Oxford Health & Life: Winter 2016

T H E G O O D L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E F R O M M C C U L L O U G H - H Y D E | T R I H E A LT H

OXFORD WINTER 2016 | $3.95 TRIHEALTH.COM

SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN GET PAIN RELIEF WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY DELICIOUS DESSERT SMOOTHIES

DON’T HAVE ANOTHER

SLEEPLESS NIGHT

{ IN GOOD HEALTH }

 (L-R) Emergency Department nurses Dawn Orr, Kara Aiken, Sommer McDaniel, Heather Bischoff, Chris Straszheim and Adam Golias.

SERVICE GETS PERSONAL HERB GESELL PROVIDES A FRIENDLY FACE AT SERVICE-MINDED FACILITIES.

If you’ve been to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/TriHealth, you might’ve encountered Herb Gesell. He may have helped you out of your car or assisted you in finding your way to the right department. One thing’s for sure: If you did have the opportunity to meet Herb, he treated you to a smile and made you feel like a welcome guest.

But Herb never intended to go down this road. About 19 years ago, he had a cardiac episode that brought him to MHMH’s Emergency Department, and “my surgeon told me that they did all the right things to keep me alive,” Herb says. “They performed four bypasses, and I was home again four days later.” Some years after his successful treatment, Herb was back at MHMH for some tests and they asked him if he was looking Herb Gesell for any work.

Guest Services “I told them not

really, because I’d just retired from fertilizer and chemical work about a year before that,” Herb recalls, “but they asked if I would want to drive the patient bus a couple of times a week.” As it turned out, that couple of times a week ended up with Herb putting in quite a bit of time at the Main Entrance—and he’s become something of a fixture for patients and staff.

“I have been working with Herb since his start of his career at MHMH, which was in February 2005,” Director of Wellness Sharon Klein says, “and Herb has never met a stranger and makes everyone feel welcome. I often speak to patients and visitors who tell me how helpful Herb—and our other guest services staff, Dennis and John—are.” And Sharon isn’t alone in her feelings.

“Herb works with such joy, it’s enviable,” Katie Estes, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Operations, says.

“He helps people with usually just two questions—when and where. That’s all he needs to know. What a blessing to have someone like that here at our hospital. Ev-

ery hospital needs a Herb!”

You could say Herb is a prime example of the commitment to personalized service for each of its patients. In fact, MHMH just unveiled the second phase of a multimillion-dollar Emergency Department renovation in order to continue to provide even better individual care.

The renovation has brought improvements such as 12 new individual treatment rooms that provide more privacy, two senior-focused specialty rooms and a pediatric room. Other additions include a dedicated trauma room and separate areas for patients exposed to infectious diseases and hazardous materials. There’s a centralized workstation that provides nurses and doctors with increased visibility of patients at all times.

And all of this demonstrates MHMH’s absolute dedication to providing the best care and the most attentive personal service. As for Herb, he’ll be here, doing what he does. “I’ve had the best time of my life here, and I’ve met a lot of good people,” he says. “I’ve never had a bad moment.”

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SERVICES AVAIL ABLE FOR YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AT MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, PLEASE CALL 513.523.2111 OR VISIT TRIHEALTH.COM.

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DON’T HAVE ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT

LACK OF SLEEP CAN BE A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT DR. SHAYLA L. PULLEN IS HERE TO HELP. You roll over one way and then the other.

But you can’t get comfortable. You check the clock to see what time it is. Perhaps you read some of the book on your nightstand, hoping to drift off. But it doesn’t work. You check the clock again and realize you have to get up in just a short while.

So you just lie there in the dark and wonder how you’ll make it through your day without any sleep.

In our fast-paced era, it’s an all-toofamiliar situation. And if it becomes an ongoing challenge, the consequences to your health can be significant. “During quality sleep, there is restoration of both mind and body. It is during sleep that our memories are stored, our hearts can rest, muscles and tissues are repaired, and various hormones are released,” says Shayla L. Pullen, M.D. “Therefore, sleep is what keeps our bodies in perfect balance, and without it systems begin to Shayla L. Pullen, M.D. break down, causing

a domino effect that then puts unhealthy stress on the body and all its systems.”

Specializing in sleep medicine for six years, Dr. Pullen knows what she’s talking about.

In her role at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/TriHealth, Dr. Pullen deals with sleep disturbances and disorders that include insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, hypersomnia, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, REM behavior disorder, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder and restless legs. But, she says, “Technology is by far the biggest offender in preventing patients from getting enough sleep. Cell phones, iPads, computers and televisions coupled with an unstructured sleep routine are a recipe for disaster. None of these items should ever enter the bedroom.”

Rosemarie Gutowski had long-standing and complex sleep problems, and had been diagnosed with narcolepsy (extreme daytime sleepiness and irresistible bouts of sleep) in 1969. “It was very discouraging to not have an effective plan of treatment, because it affected my quality of life for so many years in a very negative way,” she says. “So I have a long history

of minimally effective treatment for narcolepsy, which I was resigned to accept as my only option for many years.” Finally, though, she found Dr. Pullen.

“She was pleasant, friendly and thorough, answering my questions and taking time to listen to my concerns,” Rosemarie says. “Medications and a BiPAP machine have improved my sleep dramatically. Now I sleep longer, and I awake feeling more rested and alert.” And that’s a good thing, because according to Dr. Pullen, just a few of the problems that can arise from not sleeping enough include a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, memory problems and Type 2 diabetes.

As for Rosemarie, she urges others with sleep problems to get help. “I would tell people there’s no reason to ignore such an important part of your life,” she says. “I might start to give them a lecture on how important sleep is to your overall health, especially your heart and brain.

But then I would say, ‘If you want to feel better, run! Do not walk! Do not pass Go! Make an appointment with Dr. Pullen without delay.’”

TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. PULLEN AT THE MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEDICAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 5151 MORNING SUN ROAD, PLEASE CALL 513.524.5475 OR VISIT TRIHEALTH.COM.

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{ IN GOOD HEALTH }

SWEET NEW SUITES

PRECISE AND PERSONABLE

MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL/TRIHEALTH is always striving for best-in-class facilities that provide best-in-class service, so renovations and improvements are always a consideration. Slated for completion in July 2017, the hospital’s newly constructed Operating Room (OR) Suites will increase operating room capacity from three to four. The renovations will also provide an additional endoscopy suite and expand the OR to improve workflow and include innovative surgical technology such as robotic equipment. There will also be enhanced lighting, topquality power supply improvements, and enhanced air-handling and humidification technology.

DR. CRAIG BIERER SPEEDS RECOVERY TIMES AND PUTS PATIENTS AT EASE. “I told the doctor that I would make him an advertisement on YouTube that went like this: ‘My watch is by Rolex. My car is by Porsche.

My suit is by Armani. My hip is by Bierer.’ He is that good.” These words come from David Chappell, Ph.D., Lecturer in Finance at Miami University’s Farmer School of Business. The doctor he’s talking about is Craig Bierer, M.D., doctor of osteopathic medicine and orthopedic surgeon.

Chappell’s commercial might sound a little over the top … but the more patients you talk to, the more you realize Dr. Bierer really is that good. “My family doctor recommended Dr. Bierer, and he worked on one of my knees in 2013 and one in 2015,” JoAnn Rhodus says. “My recovery was great.”

But she doesn’t just appreciate the docCraig Bierer, M.D. tor’s surgical skills. “I Osteopathic Medicine and Orthopedic Surgeon can call him and go

in or talk to him anytime … and I give him a hug!” she says. “He isn’t just doing a job. My sister-in-law couldn’t make it in to the office and he went to her house and talked to her about surgery.”

But Dr. Bierer also is indeed a very skilled and very specialized surgeon. Working with McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/TriHealth since 2007, he’s known specifically for direct anterior hip replacement. This method causes less muscle damage and leads to shorter hospital stays, and shorter and less painful recovery times. “What really has changed is how the procedure is done and our ability to control pain,” Dr. Bierer says, “This combination of new techniques works together, allowing for discharge the day after surgery.”

Wilson Grabill, another of Dr. Bierer’s patients, can speak from experience. “I needed a hip replacement. I could hardly walk and needed a cane,” he says. “I was in the hospital for one day, and within a month I wasn’t even using a cane. Now I walk three times a day.” But much like Rhodus,

Grabill doesn’t just talk about the doctor’s medical expertise. “He is a listener. I’ll run other issues by him because he’ll listen and talk it out,” he says. “He’s just an excellent, excellent doctor.”

When asked what makes him different, Dr. Bierer is quick to share the credit. “First of all, I have the best office staff anyone could ask for. They truly make my job easy as it could possibly be and create an atmosphere void of intimidation for my patients,” he says. “As far as myself, I believe I am good at what I do, and I spend time with my patients. One theme that carries through my office is that we are nice to patients, a characteristic that is sometimes (in my opinion) lacking from healthcare.”

As far as his patients, we already know what they think. But perhaps one final word from Dr. Chappell, “Dr. Bierer is not just an outstanding surgeon, but his entire operation is a class act. He immediately puts you at ease, and his staff is courteous and professional at all times. He will be my orthopedic surgeon for the rest of my life.”

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SERVICES AVAIL ABLE FOR YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AT MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, PLEASE CALL 513.523.2111 OR VISIT TRIHEALTH.COM.

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MY SURGEON WOULD SOMETIMES STOP

BY AND CHECK ON ME DURING PT. JUST KNOWING THAT HE CARED MADE A DIFFERENCE.” —MARISSA MILLMAN

STOP HURTING AND START LIVING

PHYSICAL THERAPISTS HELP PATIENTS RETURN TO THE ACTIVITIES THEY LOVE. Even before she got hurt, Marissa Millman, a graduate student at Miami University in Oxford, knew she had a problem. The tendons in one leg were weak. She’d had physical therapy a long time ago, but it hadn’t ended her pain.

Marissa loved being active, hiking and playing sports. So she kept at it, even though she figured she’d get hurt again.

But she was just standing around when the tendon finally gave out, causing her kneecap to slip sideways. She couldn’t bend or straighten her leg. Would she ever be able to hike again?

The physical therapy (PT) team at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/ TriHealth developed a treatment plan for Marissa. Their goal? To get her back on the

hiking trails—without pain. She needed an operation and started with PT to get ready.

After her surgeon fixed the tendon, she did more physical therapy. Now, Marissa says her knee works better than ever. She’s even hiked tough trails in Maine’s Acadia National Park.

Many patients don’t need surgery for pain relief. If you have arthritis in your knee, you may need just a few PT sessions. Often, you can get back to gardening, tennis, bowling or other activities quickly, says Tim Holder, director of the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Department, MHMH. Your therapist may also teach you to make little changes in how you move, which can reduce pain.

If you’ve been injured or are in pain, you

want fast relief. “We don’t want to make our patients wait,” says Tim. When you call for an appointment, you’ll usually get started the next day. Your therapist will begin with an evaluation. “We ask about hobbies and physical activity. If a patient likes to play tennis, we want to get them back on the court.”

During a session a therapist will assess the patient, use hands on techniques and specific exercises to improve mobility and strength of the injured areas.. You’ll do other exercises on your own, both in the facility and at home. And you’ll probably see the same therapist at each visit.

“To help patients get comfortable, we explain every step of an exercise or movement,” says Tim. He adds that a therapist will make sure you understand that they are using the best techniques available.

Marissa says these conversations allowed her to better understand her injury, and helped her be confident that she would get better.

The team works hard to help patients perform their exercises correctly. They also keep patients motivated. “My surgeon would sometimes stop by and check on me during PT,” says Marissa. “Just knowing that he cared made a difference.”

She also liked having the same therapist for every appointment. “We could talk about our work, vacations and families. I felt comfortable.” She recently injured her shoulder playing softball, and she’s happy to work with the therapist who helped her with her knee injury three years ago. She also likes the “patient-friendly” hours, especially her regular 7:30 a.m. appointment, which fits her busy schedule.

Marissa sums up her experience with one comment: “The therapists at McCullough-Hyde make it easy for me. They helped me recover.”

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPY AT MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, PLEASE CALL 513.664.3800 (OXFORD), 513.856. 5960 (ROSS) OR 513.863.2215 (HAMILTON) OR VISIT TRIHEALTH.COM.

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HOW TO GIVE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT

McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/ TriHealth’s Growing to Meet Your Needs campaign, there are several giving options including one-time and recurring gifts, gifts that can be matched by your employer, gifts broken up into payments over time, memorial gifts and more. You can donate online (http://www.trihealth.com/ hospitals-and-practices/mcculloughhyde-memorial-hospital/giving-trust/ ways-to-give/) or mail your gift to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Trust, 110 North Poplar, Oxford, Ohio 45056. To contact the Trust, please call Mary Bennett, Chief Development Officer, at 513-664-3850, or email Mary_Bennett@trihealth.com.

Bob and Lisa Ciampa

SUPPORT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

DONATING TO THE GROWING TO MEET YOUR NEEDS CAMPAIGN WILL HELP EXPAND THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND SURGERY SUITE. McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/ TriHealth (MHMH) is currently in the midst of Growing to Meet Your Needs, a campaign raising money for the Emergency Department and Surgery Suite. The McCulloughHyde Memorial Trust has been charged with raising $2 million and the Campaign Cabinet has been engaging the community to participate. The good news is that thanks to generous donations, 90 percent of the goal has been met. Now MHMH needs the help of the community to achieve the target goal.

“I hope everyone in the community will think about contributing. Any amount—no matter how large or small—will help us reach our goal,” says Oxford resident Lisa Ciampa,

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WINTER 2016 | TRIHEALTH.COM

a member of the Trust’s board. She and her husband, Bob, are working hard to help the capital campaign achieve its fundraising goal by the end of the 2016. Lisa and Bob are both donors—one of the twelve ED treatment rooms will be named in their honor because of their generosity.

The Ciampa family has been part of the McCullough-Hyde community since the beginning. “My husband was one of the first babies born there. He worked at MHMH as a dishwasher in high school.” Lisa moved to Oxford from Cincinnati in her late 20s. She has always looked to the hospital for the best care possible. “Two of my children were born there. My daughter and I had surgery there.

I’ve had screenings. We have had exceptional care from the doctors, nurses, technicians and staff. I also love the ‘small-town’ feel and friendliness.”

Lisa knows first-hand how important McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital/ TriHealth is to our community through her ongoing work with women who’ve been treated for cancer. In 2010, she started the Luna Cares Fund in honor of her late mother, Sara Davis Emery. Mrs. Emery lost her battle with cancer at age 40.

Luna Cares provides cancer patients with free wigs and help in paying hospital bills.

At her salon, Lisa fits the wigs. She helps patients pick hair colors. If they’re losing their own hair, she shaves their heads for them.

She styles their wigs. But most importantly, she listens to them.

Lisa often hears how much these patients value MHMH. “They have wonderful experiences with the oncology department.”

Their stories fuel Lisa’s passion for the hospital.

She’s also thrilled with the recent affiliation between McCullough-Hyde Hospital and TriHealth. “It’s empowering, not overpowering. Our hospital keeps its Board of Trustees and its excellent services. TriHealth provides more networks, resources and specialists.”

Thanks to her many personal experiences with MHMH and her work with cancer survivors through Luna Cares, Lisa knows the hospital provides area residents with an “excellent hospital that’s located right in our backyard.” She and other members of the Trust Board are working hard to keep it strong. They invite you to join them in their efforts.

{ TASTES }

TO YOUR HEALTH! HERE’S A FUN WAY TO SNEAK MORE FRUITS AND VEGGIES INTO YOUR DIET—WHIP UP ONE OF THESE DELICIOUS, DESSERT-LIKE SMOOTHIES. YOU WON’T KNOW IT’S GOOD FOR YOU!

CHIA AND RASPBERRY PUDDING THIS RASPBERRY VARIATION OF A CHIA PUDDING IS SIMPLE, SATISFYING AND DELICIOUS AS AN ON-THE-GO BREAKFAST OR SNACK. YOU COULD EVEN SERVE IT FOR DESSERT IF YOU SWEETEN IT SLIGHTLY BY BLENDING DATES WITH THE MILK. INGREDIENTS n

n

n n

n

DIRECTIONS

4 oz./1 cup fresh ripe raspberries (or frozen, thawed) 3 Tbs. desiccated coconut 3 Tbs. black chia seeds ½ tsp. ground vanilla or vanilla extract 8½ fl. oz./1 cup plant milk of choice

FOR THE TOPPING n n

n

n n

hazelnut butter green kiwi fruit, chopped fresh raspberries and blackberries fresh mint leaves hemp seeds

Put the raspberries in a bowl and mash them with a fork.

Stir in the coconut, chia seeds and vanilla and then pour over the milk and mix until well combined. Stir every now and again for the first 10 minutes to prevent lumps from forming.

Set aside to soak in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight. The pudding is ready when the consistency is thick and jelly-like.

Spoon into two medium-sized glass jars or a large one.

Cover with a layer of nut butter and finish with the fruit, a few mint leaves and a sprinkling of hemp seeds. It can keep for a couple of days in the fridge (without the toppings), if unopened.

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ROSE HIP ‘AFFOGATO’ WITH CRUMBLED ‘AMARETTI’ ROSE HIPS ARE A TRUE SUPERFOOD PACKED WITH ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT COMPOUNDS. IF YOU CAN’T FIND ROSE HIP POWDER IN YOUR LOCAL SUPERMARKET OR HEALTH FOOD STORE, YOU CAN ALWAYS PURCHASE IT ONLINE. FOR THE ‘AMARETTI’ n 4–5 soft dates, pitted n 3¼ oz./¾ cup ground almonds or almond flour n 2 oz./¼ cup almond milk FOR THE ROSE HIP SOUP 1½ oz./¼ cup rose hip powder n 1 Tb. arrowroot or potato starch n 17 fl. oz./2 cups water n 3 Tbs. pure maple syrup n

TO SERVE vanilla ice cream

n

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place all of the ingredients for the date amarettizzzzz in a food processor and pulse until mixed. Alternatively, put the dates in a bowl and mash them with a fork until they form a paste. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until well combined. Taste and adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more dates if necessary. Transfer to a piping bag and pipe into about ¾-inch diameter rounds, like amaretti biscuits (Italian macaroons).

Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool while you prepare the rose hip soup.

Put the rose hip powder in a saucepan along with the arrowroot and water. Bring to a boil, whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Reduce the heat, whisk in the maple syrup and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until a smooth syrup forms, before removing from the heat. Strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to get it completely smooth.

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To assemble, spoon a scoop of vanilla ice cream into the base of two WI NT ER 2016 | TR IH EA LTH .C OM medium-sized glass jars or bowls, or in a large jar (as featured in the photo), and pour over the rose hip soup. Finish with a sprinkling of crumbled amaretti and some extra ice cream on top for the sweet-toothed. Serve straight away before it comes running down the glass jar.

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WINTER 2016 WINTER 2016 || TRIHEALTH.COM TRIHEALTH.COM

KIWI, KALE & CHIA PARFAIT PACKED WITH KALE AND AVOCADO, THIS SMOOTHIE STILL TASTES VERY SWEET AND FRUITY AND LOOKS RATHER STUNNING WITH ITS DIFFERENT LAYERS. THIS CAN EASILY BE THE DESSERT OF A FANCY DINNER OR SERVED AS BREAKFAST ON A GRAY MORNING. FOR THE CHIA PUDDING n 3 Tbs. chia seeds of choice n 1 tsp. vanilla extract n 1 Tb. pure maple syrup or raw honey (optional) n 8½ fl. oz./1 cup unsweetened plant milk FOR THE KIWI FRUIT SMOOTHIE n ¼ ripe avocado, stone removed n 1 ripe green kiwi fruit n 1 frozen banana n 1 handful kale or spinach, stems removed (organic if possible) n 4 fl. oz./½ cup coconut water or coconut milk n juice of ½ lime TO SERVE ripe green kiwi fruit, finely sliced and chopped n nut butter n fresh blueberries n granola of choice n dessicated coconut n fresh lemon balm leaves, optional n

DIRECTIONS Add the avocado and kiwi fruit flesh to a blender along with the rest of the kiwi fruit smoothie ingredients.

Blend on a high speed until completely smooth.

Spoon half of the chia pudding (see directions below) into the base of two medium-sized glasses. For a beautiful artistic look, you don’t need to worry about making the layers even.

Arrange a few kiwi fruit slices around the inside of the glasses. Cover with half of the kiwi fruit smoothie, the rest of the chia pudding, and a dollop of nut butter. Top with the rest of the kiwi fruit smoothie and finish with another dollop of nut butter, as well as some chopped kiwi fruit and blueberries and a sprinkling of granola, coconut, and lemon balm.

TO MAKE THE CHIA PUDDING Put the chia seeds, vanilla, and maple syrup (if using) in a bowl. Pour over the milk and mix until well combined. Stir every now and again in the first 10 minutes to prevent lumps from forming.

Spoon into a medium-sized sealable glass jar and set aside to soak in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or overnight. It’s ready when the chia seeds form a gelatinous substance around themselves and the overall consistency is thick and jelly-like.

It can keep for a couple of days in the fridge, if unopened.

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{ ESCAPE }

SEDUCED BY

CAPRI

LA DOLCE VITA WAS PRACTICALLY INVENTED ON THIS BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN ISLE, FAMOUS AS THE WORLD’S OLDEST RESORT.

by Rita Guarna

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Opposite: A rock formation creates a natural arch over the sea. This page, left: Uber-fresh pasta al frutti di mare—that is, with “fruit of the sea”; right: The Hotel Caesar Augustus stands 1,000 feet above the Bay of Naples, and guests enjoy a nightly display as the glitter of the Milky Way is reflected on the water below.

In Capri, the world’s first resort, no one seems to be in a rush to get anywhere.

But this isn’t necessarily a lazy man’s trip either: Because Capri is small and steep (four miles long and two miles wide) with so few roads, it’s a walker’s island (cheating is allowed—you can rent a Vespa to explore some byways). In fact, Capri is a geological castoff from the peninsula of Sorrento in the southern part of the Bay of Naples. Limestone cliffs separate the two main towns: laid-back Anacapri and the more populated Capri (the town) in the east. Anacapri boasts Monte Solaro, 1,900 feet high, while Monte Tiberio, its somewhat shorter sibling, is topped by the ruins of the Emperor Tiberius’ palace, Villa Jovis.

While a few main streets connect key points, most streets are really narrow twisting lanes or paved paths that crisscross what is still a surprisingly wild, rocky island, home to goats and lizards, maritime pines, and oleander. (The word Capri comes from the Greek word kapros, meaning wild boar—but I didn’t encounter those!)

No visit to Capri would be complete without swimming in the sea (and seeing the Blue Grotto—yes, it’s a big tourist attraction, but worth visiting if only once). Banish notions of islands you may have visited in the Caribbean: Beautiful beaches there ain’t—most of these tend toward small and pebbly, and the few sandy swaths you’ll find are awash with people and umbrellas. But what they lack in sand they more than make up for in scenery and scenes.

La Fontelina on the southern coast

is one of the best lidos, or beach clubs, with a good restaurant tucked into the rocks that serves pasta and seafood galore. And it sells day passes. You can slip into the water from the rocks and have a lemon granita waiting after your swim. If images of Poseidon and Neptune don’t make you feel buoyant, then the salinity of the water certainly will. (Nowhere have I felt more aloft, except perhaps in the Dead Sea.) It seems you can float forever.

Back on terra firma, it’s a toss-up as to what will captivate you more: heartstopping views of the sea and the three iconic Faraglioni rocks—named Stella, Mezzo, and Scopolo—or the beautiful people whose comings and goings make the dock a sort of catwalk. Of course, it can’t be reached by taxi. You either go by private boat or walk down a very steep hillside.

When it’s time for dinner, you will be tempted to overindulge, no doubt scarfing down plates of homemade pastas, just-caught fish and bowls of fresh figs and washing it all down with bottles of fine wine. After all, this is southern Italy, where everyone has some manner of garden growing zucchini, tomatoes and potatoes, not to mention olive trees, lemon trees and even cactus trees—the kind that grow prickly pears (delicious— but swallow, don’t chew, the seeds). The Caprese grow their own herbs, fruits and vegetables. They buy seafood directly from the fishermen and make pasta at the kitchen table. It doesn’t get fresher than this.

Whether you eat at La Terrazza di Lucullo (try the orange-scented risotto)

or one of several nearby ristoranti, you won’t be disappointed. And don’t skip the dolce. While many think of cannoli as the quintessential Italian dessert, I recommend the not-too-sweet sfogliatella, a Neapolitan specialty consisting of crispy pastry crust filled with creamy ricotta. It’s best when it’s eaten warm from the oven.

Still, no one will look askance if you decide to eat only the famous Caprese salad—vine-ripened tomato, basil, and mozzarella drizzled with extra virgin olive oil—and a glass of prosecco. There’s something about the cool bite of the bubbles and the gentle breezes in an open-air café that soothes the soul. And, of course, the people-watching is firstrate too. You’ll see two types of gente on Capri: typical tourists whose gaudy clothing makes you wince; and everyone else—young and old alike—clad in their Sunday best.

That’s one reason why you simply cannot miss taking a passeggiata, or nocturnal stroll. This daily rite is practiced all over Italy, but here in Capri partaking of it is akin to having front-row seats to the latest runway show in Milan. No sensible shoes for these fashionistas—cobblestone streets, be damned. Only strappy, high-heel sandals will do for the women.

And as with any great parade, you’ve got to be both spectator and participant in order to experience it fully. Luckily, it’s not a once-in-a-blue-moon event but a nightly spectacle. Your reward: At the end of the night, you too will be an espressosipping bella donna or gentil’uomo. What could be better? Now that’s amore

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BIGGER. NEWER. BETTER. Open Now. Welcome to our newly improved, state-of-the-art Emergency Department.

Expanded facility with 14,000 square feet of space

At McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital | TriHealth,

Central workstation with direct patient visibility at all times

some things are changing for the better. We recently made our nationally recognized Emergency Department more accessible to patients, staff and the entire Oxford region.

There’s more space, improved services and better access to specialists. But one thing hasn’t changed throughout

Individual treatment rooms with increased privacy

Separate areas for patients exposed to hazards and infectious diseases Separate entrances for walk-in patients and emergency squads

our expansion: our commitment to providing the best care possible, thanks to our board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses.

Two senior-focused specialty rooms and one pediatric-friendly room

Call 513 523 2111 or visit TriHealth.com/MHMH 110 North Poplar Street, Oxford, OH 45056