1. health and fitness

healthyliving
Jan. — Feb. 2015
A NEW YEAR —
A NEW YOU!
Take Charge
OF YOUR HEALTH
MAKING HEALTH
CARE DECISIONS
IN ADVANCE
| 1
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
A New Year —
A New You!
Take Charge of
Your Health
4
5
6
Making Health Care
Decisions in Advance
Is Your Weight
Holding You Down?
Upcoming
Classes
8
3
A NEW
YEAR —
A NEW
YOU!
Make 2015 your
healthiest year ever.
“Keeping track of what
you eat and drink each
day will help keep you
accountable and pinpoint
areas for improvement.”
— Dr. English
Start Moving More
“Increasing your physical activity is
the single most important thing you
can do to improve your overall health,”
says Dr. Ali. Regular exercise strengthens
bones and muscles, reduces stress,
and makes it easier to maintain a
healthy body weight, or reduce weight
if you’re overweight.
Getting fit, eating right, and
maintaining a healthy weight are
important to your health and can add
quality years to your life. But, it’s not
easy. Taking better care of your body
requires real lifestyle changes.
Amjad Ali, MD, director of the UPMC
Hamot Bariatric Surgery and Weight
Management Center, says obesity is
linked to 42 serious medical problems,
including heart disease, high blood
pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol,
cancer, infertility, back pain, and
gallstones. Even modest weight loss
can dramatically improve these
conditions — and have a positive
impact on your health.
“The key to long-term success is a
personal commitment to making
changes in your diet, exercise, and
lifestyle behaviors,” says Dr. Ali.
If you’re serious about leading a
healthier, happier life, here are some
tips to help you start the year off on
the right foot.
Get a Health Checkup
Before starting a weight loss or
fitness program, check in with your
doctor — especially if you haven’t
exercised regularly in a while, says
Lisa English, MD, a primary care
physician and internal medicine
specialist at UPMC Hamot.
“It’s an important first step,” says
Dr. English. “An annual checkup allows
your doctor to monitor your health and
screen for any hidden problems, such
as high blood pressure. Your doctor
can talk to you about any concerns
you might have, and help support
changes to your lifestyle.”
Make Healthy Choices
Eating sensibly and watching portion
sizes can make a huge difference. Strive
for behavior changes like avoiding
soda and juice, avoiding processed
and fast food, and eating more fruits
and vegetables, which are filling and
naturally low in fat and calories.
Dr. English recommends the “plate
method.” Using a regular dinner plate,
fill half with vegetables, a quarter with
lean meat and a quarter with whole
grains. “Keeping track of what you eat
and drink each day will help keep you
accountable and pinpoint areas for
improvement,” she adds.
If you’ve been sedentary, try adding
a few extra minutes of activity into
your day — parking farther away from
your office, taking the stairs instead
of the elevator, or riding an exercise
bike while watching TV. Dr. English
suggests starting with 30 minutes of
exercise twice a week — and building
up to four to six times a week. “Using
a wearable fitness tracker that keeps
track of steps, calories burned, and
distance can motivate you to move
more,” adds Dr. Ali.
Be Patient
“It took you time to put your weight
on, and it will take time to take it off,”
says Dr. Ali. Working with a weight
loss specialist can help ensure that
you learn to lose weight safely,
effectively, and permanently with
guidance from a nutritionist, and
behavior and fitness experts.
For more information about the
UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery and
Weight Management Center, call
814-877-6997. To schedule an
appointment with Dr. English, call
Greenfield Internal Medicine at
814-877-8540. For more information
about UPMC Hamot physicians, call
the UPMC Hamot physician referral
line at 814-877-5678.
| 3
Take Charge
OF YOUR HEALTH
As women age and move through the stages of their lives,
their health care needs vary greatly. From building strong
bones to preventing heart disease, women have the power
to take charge of their health care.
It all begins with choosing an
important person in your life: your
primary care physician.
“You should have a primary care
physician you are comfortable with,”
says Colleen Wallace, BSN, RN, and
health navigator with the UPMC Hamot
Health Connection. Ms. Wallace also
emphasizes the importance of regular
physical examinations.
“Too often, we only see our provider
when we are sick,” she says. “Making
an appointment for a physical gives
you the chance to sit with your
provider to discuss your general
health, including a thorough health
history of yourself and your family.”
Part of playing an active role in your
health care includes keeping up with
regular screenings as recommended by
your primary care physician, including:
•• Mammograms — At age 40, most
women should begin having an
annual mammogram.
•• Colonoscopies — Colonoscopies,
which help detect colorectal cancer,
should begin at age 50 and be
repeated every 10 years.
•• Bone density — Women age 65 and
over should have a bone density scan
to check for osteoporosis, but bone
health awareness should begin much
sooner, as most calcium building
takes place throughout your teens
and 20s and peaks in your 30s.
Diet and Exercise
In addition to developing a good
relationship with your doctor and
keeping up with physical examinations
and screenings, eating a healthy diet
and getting enough exercise also plays
a role in your overall health.
4 | Jan. — Feb. 2015
“Diet and exercise are important
for every system in the body,”
Ms. Wallace says.
Stay Tuned In
Listening to your own body and being
aware if something “doesn’t feel right”
is another healthy habit to maintain.
Ms. Wallace advises watching for any
of the following symptoms and seeing
your doctor if you notice any of them:
•• Changes in bowel or bladder habits
•• Unusual bleeding or discharge
•• Any postmenopausal
vaginal bleeding
•• Unexplained weight loss or
decrease in appetite
•• Chronic pain anywhere in your body
•• Persistent fatigue, nausea,
or vomiting
•• Persistent or intermittent
low-grade fever
•• Repeated infections
Being aware of your risk of heart
disease and stroke is another way
to stay on top of your health care.
“Sometimes we tend to think of heart
disease as a ‘man’s disease.’ Women
need to be aware of their cardiac and
vascular health,” Ms. Wallace says.
Heart disease symptoms in women are
not always obvious. “We don’t always
have traditional symptoms — they
can be very subtle,” Ms. Wallace says.
“Even fatigue or a vague feeling of being
unwell can signal a problem.”
Warning signs of a stroke include
weakness and numbness on one side of
the body, slurred speech, loss of vision
in one eye, double vision, difficulty
balancing, and severe headache.
Having your cholesterol and blood
pressure checked regularly can help
identify risk factors for heart disease
and stroke, no matter how old you are.
“Blood pressure really can be a
contributing factor to cardiac health.
Having a controlled blood pressure is
very important,” Ms. Wallace says.
UPMC Hamot also offers screenings
for peripheral artery disease, which
can help identify those at risk for heart
disease and stroke. Information about
these screenings is available by visiting
UPMCHamot.org/Screenings.
Health Navigation and Personal Health Coaching With
Colleen Wallace, BSN, RN
As UPMC Hamot’s health navigator, Ms. Wallace is here to help
you navigate the health care system by providing one-on-one
health coaching and preventive health education. In addition to
having expertise in general health and wellness, she is specially
educated in osteoporosis and menopause management.
If you need help finding a physician, more information about
a medical issue, or need a one-on-one consultation, Colleen
Wallace, BSN, RN, is available through the UPMC Hamot Health
Connection at 814-877-6145.
TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE
HEALTH CARE DECISIONS
A serious accident or
illness can occur at any
age, leaving you unable to
make your own decisions.
An advance directive
ensures you get the
medical care you want
— even when others are
making decisions for you.
As medical director of the UPMC
Hamot Department of Emergency
Medicine, Ferdinando Mirarchi, DO,
has seen the anguish and uncertainty
in families suddenly faced with
difficult end-of-life decisions. Planning
ahead — and putting it in writing —
takes the burden off loved ones and
ensures your wishes are met, he says.
“It minimizes misunderstanding. It
gives you a say and takes away the
guilt,” he says.
An advance directive, such as a living
will, is a legal document that lets you
decide in advance whether to accept
or decline treatment when you are too
ill or unable to communicate. It applies
only to health care matters when you
are permanently unconscious and
have exhausted all treatment options.
“And, it can be changed at any time,”
notes Dr. Mirarchi.
A Written Guide
Planning ahead gives you the
opportunity to think about your values,
goals, and wishes and how to handle
various situations. It serves as a written
guide for family members and health
care providers to follow when you can’t
speak for yourself.
“Including palliative care in your
advance directive, for example,
can ensure you are kept comfortable
with care aligned with your wishes,”
says Geoffrey Dunn, MD, medical
director of the UPMC Hamot Center
for Palliative Care.
Dr. Dunn’s palliative care team — a
nurse practitioner and a social worker,
as well as the hospital’s chaplain —
works together with the health care
team providing treatment. “Our goal is
to provide comfort, manage pain and
other symptoms, and provide the best
quality of life, whatever your condition,”
says Dr. Dunn.
“It minimizes misunderstanding. It gives
you a say and takes away the guilt.”
Getting Started
“Ideally, creating your directive should
start with a conversation with loved
ones — before a medical crisis — along
with guidance from an attorney and
physicians,” says Dr. Mirarchi.
He recommends:
•• Involving family members so they
understand and accept your wishes.
•• Documenting your wishes so they
will be honored when the time comes.
•• Appointing a decision maker,
or health care proxy, who knows
your wishes.
•• Keeping your document in a safe
place until needed.
For more information on how to
create an advance directive, visit
UPMC Hamot’s website at
UPMCHamot.org/Hospice. To
learn more about palliative care at
UPMC Hamot, call 814-877-6444.
— Dr. Mirarchi
| 5
Is your weight
holding you down?
If so, you are not alone, since almost 34 percent of adults in the
United States are obese. So, if you’re struggling with obesity and
you’re ready to lose weight, the UPMC Hamot bariatric surgery
team can help you find a healthier, happier you. UPMC Hamot’s
surgeons are experts in using bariatric surgery to treat obesity. Let
our multidisciplinary team develop a personalized weight loss plan
specifically for you and your goals.
Should You Consider
Weight Loss Surgery?
Candidates for Weight
Loss Surgery
For some, losing weight is a matter of
simply looking better. But for morbidly
obese individuals, losing weight can be
a matter of life and death. If you have
tried everything else, but can’t lose
the weight and keep it off, weight loss
surgery might be for you. After surgery,
you can enjoy a life free of chronic back
and knee pain, shortness of breath,
fatigue, and emotional turmoil.
You are a candidate for weight loss
surgery if you:
•• Are morbidly obese and have
attempted conventional weight
loss methods without success.
•• Have a BMI of at least 35 or are
approximately 80 pounds above
your ideal body weight and have a
potentially serious weight-related
medical condition.
Patient Evaluation
If you are considering weight loss
surgery, you can attend a free
information seminar in which patient
information is reviewed by our entire
team to determine if you are a good
candidate for the surgery. You are also
encouraged to attend our support group
meetings to talk with other people who
have had weight loss surgery.
Insurance Coverage
Recognizing the long-term benefits of
significant weight loss, most insurance
companies provide coverage for weight
loss surgery, if you meet minimum
“Before the surgery I was a diabetic, on many
prescription drugs, and had high blood pressure
and cholesterol. Now, there is none of that.”
Fredrick Rizzuto
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, March 2013
6 | Jan. — Feb. 2015
qualifications. The team at the UPMC
Hamot Bariatric Surgery and Weight
Management Center will work closely
with you and your insurance provider to
maximize the opportunity for coverage.
The Procedures
The UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery
and Weight Management Center
specializes in three types of surgical
procedures:
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
During the Roux-en-Y procedure, the
stomach is divided to create a small
gastric pouch that holds only one ounce
of food. A small stomach outlet is also
created to slow the speed at which
food travels out of the stomach pouch.
Part of the small intestine is bypassed,
which reduces the absorption of
calories.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
During the procedure, approximately
75 percent of the stomach is removed,
leaving a narrow gastric sleeve or tube
that limits the amount of food that
can be eaten at one time. After eating
a small amount, patients feel full and
remain satisfied for several hours.
Lap-Band® Surgery
Lap-Band® surgery involves placing an
adjustable band around the stomach to
The UPMC Hamot
Bariatric Surgery and
Weight Management
Center Team
The UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery
and Weight Management Center
was the first practice to bring bariatric
surgery to the Erie area. It is the only
area office to be named a Center of
Excellence by the American Society
for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
This distinction recognizes surgical
programs with a demonstrated track
record of favorable outcomes in
bariatric surgery. UPMC Hamot’s
team has maintained this distinction
every year since it was first awarded
to the practice in 2006.
create a small gastric pouch. This limits
the amount of food that the stomach
can hold and slows the flow of food
from the smaller pouch to the rest of
the digestive tract.
group is also open to those considering
weight loss surgery — as well as your
friends and family members.
These procedures enable you to feel
comfortably full with a small amount
of food. And because your stomach
empties more slowly, the urge to eat
between meals is greatly reduced.
When surgery is not an option for
patients who need to lose weight,
UPMC Hamot offers a comprehensive
weight loss program, which provides
individualized and medically supervised
plans to help patients lose weight,
reduce related medical complications
associated with obesity, and maintain
long-term weight loss goals.
Lifelong Support
At the UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery
and Weight Management Center,
we know your journey doesn’t end
with surgery. That’s why we sponsor
a comprehensive support group to
address your emotional well-being and
postsurgery questions. The support
Nonsurgical Options
This program includes nutrition and
behavior counseling, customized
fitness programs, and management
of prescription weight loss medications
(if needed).
Our team includes three boardcertified bariatric surgeons. These
specialists have collectively performed
more than 6,000 surgeries, many of
which were performed using the latest
minimally invasive robotic techniques.
Amjad Ali, MD, FACS
Bariatric Surgeon and
Director, UPMC Hamot
Bariatric Surgery and
Weight Management
Center
Muhammad Asad,
MD, FACS
Bariatric Surgeon
Jawaid Kalim,
MD, FACS
Bariatric Surgeon
Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions
If you are more than 80 pounds overweight and diet and exercise haven’t
worked, you may be a candidate for weight loss surgery. Led by one of our
board-certified bariatric surgeons, these information sessions cover factors
that make a person a surgical candidate. Call 814-877-6970 for more information.
Reservations are required.
Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m.
Location: 300 State St., Suite 400 A
Cost: No charge
Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m.
Contact Us
To make an appointment or for
more information, call 814-877-6997
or visit us at UPMCHamot.org.
UPMC Hamot Bariatric Surgery
and Weight Management Center
300 State St., Suite 400A
Erie, PA 16507
| 7
health
connection
At UPMC Hamot and the UPMC Hamot
Health Connection, our ongoing classes,
seminars, and hands-on workshops ­—
combined with our multimedia health
information library — are created to keep
you and your family healthier and happier.
From group fitness and yoga to childbirth
education and healthy cooking, our topics
are always evolving to keep up with your
changing health needs.
Registration
Registration is required for all programs, at least one week
in advance, to ensure the program will be held.
Parking
Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital at a rate of $1 per class. Metered lots
are available across the street.
Scheduling & Fees
Fees are subject to change at any time and will be posted to
our website. For more information, call the UPMC Hamot
Health Connection at 814-877-6145.
Payments
Payment is due at time of registration. All group fitness,
prenatal, and parenting class participants will be required
to register and pay at least two weeks in advance of the
start of any class. Payments can be made online at
Classes.UPMC.com.
Reimbursement
UPMC Hamot Health Connection reserves the right
to cancel any program due to insufficient enrollment. In the
event of such cancellation, all participants will be notified
and fees will be refunded in full. If a participant needs to
withdraw from any program, a refund will be issued for
cancellations received seven or more days in advance of
the program. If you have questions about whether a class
is canceled due to weather conditions, please call the
UPMC Hamot Health Connection at 814-877-6145.
healthy teens and tweens
The following classes are held in the Lincoln Education Center
at the UPMC Hamot Women’s Hospital. Registration is
required for these programs, one week in advance. Register
online at Classes.UPMC.com.
From Head to Toe, What You Need to
Know! Taking Care of You — Part 2
This follow-up class, part of the UPMC Hamot “Growing Up
Strong” series, is for girls 7 to 9 years old. This is a good time
for your preteen to start paying attention to and learning about
personal hygiene as well as dealing with feelings and friends.
Parents or guardians are welcome to stay for the class.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
5 to 6 p.m.
Instructor: Colleen Wallace, BSN, RN, health navigator
Cost: $7
Babysitting Course
Designed for 11- to 15-year-olds, this course offers
instruction on how to care for children and infants, and
provides safety tips, including how to handle an emergency.
CPR instruction is included.
Saturday, Feb. 21
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Instructors: Melissa Gawlinski, CCE, CPST, doula;
Susan Majewski, NREMT, American Heart Association
instructor and emergency medical services instructor;
and Rachel Rumfola, CHES
Cost: $50
Growing Up Strong:
Mother/Daughter Class
This class, for girls ages 9 through 12 and their mothers or
other trusted adult females, will sensitively discuss emotional,
behavioral, and physical changes as well as changes in both
boys and girls during puberty.
Saturday, March 28
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Instructor: Colleen Wallace, BSN, RN, health navigator;
and Julie Breitigan, MA
Cost: $50 per mother and daughter; $10 for additional daughter
healthy mind
Registration is required for this program, one week in
advance. Class is held in the Lincoln Education Center at
the UPMC Hamot Women’s Hospital.
Guided Meditation
Take a pause from your busy routine and give yourself the gift of
silence. Immerse yourself in an oasis of peace, love, and light. Join
Jeanne Peck, RYT, CYT, for 30 minutes of guided relaxation with
yoga nidra (yoga sleep) at the end.
Thursday, Jan. 29
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Jeanne Peck, CYT, RYT
Cost: $7
8 | Jan. — Feb. 2015
healthy aging
The following classes are offered in partnership with Brevillier
Village Housing and Health Care and Niagara Village. Both
classes are open to residents as well as the general public.
Arthritis and Activity
Learn about the benefits of physical activity for adults
with arthritis and the types of activities that improve
arthritis symptoms.
Thursday, Jan. 8
11 a.m. to noon
Location: St. Barnabas Education Center at Brevillier Village
Housing and Health Care, 5416 East Lake Road, Erie
Registration: Lisa Anderson, 814-897-2374
Friday, Jan. 9
3 to 4 p.m.
Location: Niagara Village, 2380 Villiage Common Drive, Erie
Registration: Crystal, 814-838-1699 or
[email protected]
Instructor: Ryan King, PT, director, Ortho/Neuro Services
at UPMC Hamot
Cost: No charge
healthy woman
Women in Midlife
A woman’s midlife years may bring a whole new set of health
questions and concerns. As women enter their 40s and 50s, many
begin to notice changes in their bodies, which are due primarily
to changes in hormone levels. Menopause is a normal process
of aging that affects every woman differently. Becoming familiar
with its signs, symptoms, and treatment options is the first step
to managing menopause — rather than allowing it to manage you.
Join Colleen Wallace, health navigator, as she addresses a range
of concerns from heart disease and osteoporosis to hormonal
imbalances and incontinence issues.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
5 to 6 p.m.
Instructor: Colleen Wallace, BSN, RN, health navigator
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Cost: $5
healthy you
Registration is required for these programs, at least one
week in advance.
Tobacco Cessation
Obtain a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking with the goal of
making quitting a less stressful experience. Learn better ways to
cope with situations that ordinarily trigger your smoking habit.
Tuesdays, Jan. 13 to Feb. 17 (6 sessions)
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Mary Grotkowski, RRT
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Cost: No charge
Rethinking Concussions
This session will introduce the importance of diagnosis and
recognition of concussions as well as raise awareness of
treatment possibilities through the UPMC Concussion Clinic.
Thursday, Jan. 15
6 to 7 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Instructor: Kayla Covert PT, DPT, NCS, CSCS
Cost: $5
Better Breathers Club
Better Breathers Club is a support group for people with
chronic obstructive lung disease and their loved ones. Meetings
are held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. the third Friday of each month.
For more information call 814-877-3286.
Instructor: Mary Grotkowski, RRT
Location: Sterling Square, 3330 Peach St., Suite 211, Erie
Cost: No charge
All About Heart Health and
Cholesterol: How Do Your Numbers
Add Up to Heart Disease?
Learn about the components that make up your total
cholesterol and why each one is important in reducing
your risk for heart disease.
Thursday, Feb. 5
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Ann Dudenhoefer, BSN, RN, CHC,
cardiovascular disease management
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Cost: $5
| 9
healthy body
Payment and registration for each new session is due
a minimum of 10 business days before the new session
begins. Drop-in cost is $12 for a 90-minute class and
$10 for a 60-minute class.
Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital at a rate of $1 per class. Metered lots are
available across the street.
Chair Yoga
The gentlest form of yoga, this class places emphasis on
breathing, balance, and taking things at your own pace, which
makes it a perfect practice for older or physically challenged
people. All postures in this class are practiced while seated.
Mondays, Jan. 12 to March 9
(8 sessions; no class Monday, Jan. 19)
10:15 to 11 a.m.
Instructor: Jeanne Peck, RYT, CYT
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Cost: $64
Hatha Flow Yoga
Learn traditional postures, breathing, mindfulness, and how to
listen to your body. Emphasis is placed on longer-held poses,
core strength, flexibility, balance, and concentration. Please
bring a yoga mat to class.
Mondays, Jan. 12 to March 9
(8 sessions; no class Monday, Jan. 19)
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Instructor: Jeanne Peck, RYT, CYT
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Cost: $80
Wu Ming Qigong for Women’s Health
Just for women, Wu Ming Qigong movements are designed for
self-healing. Learn how to use your own energy to improve your
health, to recognize physical and emotional signs and how they
affect your body, and lifestyle changes and foods that will increase
your vital energy.
Mondays, Jan. 26 to March 9 (7 sessions)
4:15 to 5:15 p.m.
Instructor: Lisa Crncic, holistic practitioner
Location: UPMC Hamot Heart and Vascular Institute
Cost: $56
PiYo
Learn the basic principles of Pilates and yoga while developing
core control and overall flexibility. These classes gradually
transition from Pilates into Pilates yoga (PIYO) classes.
Mondays, Jan. 12 to March 9
(8 sessions; no class Monday, Jan. 19)
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Instructor: Tammy Crawford, certified instructor
Location: UPMC Hamot Heart and Vascular Institute
Cost: $64
10 | Jan. — Feb. 2015
healthy
pregnancy
Looking for prenatal classes during
your pregnancy? The UPMC
Hamot Health Connection offers:
•• Childbirth Education
•• Baby Basics
•• Breath and Movement
During Pregnancy
•• Breastfeeding Basics
•• Breastfeeding Support Group
•• Lamaze®
•• Momilates®
•• Prenatal Pilates and Yoga Fusion
•• Stork Support
For more information, visit
Classes.UPMC.com or call
814-877-6145.
Classical Gentle Yoga for All Levels
Appropriate for new and experienced students, this class follows
the traditional flow of postures with emphasis on breath work and
proper alignment. Participants will learn breath, movement, and
deep relaxation. Please bring a yoga mat to class.
Wednesdays, Jan. 14 to March 11 (9 sessions)
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Instructor: Jeanne Peck, RYT, CYT
Location: Lincoln Education Center at the UPMC Hamot
Women’s Hospital
Cost: $90
Beginning/Continuing Yoga
If you have minimal to no yoga experience, this class will help you
explore the foundations of yoga. Please bring a yoga mat to class.
Thursdays, Jan. 15 to March 12
(8 sessions; no class Jan. 29)
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Instructor: Kata Callahan, RYT, CYT
Location: UPMC Hamot Heart and Vascular Institute
Cost: $64
Strength and Flow Yoga
For students at all levels, Strength and Flow Yoga is focused on
building strength, flexibility, and balance while offering challenges
and options for modifications. Please bring a yoga mat to class.
Thursdays, Jan. 15 to March 12
(8 sessions; no class Jan. 29)
6:45 to 7:45 p.m.
Instructor: Elyssa Lindenberger, DC
Location: UPMC Hamot Heart and Vascular Institute
Cost: $64
healthy eating
Registration is required for this program, one week in advance.
Space is limited, so register early.
Lovely Lentils
Join a registered dietitian for a cooking demonstration and
presentation on how to prepare a variety of nourishing, tasty, and
simple dishes using lentils. Lentils are high in protein and fiber
and low in fat and are also known to stabilize blood sugar and
help with weight loss. Included with this class are informational
handouts, recipes, and samples of all recipes prepared in class.
This class is created for those with diabetes.
Tuesday, March 10
5 to 6 p.m.
Instructor: Darlene Przybyszewski, RD, LDN, CDE
Location: Super Suppers, 5042 Peach St., Erie
Cost: $5
diabetes institute
These services require a physician’s order and it is
recommended that you check coverage with your insurance
company. For more information, please call the Diabetes
Institute at 814-877-2123.
UPMC Hamot for Women
lecture series
This series features physicians, clinicians, and topic
experts. Classes are offered in the Lincoln Education
Center at the UPMC Hamot Women’s Hospital, unless
otherwise noted. These lectures are free thanks to the
generosity of the UPMC Hamot Aid Society.
Registration is required for these programs, one week in
advance. Please visit us online at Classes.UPMC.com to
register for classes.
JANUARY
Hospice and Palliative Care:
What’s It All About?
This session will provide information on hospice and palliative
care services, what they provide, how and when to access
them, and how they contribute to quality of care.
Thursday, Jan. 22
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructors: John Barnett, CRNP, palliative care, UPMC
Hamot, and Lynn Weissert, nurse navigator, Great Lakes
Home Health Care and Hospice, UPMC Hamot
FEBRUARY
One-on-One Diabetes Instruction
Mr. and Mrs. Heart Disease
Receive counseling with one of our certified diabetes educators
in a personal setting.
When it comes to heart disease, men and women do
not always experience the same symptoms. Learn about heart
disease risk factors and the different ways heart disease may
present itself in both men and women.
Diabetes Cooking Demonstrations
and Support
Our certified educators share delicious recipes and provide
samples for the class as well as support for those with diabetes.
Check out the Healthy Eating section in this issue or call the
Diabetes Institute for dates and times.
Your Journey to Diabetes
Self-Management
This program is offered in a four-part series during the day, in the
evening, or on the weekends in a group atmosphere. We provide
information on caring for yourself, managing your lifestyle with
diet and exercise, and basic meal planning.
Additional Services
Thursday, Feb. 19
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Audrey Swonger, CRNP, cardiac nurse
practitioner, Medicor Associates, Inc.
Current Treatments for Obesity
Learn about the obesity epidemic and the impact of obesity
on health, as well as the various medical conditions that are
caused or aggravated by obesity and various treatments
including diet, exercise, behavior modification, the latest
weight loss medications, and weight loss surgery.
Thursday, Feb. 26
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Amjad Ali, MD, FACS, bariatric surgeon, UPMC
Hamot Bariatric Surgery and Weight Management Center
The Diabetes Institute offers a variety of other classes on
topics such as:
MARCH
•
How to Live Gluten Free
•
•
•
•
•
General nutrition education (one-on-one visits
with a registered dietitian)
Gestational diabetes
Prediabetes
Diabetes management refresher classes
Insulin pump management
Continuous glucose monitoring
Whether you are new to gluten-free eating or you want
a refresher course, this class will educate you about the
why and how of eating without gluten.
Thursday, March 19
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Jane Asher, president, Gluten Free Erie
| 11
healthy parenting
Registration is required for these programs, one week in
advance. Classes are offered in the Lincoln Education
Center at the UPMC Hamot Women’s Hospital, unless
otherwise specified.
Infant and Child CPR
Following the American Heart Association guidelines for the
Family and Friends® program, certified instructors teach infant
CPR, child AED use, and relief of choking in an adult, child,
or infant. This course is ideal for new parents, grandparents,
babysitters, and others who are interested in learning how to
save a life but do not need to be certified in CPR.
Wednesday, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, or March 4
6 to 8 p.m.
Instructors: Marietta Kuehn, MEd, RRT, and
Ellen Schauerman, RN
Location: UPMC Hamot Heart and Vascular Institute
Cost: $25 per person; $40 per couple
livewell survivorship
education sessions
This free session, held at the Lincoln Education Center at the
UPMC Hamot Women’s Hospital, provides education and
support for cancer survivors. For more information about the
LiveWell Survivorship Program, call 814-877-3900.
Physical Challenges After
a Cancer Diagnosis
Physical activity is safe during cancer treatment and can provide
many benefits, including improving bone health and muscle
strength. It can also have a positive impact on your quality of life.
Learn more about what you can do when you are challenged with
a cancer diagnosis.
Tuesday, Feb. 3
6 to 8 p.m.
Instructors: Kathryn Maasz, PT, MBA, CLT, and
Shelly Sheridan, wellness coordinator at the Eastside YMCA
Becoming a Big Brother/Big Sister
Look Good Feel Better
Becoming a big brother or big sister is a very special event. This
fun, educational, and interactive program for 3- to 11-year-olds lets
new siblings know what to expect, addresses separation during
Mom’s hospital stay, and familiarizes them with where Mom
will be staying. Be sure to bring a baby photo of your child and a
stuffed toy or doll so your child can learn how to change a diaper.
Look Good Feel Better is a public service program that teaches
beauty techniques to cancer patients to help them manage the
appearance-related side effects of their treatment. Look Good
Feel Better is open to all women with cancer who are undergoing
chemotherapy, radiation, or other forms of treatment.
Saturday, Feb. 14
11 a.m. to noon
Instructor: Anne Martens, BBCI, LCCE, doula and certified
instructor, Bella Bellies®
Cost: $10
Monday, March 9
6 to 8 p.m.
Location: UPMC Hamot Women’s Imaging Center at
Sterling Square, 3406 Peach St., Erie
Register online at cancer.org, or call 1-800-227-2345.
Dogs and Babies
Sometimes new parents feel they have no option but to give up
their dog when their new baby arrives. This informational session
will help you recognize your dog’s cues, what their body language
means, and what boundaries to set for your pet. Extended family
and childcare givers who also have dogs are welcome.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
6 to 8 p.m.
Instructor: Admiral Perry Obedience Training Club
Cost: $5
What You Need to Know as
a New Grandparent
Learn what to expect with a new grandchild and how you can help
the new parents. You will receive a mini refresher on how to safely
care for a newborn and learn about the changes in baby care since
your children were born.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Instructor: Emily Hirsch, RN
Cost: $10 (2 participant maximum per registration)
Visit Classes.UPMC.com to register, or
call 814-877-6145 for more information.
12 | Jan. — Feb. 2015
2015 UPMC Hamot
Women’s Heart and
Health Awareness Expo
Friday, Feb. 6, 2015
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ambassador Center
7794 Peach St., Erie
For more information,
please visit
UPMCHamot.org.
NEW
Location
FREE
EVENT!
Free Parking!
All classes and prices are subject to change. When registering for any class, please indicate
any personal accommodations you may need, such as a sign language interpreter, large print
materials, Braille materials, wheelchair-height tables, vegetarian meals, diabetic meals,
accessible parking, or any other accommodations you need in order to participate.