News Release

February 24, 2005

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

Celebrate Women Programs, March 2005

“Just Us Girls: A Day for Girls and the Women Who Love Them,” Sunday, March 13th

Farmington, Conn. – Celebrate Women, the women’s health membership program of the UConn Health Center, is offering a variety of educational programs in March, including a program for girls age 10 and over and the special women in their lives. “Just Us Girls: A Day for Girls and the Women Who Love Them” will be held on Sunday, March 13, and will include information about body image, fitness and money management.

Here’s a look at the March schedule:

Breast Health for Women: Kristen Zarfos, M.D., a breast health specialist and deputy director of women’s health programs at the UConn Health Center, will talk about the importance of diet, exercise, mammography and other factors relating to the early detection and prevention of breast cancer. Dr. Zarfos’ presentation will be held on Thursday, March 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Human Resources Conference Room at UConn’s Mansfield Depot location.

Getting More Out of Life: Cris Jacobs, an instructor with the Energy Medicine School of the Institute of Healing Arts and Sciences in West Hartford, will lead an introduction to “core energetics.” This a body-oriented psychology that helps people change the way they live so they feel more fulfilled and alive. The introductory class will describe personal growth steps. The program will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Health Center’s Onyiuke Dining Room.

Just Us Girls: A Day for Girls and the Women who Love Them: This free, informative program will run from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, in the conference rooms of the Health Center’s Academic Research Building. The program will begin with a presentation for girls, teens and women about body image by family therapist Maria Cerniauskas-Upton. At 2 p.m., UConn Health Center physical therapists Karen Wojcik will lead a workshop for girls about creating a fitness regime, and Catherine Trahiotis will talk to the women about bone health and fitness in every day life. The final presentation will be at 3 p.m. for both the women and the girls, and will focus on money management. Refreshments will be served.

Foot Care for Women: UConn orthopedic foot surgeon Samuel Berkowitz, D.P.M., will help women put their best foot forward with helpful information about common conditions such as, athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, high arch, and more, and will also discuss problems that could lead to foot surgery. Dr. Berkowitz’s presentation will be on Monday, March 14, from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Health Center’s Onyiuke Dining Room.

Spring Fling-Spring Wellness: Ivy Bendixen, independent district manager for Arbonne International, makers of natural skin care products, will lead a workshop to help women update their skincare regime. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, 48 Whitehall Avenue in Mystic. There is a $10 fee for the program.

Free Hearing Loss Screenings: Free screenings will be offered to help determine the presence and extent of hearing loss and provide appropriate referrals for follow-up care on Friday, March 18, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Department of Otolaryngology, located in the Health Center’s Dowling South Medical Office.

Hidden Under Our Hats: The prevalence of brain tumors, as well as new treatments and new research strategies, will be explored during a special presentation on Monday, March 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Alumni Hall on the Storrs campus. Speakers will include Health Center neurosurgeon Hilary Onyiuke, M.D., and researcher Henry Smilowitz, Ph.D. Their talk will coincide with an exhibit, “Hidden Under Our Hats,” of about 2,000 hats from children and adults whose lives have been touched by brain tumors. The exhibit is presented by the Brain Tumor Action Network and will be displayed in Alumni Hall March 21 through 25. The presentation is co-sponsored by the UConn Alumni Association. Refreshments will be served.

Celebrate Women will also continue the following classes and support groups:

Prenatal Yoga: Margaret Kirschner, a certified prenatal yoga instructor, will lead classes every Wednesday from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. in the large conference room of the Health Center’s Academic Research Building. The cost is $10 per session. Registration required for each session by calling 860-584-8857.

Guided Meditation for Health and Well-being: Tara Leary, a certified regression therapist, will lead a weekly drop-in session to introduce women to the healing powers of meditation. The classes are held on Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at 682 Prospect Avenue in West Hartford. The cost is $12 per session. For more information call Tara Leary at 860-202-9390.

Getting More Out of Life: Cris Jacobs, an instructor with the Energy Medicine School of the Institute of Healing Arts and Sciences in West Hartford, will lead a 6-week workshop series on Mondays beginning March 21 on “core energetics,” a body-oriented psychology that helps people change the way they live so they feel more fulfilled and alive. The fee is $300 for the 6-week workshop. It will be held on Mondays beginning March 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Health Center’s Onyiuke Dining Room.

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 required. Call Celebrate Women at 1-866-4-FEMALE or 860-679-8899. For more information, visit the Celebrate Women web site: www.celebrate.uchc.edu

UConn Health includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Home to Bioscience Connecticut, UConn Health pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about UConn Health is available at www.uchc.edu.

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