News Release

September 20, 2004

Contact: Maureen McGuire, 860-679-4523
e-mail: mmcguire@nso.uchc.edu

Celebrate Women Programs: October 2004

Annual Conference, “The Heart of a Woman” Is October 20th

Farmington, Conn. – Sound advice about the early detection and prevention of breast cancer, as well as information and screening events concerning lung disease, are available this month during programs sponsored by Celebrate Women, a women’s health membership program of the University of Connecticut Health Center. In addition, the third annual Celebrate Women Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 20, featuring presentations about the mind, body and spirit and the role each plays in “The Heart of a Woman.”

Breast Cancer Awareness: Kristen Zarfos, M.D., a surgeon and breast cancer specialist at the UConn Health Center, will talk about strategies relating to the early detection and prevention of breast cancer, including nutrition, exercise, mammography, breast self exams and more. Dr. Zarfos’ presentation will be held on Monday, October 18, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Health Center’s Onyiuke Dining Room (use main hospital entrance.)

The Heart of a Woman: A Mind, Body & Spirit Connection: The third annual Celebrate Women Conference will include presentations by a panel of experts who will address how the mind, body and spirit are connected to women’s health. The conference is co-sponsored by the Women’s Center at the University of Connecticut and will be held on Wednesday, October 20, from 4 to 8:30 p.m., at La Renaissance in East Windsor.

NBC 30 anchorwoman Janet Peckinpaugh will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Speakers will include Dorothy Martin-Neville, M.A., L.M.F.T., L.P.C., founder and president of The Institute of Healing Arts and Sciences in West Hartford; Anthea Woodley, M.D., F.A.C.C., director of preventive cardiology at Windham Hospital, and Carolyn Jacobs, Ph.D., dean of the Smith College School of Social Work.

The conference begins with registration, hors d’oeuvres and displays from 4 to 5 p.m.; dinner at 5 p.m.; and presentations beginning at 6 p.m. Registration is $40 for Celebrate Women members and $50 for non-members. Major sponsors include UConn’s Office of Multicultural and International Affairs, the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, the American Heart Association, Hoffman Auto Group and the UConn Health Center.

Pulmonary Spirometry Screening: A free lung health screening will be held on Friday, October 22, from 2 to 5 p.m., in the Celebrate Women office on the campus of the UConn Health Center (Dowling North building, 2nd floor.) Sharon Jud, R.N., will conduct the screening.

Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis and other Lung Conditions: Roger Thrall, M.D., director of pulmonary research at the Health Center, will provide an in-depth look at lung conditions that affect people of all ages. Dr. Thrall will describe the physical structure of the lungs, lung conditions, current treatments, and new research underway at the Health Center. His presentation will be held on Thursday, October 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Immanuel Church on 10 Woodland Street in Hartford. The program is co-sponsored by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.

Yoga Classes for Beginners and Advanced Students: Classes for beginner students will start on Wednesday, October 6; for advanced students, classes begin on Wednesday, October 13. For both groups, classes will be held from 4 to 5 p.m.; 5 to 6 p.m.; and 6 to 7 p.m., in the Health Center’s Onyiuke Dining Room (use main hospital entrance.) All classes will be taught by Martha Trask, a certified yoga instructor. The fee is $60 for six sessions.

Preeclampsia Foundation Group Meeting: The Preeclampsia Foundation will hold its first Connecticut meeting for people whose lives have been touched by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, toxemia or pregnancy-induced hypertension. The group will meet on Friday, October 22; Friday, January 21, and Friday, February 25. All meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in the Charlotte Johnson Hollfelder Center for Women’s Health, conveniently located off the main Health Center lobby.

The Y-ME Support Group meets on the first and third Mondays of every month in the UConn Cancer Center conference room from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Women who have had breast cancer or are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer are welcome to join. For more information, call the Y-ME of Connecticut Breast Cancer Support Organization at 1-800-933-4YME.

For all programs, registration is recommended. Call Celebrate Women at 1-866-4-FEMALE or 860-679-8899. Celebrate Women is a free membership program designed to help women of all ages enhance their health. Women who join receive free, timely health information as well as invitations to seminars and programs designed for women.

For more information, visit the Celebrate Women web site: www.celebrate.uchc.edu. The website now contains an updated and expanded online health resource guide at www.celebrate.uchc.edu/resources/. The resources were evaluated and recommended by the professional consumer health librarians at the Health Center’s Lyman Maynard Stowe Library.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

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