotate through eight different medical specialties. I have started with a ten-week surgery block. Surgery is known for its long hours, with shifts beginning around 0500 and lasting for 12-13 hours. The bulk of the time is spent in the operating room, but the responsibilities of a surgeon extend far beyond the scalpel. In between operations, we attend to the medical needs of patients admitted to the medical floor, staff the outpatient clinic, and respond to traumas in the ER.
While resident physicians oversee entire floors of patients, a medical student is only assigned 1-3 patients per day. This methodology not only facilitates a more streamlined learning environment for us, but it also allows a broader conversation between the patient and the healthcare team. Students can sit at the bedside and discuss a patient’s pathology and surgical plans, or simply chat about more typical topics to better understand their
story. Students and physicians then meet a few times throughout the day to discuss the patients’ status and plan updates. Medicine is all about collaboration and communication, and this includes the patient. The student is present when chatting with patients in pre-op, scrubbing and assisting with surgery, and then wishing good fortune at discharge. There is an empowering and honorable sentiment involved in this communication loop between physicians and patients.
Medicine is a rewarding profession, but it can be emotionally taxing at times. Physicians—and by extension, their students—frequently encounter patients who are suffering, facing life-threatening conditions, or dealing with difficult diagnoses. They must communicate sensitive information, deliver bad news, and support patients and their families emotionally. This emotional burden can take a toll on doctors’ mental well-being and contribute to stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Therefore, not only do medical students learn how to treat patients, but we also learn how to face challenging environments and poor outcomes, and just as importantly, we learn how to recover.
Hailing from a small class of forty medical students at Drexel’s West Reading medical campus, we have transitioned from classmates to friends to family. There is no toxic or competitive mindset among us; we are always collaborating and empowering each other. On weekends, we make a point to meet, discuss our week in the hospital, and unwind. We share stories of adversity, but our evenings always end in laughter and optimism.
“Love the process and you’ll love what the process produces.”
– Jon Gordon
When I can enjoy a round of golf or a weekend away at my family’s home at Lake Wallenpaupack without a crisis or a violent crime occurring, I am at peace and can enjoy life.
John Adams, Esq. Berks County District Attorney
As I grow older and my life becomes more complex, the things that make me happy become more simplified: My children, a good book, a sunny day and the time to enjoy them.
Charles Barbera, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer Reading Hospital/Tower HealthMeaningful relationships, both personally and professionally, offer an overall sense of life satisfaction. Therefore, forging and fostering positive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues provides overall happiness for me.
Dr. Jill M. Hackman, Executive Director Berks County Intermediate Unit
What really makes me happy is watching my daughter playing on the floor with my one-year-old grandson and reflecting on the fundamental importance of family in our lives.
Jim Gerlach, President and Chief Executive Officer Greater Reading Chamber Alliance by D. Michael Baxter, MD, and Deborah Bevvino, PhD
What makes us happy? It is highly doubtful that there is one clear answer to that question and that it is the same for each of us. There is clearly a degree of subjectivity to happiness and our experience verifies that some people are happier than others. As we ask ourselves, “What makes us happy?” this may be a particularly relevant topic for the present. We have just lived through the worst pandemic in 100 years, spending nearly two years in social isolation. Our political climate is infused with suspicion, misinformation, and vitriol, and too many of our communities are marked by violence, especially from guns.
In a 2022 survey by the opinion research group Ipsos, fewer than 20% of Americans reported that they were “very happy” and in that same year 25% of adults in the U.S. told an American Psychological Association poll that they were too stressed to function. These have been anything but “happy times.”
Although our subjective experiences may describe our individual definition of what makes us happy, there is good evidence that there are factors which we can control that can influence our happiness. The search for these has been a focus of attention throughout history including the attention of many of the greatest Greek philosophers. The Greek word eudaimonia, literally means “good spirit,” but is more readily translated as “happiness.” In ancient Greek philosophy it was recognized as the highest human good and closely linked with other terms, e.g., virtue, prudence, and justice. Aristotle described eudaimonia not as a pursuit of pleasurable experiences, but rather
as an ethical way of living. More recent philosophers, e.g., John Locke, Samuel Johnson, and of course, Thomas Jefferson, wrote of “the pursuit of happiness” building on those earlier philosophical traditions which emphasized civic virtues, e.g,. courage, moderation, and justice as the basis of a life of happiness.
More recently, the subject of happiness has been the focus of scientific research. For example, beginning in 1938, a group of Harvard University researchers gathered health records and interviewed hundreds of individuals. In addition to answers to the question of “What makes us happy,” their work has produced a wealth of information (including evidence that happiness helps us live longer) emphasizing the importance of establishing quality relationships and finding meaning in what one does with their life experiences as sources of happiness. They found that wealth alone does not create happiness, but neither does the absence of money. Pleasure-seeking also does not have a lasting impact on one’s happiness. Indeed, the pursuit of pleasure, whether riches, power, sex, substances, or a myriad of other such interests, often lead to destructive forces which create sorrow and tragedy, not the “happiness” one may be seeking.
In this article we will move beyond the philosophical and explore the most recent scientific research exploring the biologic, psychologic, social, and even genetic factors that influence our happiness. The message is clear: We have the capacity to control our own happiness.
In July 2004, something curious happened in the discipline of psychology. People gathered in Verbania Pallanza, Italy, for the first International Conference on Positive Psychology. Lead by psychologist and consummate researcher Martin Seligman, known widely for his landmark work Authentic Happiness, a collaboration began among an international community of scholars from a variety of disciplines, including psychologists, business leaders, clinicians, and educators, to establish the science of happiness and human flourishing. It was here that the Positive Psychology movement germinated and took the world of mental health by storm. In contrast to the illness model that had characterized psychology to that point, the scientific study of positive psychology focuses on investigating and isolating human strengths and virtues that help individuals use their innate gifts to thrive and live with meaning and purpose and thus greater happiness. In a small town in the lovely Italian countryside, a blueprint for happiness, human thriving, and well-being was born to the scientific community.
Seligman and Mihalik Csikszentmihalyi (noted for his work on “flow”) are the founding fathers of the Positive Psychology movement. They were among the first to demonstrate the building blocks of the science of happiness and human flourishing. The collaboration of scholars furthered the growth of Positive Psychology research focusing on topics such as character traits, personal strengths, optimism, well-being, positive emotions, gratitude, compassion, and hope to better understand human flourishing and happiness.
At work I am happiest when our teams hear from grateful patients about how their compassionate care made an impact on their lives. A close second is sharing with our teams how their hard work and dedication have enabled us to hit our Quality goals. At home, I am happiest with my family around the dinner table, with no cell phones, and our two doggies Louie and Roxy laying patiently under the table for scraps to “accidentally” hit the floor.
Jim Bennett, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center
My family and friends. Simple food. Winning a card game. At the end of the day, life is about a smile and a story.
Hamid Chaudhry
Berks County Businessman/Entrepreneur
What makes me truly happy is kindness. When people are genuinely caring for one another, friend and stranger alike. There is such discord and division these days and I think it is kindness that can truly change that and being kind and helping one another and witnessing that is what makes me happy.
Pastor Colleen Cox
Dean, West Berks Mission District, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America
I am happiest seeing those I love in my life happy—my family, friends and coworkers. I love watching people being happy—it’s a little glimpse into their hearts—seeing joy in their eyes, hearing laughter, and feeling warmth. True happiness by being content— both satisfied and happy is a gift. I find catching the joy and contentedness of others brings me happiness.
Wendy Clayton, MSN, RN; Vice President, Chief
Nursing OfficerPenn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center
As a seventh-generation farmer, a sunny day that helps plants grow or a calf being born. The laughter of my daughter, the next generation of our family and farm. Helping someone get their permit or an answer from a government agency that helps them build their dream. I find joy in the moments of peaceful stillness with my family, friends and farm.
Katie Hetherington Cunfer, Director of Government and Community Relations
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
What makes me happy is to have my family around me. This spills into my work environment where I call the staff my work family. If I can help people to be the best that they can be, this always makes me happy.
Mary Kargbo, President/CEO Berks Community Health Centercontinued on next page >
continued from page 19
What makes me happy is enjoying the incredible natural beauty of Berks County. That and when the Nittany Lions and the Steelers win on the same weekend.
Kevin Murphy, President Berks County Community Foundation
I am happy when I spend quality time with my family and friends.
Monica Reyes, Vice President for Programs and Initiatives Berks County Community Foundation
I think in terms of fulfillment not just happiness. Both are good in my estimation. I am happy when I finally complete my never ending “to do” list and very fulfilled when my staff and I are able to make a difference in a constituent’s life.
Judy Schwank, State Senator Pennsylvania 11th Senatorial District
Knowing that every day I have the ability to positively impact our community. Sharing, laughing and making memories with my family.
Michael Toledo, President and Chief Executive Officer Centro Hispano Daniel Torres Inc.
Happiness is experiencing life with others...sharing love, hope, joy, gratitude, success, sorrow, struggle, disappointment and dreams. People are my happiness (dogs, too).
Tammy White, President United Way of Berks County
Humans have long been curious about the emotional, biologic, social, and personal basis for happiness. Aristotle wrote that happiness was the ultimate goal of the individual. William James in his 1890 book, The Principles of Psychology, wrote that positive emotions led to well-being. Einstein noted that a calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness. Though not psychology researchers, these great scholars of history were keen to understand what confers the simple yet elusive feelings of utter contentment, happiness, and well-being.
I remember one remarkable experience. Running late for work, I caught a red light. Annoyed by the delay, I sat impatiently waiting and noticed an elderly gentleman, likely in his 80s, sweeping his sidewalk. I immediately had a “good” feeling about how conscientious he was in caring for his environs. Then seconds later an elderly woman appeared and kissed him on the cheek. My heart swelled and I felt numerous positive feelings, many indescribable. Those positive feelings seemed to linger for the entire day and impacted my work and working relationships. Occasionally, I would find myself smiling when I thought of the incident. I now consider red lights full of possibility. DB
So how do we know we are happy, content, or thriving? According to related research, our body informs us through a complex alchemy of biologic, psychologic, and genetic forces. Have you ever had an unexpected feeling that things are “just right”? Like all the atoms are lined up and we move through the day with joy and ease? We all would agree that our brain functions better when we feel this way.
Many years ago, Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, introduced her simple yet profound research on positive emotions, a focus of study previously ignored by the psychiatric community. Fredrickson, a colleague and ardent supporter of Seligman’s work, studied the deepening and broadening effect of positive emotions on the brain. After forty years of research, she found that positive emotions such as happiness have a butterfly effect that lead to other positive emotions through complex brain connections, pathways, and neurotransmitters. Through some mysterious, yet concrete, chemical processes, positive emotions seem to be able to broaden our scope of attention and increase cognition, which in turn builds
physical, intellectual, social, and psychological resources. Cultivating our positive emotions such as happiness, seems a worthy pursuit toward well-being and a good life. Multiple studies have also shown that happiness has a positive impact on immunologic function, cardiac wellness, and overall improved health.
Drilling down even further, we come to the question of genetics. According to some studies, Genes account for 40% of differences between people’s happiness. This is partly due to a predisposition to neurotransmitters and chemicals related to the emotional states of happiness, such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. For a variety of reasons some individuals have varying levels of these chemicals which affect their individual levels of happiness and wellbeing. We now know there are numerous ways to activate and boost these chemicals. Exercise increases endorphins. Positive relationships produce oxytocin. Meditation produces dopamine. And walking in morning sunlight produces serotonin.
In addition to genes and biology, personality influences happiness. The Big Five Personality cross cultural model identifies traits that influence our happiness and sense of well-being. These personality traits include an openness to experience, conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, and neuroticism. Studies have found that these traits are important predictors of well-being. Both our personality traits and experiences can impact thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, others, and the world that will positively or negatively impact our happiness. Thus, being curious about how our thinking impacts our sense of happiness may be a valuable tool.
Perhaps the most important question to ask is – given that our genes, biology, and personality play a significant role in our sense of happiness and well-being, can we learn to enhance our happiness and flourish with a sense of purpose and meaning? The good news is a resounding yes. It once seemed naive to think we could alter our gene expression, change our biology, improve our mood, or lessen our anxiety. Today we know that there are positive epigenetic effects of mind-body therapies such as mindfulness, selfexploration, gratitude practice, thought monitoring, meditation, yoga, journaling, exercise, tai chi, positive thinking, and positive social connections that can change how we move through the world. This means that we as individuals, families, and communities are in the driver’s seat on the road to happiness.
The Seligmans and Fredricksons of the scientific community have given us an excellent roadmap to human flourishing. Positive Psychology invites us to change our mind and behavior, and by doing so, we might even be able to change our genes. And what is it all for in the end? Certainly, for each of us to be happy, but more than that, it is to share that happiness to create a more just, peaceful, and healthful world.
There is a science of happiness including the more recent research into Positive Psychology that describes the biologic, psychologic, social, and even genetic factors which contribute to our feelings of happiness. Perhaps most critical, science shows us that we can control our own happiness as well as contribute to the happiness of others. And our level of happiness can directly affect our state of health and the quality of our lives. This is especially important information for us as physicians and other health care providers. Too often we see psychologically as well as physically impaired patients who are overcome with the negative factors in their lives. Their search for happiness can be distorted by individual circumstances such as disease, poverty, or social disturbances, and may lead to a self-destructive path for far too many. Understanding the research will assist us in our role as healers for our suffering patients.
As we contemplate our own quest for happiness, research and experience shows us that our thoughts and behaviors can contribute significantly to the quality of our lives, to a sense of contentment, fulfillment, and yes, that sense of well-being that we perceive as happiness. Finding a sense of meaningfulness in who we are and what we do, establishing a commitment to the achievement of eudaimonia, living in a just and virtuous way, and honestly connecting to one another, especially those family, friends, coworkers, and others who are at the center of our lives, are the steps to a happiness that is attainable for each of us.
1. Connect closely and honestly to those most important in your life, especially family and friends.
2. Find meaning and joy in what you do, especially work and hobbies, and keep doing it.
3. Fret less about yesterday, worry less about tomorrow, and live fully in the moment.
4. Practice self-care—emphasizing good mental and physical health.
5. Live a life of integrity, kindness, and generosity, while expressing gratitude for what you have, not craving what you don’t have.
Dr. Bevvino is a clinical psychologist and has served as the Associate Director for Behavioral Medicine for the Reading Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program for over twenty years.
Dr. Baxter is the retired Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Reading Hospital and serves as the editor of the Medical Record.
by Rabbi Brian I. Michelson Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom Reading, PA
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” This sentence opens one of the most important documents for us as Americans, the first sentence of the Declaration of Independence. I have often wondered about the last phrase, “the pursuit of Happiness.” Why does this foundational document only provide for the pursuit and not the promise of happiness?
Most of the research on happiness has shown that meaningful relationships with others are the key to the “pursuit of happiness.” I am going to make a broad generalization, always a risky thing, but I think it is hard to be happy alone and joy is an emotion that is almost always shared, for a time, with others. Within the Bible, we are commanded not to celebrate as individuals but rather rejoice in community—in relationship to other people. I don’t know about you, but I do know that for me, my greatest moments of joy have always involved others. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, considered one of the greatest Jewish writers on Jewish ethics and spirituality, argued that joy is transient and shared. Happiness is in moments that come and go. This is why the American founders focused on the pursuit of happiness. They understood that the freedom to pursue these moments was worth fighting for.
In addition, I have often found a connection between happiness and those who have a rich spiritual life. This can come from a specific religious tradition or from someone who has deep
connections outside of themselves and to the concept of gratitude. In Judaism, we call this Hakarat Hatov, focusing on or bringing near the good. We are taught to give thanks for what we have, remembering that in most circumstances, how lucky we truly are. Rabbi Ben Zoma once taught, “Who is rich? The one happy with their lot,” the one who can express gratitude and a spiritual tie to something outside of themselves.1
Living in our post-pandemic world, I find many people struggling to find happiness and joy in their lives. I think that is because we live lives that seem to be alienated from other people. We retreated into the safety of ourselves to protect our health, but even now the impact of this change lingers on. We live in a world where religious communities have tested our faith with priests, rabbis, and pastors failing to live up to their moral or ethical responsibilities to their communities, leaving people shocked and unsure of where they can find community. However, most of all our happiness is at risk because of our emphasis on individualism and toxic polarization. “I do what I think and what is best for me and me alone and if you disagree with me you are evil and bad.” We have prioritized the individual over the community, over relationships with others, and we wonder why happiness is so hard to find.
The founders were right. We live in “the pursuit of Happiness.” May we open our hearts and our minds to this challenge as we seek joy and happiness as individuals within a community.
The visionary generosity of Edward C. Fischer, MD, means that the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society can rely on a cache of funding available to nimbly respond to areas of greatest need. Dr. Fischer established an unrestricted legacy bequest. This flexibility helps the Foundation direct funds to meet critical needs for medical students and physicians.
Dr. Fischer served as a Reading, Pa., radiologist, and was a kind and well-respected physician according to Raymond C. Truex, Jr., MD, FACS, FAANS, medical director, Pennsylvania Physicians’ Health Program (PA-PHP). “When Dr. Fischer’s estate was probated, the Foundation was surprised at the magnitude of his bequest, placing him in the highest echelon of Foundation contributors,” he says.
According to his obituary, Dr. Fischer passed away July 30, 2015, at the Reading Hospital. He was the husband of Noni Fischer to whom he was devoted for nearly 53 years of marriage. He was born in Edinboro, Pa. Dr. Fischer attended Houghton College, in New York. He was a member of the Army Medical Corp and was stationed in Hawaii from 1958-1961. He studied pre-med at the Pennsylvania State University, and earned his MD at Temple University. He completed his residency in radiology at the Reading Hospital. He joined West Reading Radiology Associates in 1968 and went on to train many radiology residents through the years. He was active in the Eastern Radiological Society for many years and served as treasurer from 2004-2007. He retired from his practice in 1998.
Dr. Fischer left nearly $1 million to The Foundation that offers three hallmark service lines: the PA-PHP, LifeGuard, and Student Financial Services. “Dr. Fischer’s tremendous gift allows us to meet needs within these programs and empowers us to mobilize resources to address emerging concerns including physician well-being. We are incredibly humbled by Dr. Fischer’s philanthropic imprint that
demonstrated his dedication to his fellow physicians across the Commonwealth,” says Foundation Executive Director Heather Wilson, MSW, CFRE, CAE, FCPP.
The Foundation offers unique estate planning opportunities to memorialize values and beliefs in the medical field. Donors can notify the Foundation of intent to leave a legacy gift so that the Foundation can direct funds to the programs or services of donor choice. And an unrestricted gift helps the Foundation continually adapt to changing economic and regulatory constraints.
“It’s important to the Foundation to be aware of a donor’s intention to leave a legacy gift. This knowledge helps us to strategically plan for our financial stability, ensuring that the mission of the Foundation will continue to be stable and strong well into the future,” says Manager of Philanthropy and Hospital Relations Lori Storm. “Bequests can afford the donor the opportunity to make a future gift that is often the largest contribution they have made to support our programs,” she says. The Foundation is grateful for the generosity and foresight many donors demonstrate in the form of legacy gifts.
“When we are notified of your bequest intention, we are able to document your wishes and ensure that your gift will be well stewarded and held in the highest regard,” says Storm.
To learn more about how you can make an enduring gift like Dr. Fischer, please contact Manager of Philanthropy and Hospital Relations Lori Storm at (717) 558-7813.
The mission of the Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society is to provide programs and services for individual physicians and others that improve the well-being of Pennsylvanians and sustain the future of medicine.
by Seth Rosenzweig, MD
To paraphrase a very old advertisement, “When Mike Baxter talks, everyone listens.”
When Mike asked me to write this article about changes in the field of gastroenterology over the 36 years of my career in Berks County, and despite my aversion to writing, saying no was not an option. Choosing how to narrow this topic down was also impossible. Despite the occasional perception that we are just proceduralists, most of us chose this career for the mix of cognitive and procedural aspects, as well as the opportunity to develop longterm relationships with our patients. We also get to work with multiple organs and multiple other specialists, so there is a lot of crossover. Rather than just writing free-form, I am going to start with endoscopy and then work my way down the GI tract as an anatomic tour that is extensive but not all-inclusive.
Endoscopy: Development of video-endoscopes in the 1980s revolutionized visualization of mucosa, both for the endoscopist and the endoscopy nurses (who could now see what we were seeing and help us look for colon polyps). No longer did we have to look through a tiny eyepiece in the head of the scope. Therapeutic endoscopy developed, with availability of cautery devices, Epinephrine injection and through-the-scope clips dramatically increasing the ability to control GI bleeding without need for surgery. Esophageal varices can now be banded and eradicated with rubber bands rather than being sclerosed with a toxic liquid. Larger lesions can now be removed with endoscopic mucosal resection, also reducing need for surgical resection. Artificial intelligence devices have augmented colon polyp detection, raising adenoma detection rates (an accepted marker of colonoscopy quality). Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has become routine, for evaluation of submucosal lesions of the upper GI tract, pancreatic lesions, and fine detail in the biliary tree. ERCP has become a routine method for removing common bile duct stones and stenting inoperable malignant bile duct strictures, and cholangioscopy can now be done to directly visualize the bile ducts during ERCP. Double balloon enteroscopy, still done mostly at highly specialized centers, can reach the entirety of the small bowel for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Seth Rosenzweig, MD, began his Gastroenterology career with the Digestive Disease Associates group in Reading immediately following completion of his Fellowship at Yale University in 1987. Prior to that he completed his undergraduate training at Yale University followed by Medical School at Columbia University and an Internal Medicine Residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University.
Rather than return home to Long Island, he joined as the fourth member of the DDA group and now completes his clinical practice after 36 years. He continues to share his knowledge and skills as faculty in the Reading Hospital/Tower Health GI Fellowship.
Anyone who has been a patient or a colleague of Seth knows that it is just not what he knew or what he did, but how he did it that made him a model for all of our physicians. His qualities of personal warmth, light humor and complete dedication to his profession served us all well.
Seth is truly both a gentleman and an excellent physician. We congratulate Seth on this next life step and more time with his family and friends.
Esophagus: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) first became available in late 1989 and have revolutionized the treatment of acid reflux disease and other peptic disorders. Aggressive surgical treatment with esophago-gastrectomy for dysplastic Barrett’s esophagus, and even T1a esophageal cancers, is a thing of the past. Ablation therapy for Barrett’s with low-grade and high-grade dysplasia is successful in eradication 80-90% of the time and T1a cancers can be removed with endoscopic mucosal resection. Eosinophilic esophagitis came on our radar screen, and treatment has evolved from swallowing fluticasone from an asthma inhaler, to PPIs, to a new and highly successful biologic agent (dupilumab).
Stomach: H. pylori was discovered and was affirmed to be a pathogen responsible for gastritis, many peptic ulcers, and Class 1 carcinogen. Antibiotic options to eradicate this organism, in addition to acid reducers, have revolutionized treatment of peptic ulcer disease.
Small intestine: We now have much better recognition of the high prevalence of celiac disease and its myriad presentations.
Colon: Colon cancer screening has (thankfully) become routine, and we are developing greater recognition of the need to order genetic testing to look for hereditary syndromes. Better data on diverticular disease has led to a higher threshold to recommend surgical resection for recurrent diverticulitis. Colonoscopy preps are more palatable (but still a lot to drink!).
Inflammatory bowel disease: Biologic agents have been revolutionary. Infliximab became available in 1998, and we now have a multitude of agents for both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. Unfortunately, they all have TV advertisements to go along with them. Hospitalization rates for IBD are much lower.
Pancreas: Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer survival rates are still poor, but it appears that there are vaccines on the horizon that may greatly change this. Recognition of the importance of pancreatic cysts has evolved over the last ten years or so, and hopefully following these aggressively may allow for early detection or prevention of some pancreatic malignancies.
Hepatobiliary: The story of Hepatitis C has followed the arc of my career. At the beginning, we had non-A, non-B hepatitis (no one knew what that was exactly). Then the Hepatitis C virus was discovered, and testing came along. Interferon treatment was developed, but the eradication rate was only 15%. Then came addition of Ribavirin, followed by a few years of triple therapy (NEVER well tolerated, by patient or physician). For about the last nine to ten years we have had the new oral agents, and the therapeutic nightmare is over. Treatment is extremely well-tolerated, eradication rates are well over 90%, and the Hepatitis C epidemic has been replaced by the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) epidemic. This is still evolving and therapy beyond addressing risk factors is on the horizon.
In looking at all of this, I fully realize that this list is not exhaustive, and I have not mentioned the evolving issue of the gut microbiome. There is also a lot that has not changed. There is still a person/patient on the other side of everything that we do, and regardless of all the technological advances we still need to tend to their needs and explain what we do in their terms and to the best of our ability. Additionally, we continue to collaborate with a wide variety of other providers, from primary care to multiple medical and surgical subspecialties, to Pathology and Radiology. I also need to give a lot of credit for my career longevity to my colleagues at Digestive Disease Associates (now actually US Digestive HealthWyomissing, but always DDA to me). Aside from the immense satisfaction of caring for my patients, it has been the friendships and teamwork there that have made 36 years go by in a flash.
Finally, I want to look to the future. The one missing link in our practice was a teaching program. We began our ACGME-accredited GI fellowship at Reading Hospital in July 2020, and our first two fellows graduate at the end of this month. Andy Lee and Oluwaseun “Sho” Shogbesan are the first two fellows in our program, and we are intensely proud of them and the standard they have set. With ongoing success of the program, we will be able to continue to recruit GI physicians and provide the highest quality GI care for Berks County.
by Martin Altimar, MSPT, DPT, CSCS
Physical therapy can be traced back to the time of Hippocrates, where he used massage, exercise, and hydrotherapy to treat various conditions. In the 19th century, Per Henrik Ling, known as the father of Swedish Gymnastics, established schools and training programs throughout Europe. In the United States, physical therapy gained recognition during the polio epidemic of the early 20th century, where physical therapists played a crucial role in helping patients regain strength and mobility.
Continuing to evolve with the establishment of the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) in the 1920s which helped to standardize education and training for physical therapists, physical therapy today is an essential part of healthcare. Physical therapists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and sports facilities.
Physical therapy involves the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of physical impairments, injuries, and disabilities through exercise, manual therapy, and other non-invasive techniques. It is often used to help people recover from injuries, surgeries, and chronic medical conditions. Physical therapy can also be used to help prevent injuries and improve overall health and well-being. In this article, we will explore the many benefits of physical therapy.
One of the most significant benefits of physical therapy is pain relief. Physical therapists use a variety of techniques to reduce pain, including manual therapy, stretching, and exercise and may also use modalities such as electrical stimulation to help alleviate pain. Physical therapy can be effective in treating a wide range of conditions that cause pain, including back pain, neck pain, arthritis, and sports injuries.
Physical therapy can help improve mobility and movement, making it easier for people to perform their daily activities. Physical therapists use exercises and other techniques to help patients regain strength, flexibility, and balance. This can be particularly beneficial for older adults who may be at risk of falls or for people with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Physical therapy can help people become more independent by improving their ability to perform daily tasks. Physical therapists may teach patients how to use assistive devices such as crutches or walkers, or they may provide exercises to improve strength and mobility. By becoming more independent, patients may also experience a greater sense of self-confidence and self-esteem.
The history of physical therapy is a testament to the importance of movement and physical function in the promotion of health and wellbeing.
Physical therapy can be an effective way to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. Physical therapists can work with patients to develop an exercise program that is safe and effective, taking into account any limitations or health concerns. By improving physical function, patients may also experience a reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life.
Physical therapy can be beneficial for preventing injuries, particularly in athletes or people who engage in regular physical activity. Physical therapists can help identify areas of weakness or imbalance in the body and provide exercises to address these issues. This can help reduce the risk of injury and improve overall performance.
Physical therapy can be effective in improving balance and coordination, particularly in older adults. Physical therapists may use exercises to improve core strength and stability, as well as techniques to improve proprioception (the body’s ability to sense its position in space). By improving balance and coordination, patients may be less likely to fall or experience other injuries.
Physical therapy is often an important part of post-surgical rehabilitation. Physical therapists can help patients regain strength and mobility following surgery, reducing the risk of complications and improving overall outcomes. By working closely with patients and their healthcare team, physical therapists can ensure that the rehabilitation process is safe and effective.
Physical therapy can be beneficial for improving cardiovascular health, particularly in people with heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions. Physical therapists can develop exercise programs that are safe and effective, helping to improve cardiovascular function and reduce the risk of complications.
Physical therapy can also have a positive impact on mental health. Exercise has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and physical therapy can
provide a safe and supportive environment for patients to engage in regular physical activity. By improving physical function and reducing pain, patients may also experience an improved quality of life and a greater sense of well-being.
Finally, one of the benefits of physical therapy is that treatment plans are customized to each individual patient. Physical therapists work closely with patients to develop a plan that is tailored to their specific needs.
PT does not mean Pain and Torture. One of the misconceptions about physical therapy is that it is only for people who have suffered an injury or an illness. While physical therapy is commonly used in these cases, it can also be used for injury prevention, to improve athletic performance and to manage chronic conditions such as arthritis or diabetes.
Another common misconception is that physical therapy is painful. While physical therapy can be challenging and uncomfortable at times, it should not be painful. Finally, physical therapy can be as effective, if not more so, in promoting healing and improving function. In fact, physical therapy can help reduce the need for medication and surgery in some cases.
In conclusion, physical therapy has many benefits, including pain relief, improved mobility, injury prevention, improved balance and coordination, improved cardiovascular health, improved breathing, improved mental health, and improved quality of life.
If you are dealing with a chronic condition, recovering from an injury or surgery, or simply looking to improve your overall health and well-being, physical therapy may be a valuable tool for you. Talk to your doctor or a physical therapist to learn more about how physical therapy can benefit you.
Tower Health provides numerous convenient locations throughout Berks County with experienced and specialized physical therapists to meet all and every physical therapy need.
Martin Alimar graduated from Beaver College/Arcadia University in 1995 with MSPT and in 2011 with DPT. He has over 28 years of clinical experience in the Outpatient Orthopedics and the Sports Medicine Field. He is certified as a Sport and Conditioning Specialist since 1997 and is a Tower Health Physical Therapist currently working in a Wyomissing office. His clinical interests include shoulder and knee rehabilitation and youth sports prevention programs.
From its opening 150 years ago as St. Joseph Hospital to the present day, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center has faithfully provided high-quality health care to all in need.
The story of its evolution began in 1873 when Monsignor George Bornemann, pastor of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, answered the City of Reading’s call for an inpatient hospital. He and the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia opened a 12-bed hospital to provide a place of healing for the sick, injured, and poor.
St. Joseph Hospital’s bed capacity and services quickly expanded to include infant’s, children’s, neurological, dental, and other services. In addition to creating an advanced laboratory, the hospital purchased such innovative technology as a basal metabolism machine, a powerful X-ray machine, electrocardiograph, a stethograph and an iron lung. The hospital also launched a diabetic clinic and the area’s first blood bank.
During the decades that followed, St. Joseph Hospital expanded nearly a full city block from its original site at 13th and Walnut streets to Elm Street and multiple renovation and expansion projects maxed out the usable square footage within the hospital’s footprint. St. Joseph Medical Center acquired its current Downtown Campus at Sixth and Walnut streets in a merger with Community General Hospital in 1997. Nine years later, it built a new, 204-bed hospital along Route 183 in Bern Township. In 2015, the hospital joined Penn State Health, increasing access to advanced specialty care for conditions such as cancer, high-risk obstetrics issues and neurologic disorders.
Three years later, the health system acquired Berks Cardiology, ensuring patients had access to the most advanced diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions in Berks County. For 50 years, Berks Cardiology physicians have been at the forefront of innovation in
interventional heart care, finding new ways to treat heart disease and improve patient outcomes.
Penn State Health continues to recruit a growing number of expert vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists and invest in leading-edge technology so patients don’t need to travel to Philadelphia or Baltimore for even the most complex heart and vascular conditions.
Some of those investments include:
• A new electrophysiology laboratory fully equipped with stateof-the-art technology to help improve the quality of life for patients with chronic or potentially dangerous heart rhythm problems
• A hybrid cardiac suite that combines the features of a cardiac catheterization lab with those of an operating room to enable more complex interventions for structural and coronary heart disease and endovascular aneurysms
• A full spectrum of noninvasive cardiac imaging technology, including PET/CT scan and an industry-leading MRI that adapts to patients’ bodies for a more precise, fast and comfortable exam
• Innovative medical device technologies that offer less invasive procedures and quicker recovery, such as the WATCHMAN, which reduces the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, TAVR, a minimally invasive option for aortic valve replacement, and Transcarotid Artery Revascularization or TCAR, which treats carotid artery disease
St. Joseph Medical Center has also earned national recognition for the exceptional care it offers Berks County patients. Its recent awards include:
• Spring 2023 “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group
• Healthgrades Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Heart Attack
• 2022 American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry Chest Pain – Myocardial Infarction Registry Platinum Performance Award
• 2022 American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines –Heart Failure Gold Plus with Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
• The Joint Commission’s Advanced Primary Stroke Center Certification
• The Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification in Heart Failure
Although health care providers across the country continue to face challenges with recruiting staff, inflation and supply chain interruptions, Penn State Health has taken actions to ensure its hospitals can continue to deliver on its vital mission. At the same time, it has taken definitive steps to improve access to communitybased behavioral health resources, an ongoing need exacerbated by the pandemic.
Using its Behavioral Health OnDemand platform, patients are able to access licensed psychologists, psychiatrists or counselors in a secure, virtual visit. Patients can sign up at no cost and see a provider on a smartphone or computer.
In a move to help primary care physicians better care for patients seeking behavioral health services, providers and staff from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine have been sharing their expertise with physicians across the state through Project Echo (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). Teams of specialists educate and train primary care physicians on behavioral health issues and provide them with the most recent research and therapies to help them care for their patients.
Visit Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center’s website to learn more about the full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical services it offers.
I’ve had the privilege of working at Reading Hospital as an Emergency Medicine physician for more than 25 years. And now, as the first physician President and CEO in the Hospital’s storied history, I appreciate more than ever the role Reading Hospital has in the community as an important anchor institution. I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to thank you, my physician colleagues, for supporting me in my first year as president and CEO. It is truly a privilege to lead the team that I have been part of for most of my medical career. Reading Hospital has been a beacon for hope and healing for more than 150 years in the community my family and I call home. I am honored to advance this legacy.
This is a remarkable time in healthcare, and I have never been prouder of all the people who make Reading Hospital a pillar in the community. Together we have weathered three years of disruption caused by the pandemic. Our medical staff and other team members gave everything they had to keep our patients and our community safe, even during times of great uncertainty. No matter how difficult the task, you never quit and never forgot why you dedicated your career to healthcare: to care for those in your community. In addition to our outstanding clinical care, Reading Hospital was, and continues to be, a trusted resource in the community. Educators, government officials, and others relied on our team because of the expertise of our medical staff. I know it wasn’t easy, but I hope you can see the
impact you had, and continue to have, on your patients and the community.
Now we are emerging from this difficult period with strength and determination to carry our legacy forward. The signs of recovery are everywhere. I am pleased to share that Reading Hospital is adding physicians, nurses, and support staff − talented people who, in some cases, left during the pandemic and have returned because Reading Hospital is where they want to be. In fact, the number of clinical team members at Reading Hospital increased and we have more physicians, APPs, and nursing staff now than we did before the pandemic. Restoring staff levels means that we are better able to fulfill our mission, serving more patients, and improving access to our world-class primary
and specialty care that continues to be recognized for excellence regionally and nationally.
I am particularly proud of the number of accolades the Hospital has received. For the second time, Reading Hospital was named one of Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals, which places us among the top 1 percent of nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide. This prestigious award recognizes Reading Hospital for its consistent, year-over-year superior clinical performance. We are also ranked among the Top Ten Hospitals in Pennsylvania by US News & World Report, recognized by Healthgrades with five 5-star ratings in areas such as total hip replacement surgery, cardiac valve surgery, treatment of stroke, treatment of pneumonia, and treatment of heart failure, received a full three-year accreditation as a Level I Trauma Center from the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation (PTSF), and earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Accreditation for the third consecutive time.
This is just a partial list of the Hospital’s awards and accreditations, but they serve as important reminders to our communities that when they come see you, their physician, they know they are receiving high quality care. These recognitions are based, in part, on the clinical excellence of our medical staff, and I hope you are proud of their significance.
In the past year I’ve been working with our team to renew our commitment to
At Reading Hospital, we provide a vast range of state-of-the-art, minimally invasive weight loss procedures driving faster recovery times and incredible outcomes. Coupled with our comprehensive pre-op evaluation and personalized post-op nutritional counseling, our patients lose 75% of their excess weight on average.
Take the first essential step to reclaiming your life at RHBariatrics.org.
John Fam, MD Medical Director, Weight Loss Surgery and Wellness Centerby funding from the Reading Hospital Foundation. We hit the road, literally, in September 2022, and in four months hosted 33 events and screened more than 225 patients. To date in 2023, we have hosted 90 events and screened nearly 750 individuals.
We have also expanded our commitment to medical and healthcare education, training the next generation of doctors, nurses, and technicians right here in Berks County − many of whom stay here because they experience firsthand what a special
as a medical student. I fell in love with the Hospital and knew it was where I was meant to be. I thank the physicians on our team who will work with these bright young medical minds.
For these and many other reasons, I believe the Reading Hospital team is strong and getting stronger. This commitment to our community’s health and healthcare has been the promise of Reading Hospital for more than 150 years, and it will be our promise for decades to come. This is the
contact me at Charles.Barbera@towerhealth. org. Thank you for your support and for your commitment to your patients, your colleagues, and the community.
The major drug problem in the United States is not on the street, it is in our medicine cabinets. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
On April 22, 2023, the Berks County Medical Society partnered with the Fightin’ Phils, the Berks County Office of the District Attorney and the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition to sponsor the 2023 Prescription Take-back Day. This annual event offers Berks Countians a safe, convenient, and responsible method of disposing of both prescription and over-the-counter medications while at the same time connecting participants with local safe medication management resources. And as an added incentive, free tickets to an August Fightin’ Phils game are provided to all individuals who drop off their unused medications.
The 2023 event demonstrated the teamwork needed to properly dispose of large quantities of medication. Public safety personnel from the District Attorney’s staff and the Reading Police Department oversaw the handover of the medications while volunteers from the Berks County Medical Society and Drexel University sorted and prepared the medications for transfer to the Berks County Forensics Unit van. The medications are then transported to the appropriate sites for safe disposal. And SOS Berks volunteers were on hand to provide educational packets to all participants including medication disposal bags and pill storage
boxes. This year’s event also sought to protect the environment by disposing of the medication containers in a separate bin for recycling.
The 2023 Prescription Take-back Day faced its challenges as volunteers worked outside in damp and chilly weather. But despite the weather, this event was one of the most successful. Cars were lined up at 8:30am with individuals patiently waiting to hand over their medications. And one resourceful senior citizen even used taxi transportation to bring her unused medications to the event. Over three hours, 264 cars came through or an average of 1.5 cars per minute. And the event resulted in the collections of 48 pounds of controlled and 405 pounds of non-controlled medication or 453 total pounds (over one quarter of a ton).
The Prescription Take-back Day is just one opportunity to dispose of your medications wisely. Medication drop boxes located at Berks County police departments and medication disposal bags provided by the Council on Chemical Abuse offer year-round options for safe medication management. Click on Medication Safety - Council on Chemical Abuse | Your Bridge to Addiction Resources (cocaberks.org) to learn about the resources available for you and your family.
Two members of the Reading Hospital medical staff –Blake Bailey, DO, and Caitlyn Moss, MD – were both recently named to the list of Top Physicians under 40 by the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
“This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Dr. Bailey and Dr. Moss,” said Charles F. Barbera, MD, Reading Hospital president and CEO. “Through their efforts they have made such a positive impact on their patients and colleagues, and we are honored they have chosen to share their talents with our community and medical staff.”
Dr. Bailey joined the Hospital in 2016 and currently serves as Vice Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, and Assistant Director, Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Reading Hospital. Dr. Moss is an Academic Hospitalist in the Department of Internal Medicine and a core faculty member for the Internal Medicine Residency Program who joined Reading Hospital in 2020.
In his work in the Emergency Department, Dr. Bailey has helped lead improvements in services for patients with mental health and substance abuse issues, including reducing the time between arrival and evaluation in the ED for behavioral health patients by almost 50 percent. Early in his tenure he became actively involved in the Reading Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Program by becoming a member of the Core Faculty as well as overseeing the residency curriculum. Dr. Bailey also serves as a “Resident Mentor” for an Emergency Medicine resident each year. In this role he works to ensure the new resident is acclimating to the Berks County area, adjusting to residency, and striving for a healthy work-life balance. To pursue his medical career, Dr. Bailey “came home” to Reading Hospital: he was born at the Hospital and spent a year working in the Emergency Department before he started medical school.
In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Moss has shaped the Internal Medicine Residency curriculum, including an innovative Opioid Use Disorder curriculum in which residents not only see acutely ill patients in withdrawal, but engage with them in counseling groups and in outpatient settings to understand an individual’s struggle and recovery. She has also built an innovative and popular Medical Education curriculum and an HIV clinic curriculum. Dr. Moss also started a speaker series on “Life After Residency” in which speakers discuss important issues related to professional development and maintaining work/life balance.
In her first year with Tower Health, Dr. Moss organized “A Night of Physician Storytelling” which brought together physicians, residents and fellows, and Drexel medical students who shared personal stories to help reduce stress and burnout.
Suzanne Wenderoth, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Reading Hospital and Tower Health, added, “Both Drs. Bailey and Moss have worked tirelessly to establish themselves as respected physicians not only at Reading Hospital, but in the state. This prestigious honor is a fitting recognition of their skill in the medical field and the talents they share across the health system.”
Dr. Barbera added, “Caitlyn and Blake embody the values of excellence and compassion that define our clinical team and are an example of the high-caliber of physicians we have across all specialties at Reading Hospital.”
One of America’s 50 Best Hospitals according to Healthgrades® is right here in Berks County and offers award-winning Heart and Vascular care.
Recent recognitions include: Healthgrades®
• Top 10% in the Nation for Cardiac Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award
• Five-star recipient for Coronary Bypass Surgery
American Heart Association
• Get with the Guidelines – Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award
• Mission: Lifeline® STEMI Receiving Gold recognition award
Reading Hospital offers a full complement of physicians highly skilled in heart and vascular care, including more than 15 medical and procedural cardiologists, 3 electrophysiologists, 3 CT surgeons, and 4 vascular surgeons. To schedule an appointment with our team, call 1-833-34-TOWER.
Learn more at TowerHealth.org/HeartHealth
When Schuylkill River Greenways wanted help with the preservation and revitalization of the river and a 120-mile trail alongside it, they looked to Tompkins because of our shared commitment to traditional values and economic innovation. | tompkinsbank.com
by D. Michael Baxter, MD
It was hard to ignore John Moser. I know because I tried a few times. As an active member and Section Chief of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Reading Hospital for many years, John attended innumerable medical conferences and invariably peppered the guest speaker with pointed and difficult questions. John was also a Past President of the Berks County Medical Society, leading many discussions with his unique sense of humor and irreverent point of view. And invariably with his faithful chocolate Lab, “Huck,” at his side.
Dr. John Moser was born in Phoenixville and grew up in Spring City, the second child of Dr. Christian and Edith Moser. By all accounts he was an outstanding student and athlete. He graduated from Bucknell University in 1968 and began his first career as a teacher with the Devereux Foundation, a nonprofit behavioral health organization that serves children and young adults with developmental disabilities, emotional, and behavioral disorders. He would continue this relationship later as a consulting physician for over 40 years. In 1975 he made a career change and entered Hahnemann Medical College, following in his father’s footsteps. He graduated in 1979 and then joined the Family Medicine Residency Program at Reading Hospital, completing his training in 1982.
John began his medical practice in Morgantown soon after his residency training and became the small-town Family Doctor for that area for nearly 40 years. He took great pride in caring for the patients of the tri-county area of Berks, Chester, and Lancaster counties and enjoyed showing the buggy hitching post in front of his office to any inquisitive visitor. He was clearly a fixture in that community, caring for several generations of patients, as well as training numerous residents, medical and nurse practitioner students over the years. Each of them received not only an excellent clinical experience but also a dose of John’s unique view of medical practice and an encompassing life philosophy.
John married Mary Agnes “Aggie”” Benke in 1970 and together they raised three exceptional children, Christian, Damian, and Autumn, in their house in the woods in Chester County. Few local experiences were comparable to their annual Labor Day clam roast. My own small kids, at the time, especially loved John’s 1966 Volkswagen camper van which appeared straight out of Woodstock. John’s other great passion was his sailing crew from Reading Hospital who sailed and partied on the Chesapeake for many years, surprisingly without any major catastrophes.
John and Aggie divorced in 2012 and John later wed Amy Smith, a nurse from Devereux; however, that marriage was short-lived. Certainly, John experienced the ups and downs of life perhaps more so than many of us. And yet he always preserved his unique sense of humor, his sharp intellect, and his inquisitive medical mind. When I last visited him a few months ago, a New England Journal of Medicine lay on his table, and he engaged me in a discussion of the lead article. But that was John—inquisitive, challenging, and a dear friend to the very end.
Special commemorative 10th anniversary t-shirts will be for sale.
We will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Guts and Glory Digestive and Wellness Expo on Saturday, September 23, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Penn State Berks, 1801 Broadcasting Road, Reading. The Expo was originally created in 2013 and hosted by non-profit My Gut Instinct, Inc. with title sponsor Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center.
Guts and Glory Digestive and Wellness Expo is a free community-wide celebration of health for all ages that showcases a farmers’ market, educational booths, fresh locally sourced food, fitness zones, yoga, massage, and wellness experts, to name a few features. Over 100 vendors in attendance span all dimensions of health and well-being to engage the attendees (Wellness Warriors) with interactive demonstrations.
This year we are excited to have a 20' MEGA Colon exhibit, which provides visitors with an interactive, educational experience of stepping through a large-scale model of the human colon that highlights common disease conditions.
“We aim to provide people with health knowledge and empower them to take action to live healthier lives and become beautiful from the inside, out, because we believe beauty starts on the inside,” said founder Aparna Mele, M.D. “We also want to show the community that eating and living healthy is not only easy to do, but it can also be fun and delicious too!” Aparna Mele, M.D., is a board-certified gastroenterologist with U.S. Digestive Health.
Aparna Mele, Founder and President 610-374-4401 ext 1003 info@mygutinstinct.org
For more information about My Gut Instinct and the Guts and Glory event visit www.mygutinstinct.org. Stay up to date with volunteer, sponsor and vendor opportunities as well as enjoy healthy recipes and inspirational motivation on Facebook and Instagram @mygutinstinct and @gutsyandmini.
Our mission at My Gut Instinct, a non-profit organization, is to collaboratively inspire and empower our community to embrace health and eat and live better for longevity. Our organization aims to increase awareness of preventable diseases that impact community health. We focus on preventing these avoidable diseases through motivating the community to make healthy choices, promoting cancer screenings, and raising awareness for various health concerns.
by Anewalt’s Landscape Contracting
More than just flowers are blooming at the new Harlan Harvey House, located in Bernville, PA. This special collaboration among three local businesses has blossomed to create an exquisite AirBNB for Berks County visitors to enjoy everything the County and surrounding region have to offer.
Twenty-five years ago, Dave and Cindy Sherman bought a property near their new AirBNB as an escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City.
Eventually, the Shermans had to re-relocate back to New Jersey but continued to love Berks County and their Berks home. Inspired by that love, they set off to become entrepreneurs when the perfect spot became available, and purchased what they now call the Harlan Harvey House, named after Dave’s grandfather, a dairy farmer.
The 24-acre U-shaped property that borders Christ Tulpehocken Church and the Little Tulpehocken Creek was beautiful but needed both interior and exterior work to bring it up to the standards the Shermans set for their new AirBNB business.
When it came time to creating their great outdoors, the Shermans reached out to Anewalt’s Landscape Contracting as their first choice. “The Shermans had earlier contracted Anewalt’s to install a walkway at their home using EP Henry products, so they had confidence in selecting Anewalt’s and EP Henry’s products for their new Harlan Harvey House AirBNB project,” said Eddie Anewalt, President of Anewalt’s.
“I could see his vision,” added Dave, describing how Eddie Anewalt stood inside the home’s windowed back porch and looked over the backyard to see how the Anewalt’s team could best bring the space alive. And Eddie’s vision involved relocating an inground swimming pool across the yard to give the appearance of an infinity edge cascading into the wooded landscape, surrounded by comfortable seating areas, as well as a view of the Heidelberg golf course, just across the road.
“Harlan Harvey House was a very unique project for Anewalt’s because it was our first AirBNB contract,” stated Eddie. “It was challenging to work around the guests staying at the AirBNB, because we could only work when the house was not booked, yet still get it done on time. And it was extremely rewarding to hear that once the pool portion of the project was finished, there were immediate bookings for future dates. Team Anewalt’s was able to install the pool on time for a Memorial Day splash.”
“This pool was a real challenge,” remarked Agustin, Anewalt’s crew leader, “because it was my first poolscape working directly with Eddie and Mike, our operations manager. Personally, I was very satisfied with the project. The finished job was absolutely beautiful.”
Although the previous owners of the property did a wonderful job of planting perennials that bloom periodically during the growing season, Eddie and his team spruced up the beds surrounding the property and gave the Shermans some great information on the plants they and their guests will enjoy for years to come.
“We get a lesson every time he comes out here,” said Dave of Eddie Anewalt. “It’s just Eddie being Eddie. And it’s also the way Anewalt’s treats their employees. We just trust them.”
Inside the new AirBNB, guests will find a spacious 2500 sq ft home that pays homage to the Berks County region and provides the perfect spot for viewing the local wildlife that meanders past the peaceful new pool and perennial beds.
Team Anewalt’s will be onsite at the Harlan Harvey House to provide ongoing seasonal maintenance, and the Shermans have plans for Anewalt’s to ‘Light Up’ the property with custom holiday lighting for the winter months.
The third key team in the Shermans’ Harlan Harvey House project was Clover Hill Winery and Vineyards, a well-known and popular source for great local wines from grapes grown in its six vineyards which span 80 acres in the region.
Kari Skrip, owner of Clover Hill, and sister of Lori Anewalt, Anewalt’s VP of operations, brings her market expertise to the table, as well. They are providing a souvenir bottle of Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery wine with a custom logo, accompanied by a Harlan Harvey hat, for guests staying at the AirBNB. Other guest activities include exciting opportunities for weekend VIP wine tasting experiences at Clover Hill’s Vineyard at their Robesonia location, only a few miles away.
The Shermans have big dreams for the future of Harlan Harvey House and are grateful for their continued collaboration with Team Anewalt’s and Clover Hill.
“What karma,” shares Lori. “I am delighted and surprised for the Shermans that they took such a new path in life and decided to open a Berks County AirBNB. Sometimes the stars align, and this is a perfect example of that serendipity! An AirBNB, a unique opportunity for Anewalt’s, and the inclusion of Pennsylvania wines and traditions all wrapped into one!”
Just as a plant needs the right conditions to become healthy and strong, your outdoor projects need the right staff with a passion for quality to ensure that your landscape dreams come true.
Design.
We work with you to design the perfect outdoor space you, your family and friends will enjoy!
Build.
From pools, patios, walkways and more, we work within your budget to build quality, timeless outdoor spaces. Relax.
We provide year-round premiere landscape maintenance, so you can spend time enjoying your family!
610.916.7070
For more information about these local businesses, go to:
Harlan Harvey House - https://tinyurl.com/harlenharveyhouse
Arbnb for rent in Bernville, Pennsylvania
Anewalts Landscape Contracting - www.anewaltslandscape.com
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery | Breinigsville, PA - www.cloverhillwinery.com
Eye Emergencies
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Diabetic Eye Exams
Macular Degeneration
Yes, we can see your patients same day for emergencies and often same week for consults.
At BERKS EYE PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, we are happy to offer state-of-the-art and efficient care. Our doctors provide appropriate diagnosis and treatment, and fast feedback to you. Whether your patient has a sudden change in vision, cataracts, diabetes impacting vision, or even has a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, we would be honored to monitor and react to issues related to your patient’s eye health.
