First Annual Make Yourself a Priority! a Resounding Success for Women

The Women’s Health Advisory Committee of HackensackUMC Mountainside held its first annual women’s health event, Make Yourself a Priority, on November 5, 2016. The resoundingly successful event featured top-level physicians who discussed and answered questions on women’s health issues in intimate group settings. The event began with an informative keynote speech on legislative policies that impact women’s health by Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D), 35th District.

Sumter explained that due to the small plurality of women in elective office most healthcare policy is dictated by men and although there is more awareness of women’s needs, more work must be done. Women must get involved and weigh in on the discussion and stress the importance of healthcare for women.

Guests then selected three of ten sessions to attend, which ranged from Protect your Reproductive Health to Zika, Cold, Flu – Don’t let Them Bug You! and Menopause is Manageable to A Heart-to-Heart Talk About Cardiology Concerns.

Dr. Jan Huston, Chair of the Women’s Health Advisory Committee and event chair was very pleased with the results of the event, “This was an awesome event as measured by the attendance and feedback from attendees and presenters. Women chose to give themselves permission to make themselves a priority by taking time out from their busy schedules and family responsibilities to get information and ask questions about their own health needs and concerns.”

Comments from physician presenters and attendees were all positive, especially regarding putting women first, the interactive style workshops, and the comfortable setting that made it easier to ask personal questions.

“Women’s issues are clearly very important, and it’s important that women have a voice in the community. Women for the most part control healthcare for their family. It’s important that they get the information and care they need to take care of themselves too,” said presenter Dr. Theresa Soroko, Infectious Disease Specialist.

Urologist Dr. Konstantin Walmsley concurred and added, “The small group setting was a perfect venue for open discussion. It allowed attendees to ask intimate questions in a setting where they did not feel embarrassed.”

Attendee Ellen Madyun said that the Menopause is Manageable workshop was “…very informative and brought menopause into the 21st century. A lot of women don’t know about all the different modalities Dr. Dias-Martin discussed.”

Gynecologist Dr. Karen Dias-Martin replied, “A woman’s health should be a priority on her personal agenda, and I hope that I helped each attendee navigate some of these complex issues.”

Attendee Lynn Bird said, “The workshops were very nice. I felt comfortable and not embarrassed to ask any questions because it was only women and we were in a relaxed setting.”

Her sister, Karen Janifer, who attended with Lynn, added, “Sometimes we just don’t take the time to get the information we need to take care of ourselves. This was the ideal setting to get information and have personal questions answered.”

Another attendee, Jessica V. remarked, “The workshops were very informative and explained women’s health issues on a level you could understand as well as answering our own questions.”

The event concluded with a keynote luncheon address by Dr. Ki-Sook Yoo who spoke about Putting Yourself First, which focused on strategies to help women cope with mental and physical stress.

Members of The Women’s Health Advisory Council are Dr. Jan Huston, Anne Baldwin, Dr. Renee Baskerville, Dr. Angela Bellizzi, Margaret Brodowski, Dawn Diamond, Cheryl Fromhold, Dr. Gayon Hyatt and Mona Shah.

About HackensackUMC Mountainside

HackensackUMC Mountainside has been serving Montclair and its surrounding New Jersey communities since 1891. The hospital, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health network, provides patients immediate access to innovative and effective treatment alternatives at specialized centers within the hospital that focus on imaging, women’s health, cancer care, surgery, obesity, stroke and chronic kidney disease. HackensackUMC Mountainside is designated as a Primary Stroke Center by the NJ State Department of Health and Senior Services and is one of only a few community hospitals licensed by the State to perform emergency cardiac angioplasty. To learn more about HackensackUMC Mountainside visit www.mountainsidehosp.com

Photos:

• (from left to right) Shivaun Gaines, Director of Government Relations, Montclair State University; Cheryl Fromhold, Women’s Health Advisory Committee; Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Director of Behavioral Health, HackensackUMC Mountainside; Councilor Renee Baskerville MD Montclair, Women’s Health Advisory Committee; Dr. Jan Huston, Medical Director, Mountainside Breast Center, Chair, Women’s Health Advisory Committee; Michele Kroeze, Business Manager, Montclair Citadel, Board of Trustees, HackensackUMC Mountainside
• Tara Vonroth, HackensackUMC Mountainside Intern; Mona Shah, Women’s Health Advisory Committee; Joy Mishkin, Junior League of Montclair – Newark; Terri Pietsch, Infusion Manager, HackensackUMC Mountainside; Natalie Thigpen, Vice President, Marketing, PR & Planning, HackensackUMC Mountainside
• Dr. Konstantin Walmsley, Urologist with attendee Philemona Williamson
• Dr. Karen Dias-Martin, Gynecologist discusses managing menopause.