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For Immediate Release – NEWS from Gateway Medical Society of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s Gateway Medical Society presents Gateway to Wellness: Passport to Health, providing free health information for the community, Saturday, June 1
Health risks in African-American communities illuminated through half-day of workshops featuring experts on healthy lifestyles,time management, domestic abuse, HIV/AIDS, vision, wellness for all ages, and more
PITTSBURGH, PA (5/20/2013) – Knowledge to make healthy lifestyle choices is central to Gateway to Wellness: Passport to Health, a free community symposium offered by Gateway Medical Society on Saturday, June 1, 8 am to 1:30 pm, UPMC Shadyside. In its 50thanniversary, the region’s professional medical association is providing its 8th annual half-day educational event focused on wellness in the African-American community, sponsored by Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and UPMC.
Continental breakfast, lunch, free health screenings, and guest organization booths are featured. The event will be held at the Herberman Conference Center, UPMC Shadyside Hospital Campus, 5150 Centre Ave., 2nd Fl., Shadyside (Pittsburgh 15232). Admission is free with registration atwww.gatewaymedicalsociety.org or 412-281-4086. Remaining seating will be available at the door.
“Curls Locs and the Nitty Gritty Truth”, the adult plenary session and panel discussion, is presented by: Mario C. Browne, MPH, CHES; Esa M. Davis, MD, MPH; Chenits Pettigrew, Jr.; Ed.D.; and Darrell Rubin MD, PhD. Vignettes will fuel a discussion about individual medical decision making.
Attendees are invited to bring any questions about health and wellness to “A Community Conversation about Health”, an open dialogue about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. This “open mic” session provides panel of experts to provide insight and advice on concern or question.
Gateway to Wellness will feature experts leading 10 dynamic workshops on topics relevant to women, men and teens. The adult track features sessions on time management, domestic abuse, wellness for men, healthy choices, and vision. Teens can attend sessions on how hip hop and music relates to well-being, and bullying awareness. Ninth grade students from the Journey to Medicine program of Gateway Medical Society will present “Obesity: Don’t Take it Lightly”for other teens.
Both the adult and teen tracks feature HIV/AIDS 101, a workshop focusing on education, prevention, and distinguishing between HIV and AIDS.
Throughout the day, attendees can have complimentary health screens and gain additional information from participating partners: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter; Pittsburgh Black Nurses in Action; Macdeonia FACE (Family and Community Enrichment Center); and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Diversity Program.
Workshop descriptions
Gateway to Wellness: passport to Health features these workshops and presenters:
Adult Program
Negotiating a Day in the Life: How do we manage? Presenters: Dr. Jeanette E. South-Paul, MD and Sharon Brentley-Teacher Pittsburgh Perry High School, former Executive Director and Co-Founder of Our Daughters’ Place, lead this workshop for women on ly on managing their daily lives. Discussion explores dealing with overall health, parenting children (early years, teens and adults), aging parents, grandchildren, relationships, and work-life balance.
Behind Closed Doors: Abuse and How We Fix It. (women only) Roxanne Epperson, Executive Director and Founder of WAAR (Women Against Abusive Relationships) and Bernadette Turner, Executive Director of Addison Behavior Care Workshop, address women in abusive situations (physical or mental) involving partners, children or others, as well as coping mechanisms that might include self-medicating with drugs and /or alcohol or by abusing others.
HIV/AIDS 101 Dr. Bernard Macatangay and Diana P. Byas, RN, BSN, ACRN from the ID/PACT clinic, and Sheila Taylor, sharing her personal perspective, provide information to increase awareness on the difference between HIV and AIDS, the community impact of HIV/AIDS in the communities, transmission, and prevention.
We Are our Brothers Keeper, an interactive workshop for men by Chenits Pettigrew, Jr., Ed.D. and Mario C. Browne, MPH, aims to increase men’s awareness of potential health challenges and provide strategies for improving and managing their health.
Tips for Healthy Living, presented by Desiree Jefferson, RN & Wynne Brown, MD, FACOG, R.Ac., provides tools for making healthier food, exercise, and stress management choices through an interactive session.
Are You Seeing The Best You Can See?, a workshop led by Helen A. Davis, MD, FACS, promotes understanding of correctable vision problems, medical, surgical and therapeutic treatments for common eye disorders. Risk factors for common eye diseases are discussed.
Youth Program
Hip Hop and Health is presented by Center of Life (Terry Levels, program director) and K.R.U.N.K. Movement, offering insight on Hip Hop and teen health and explores the great things student do with music.
Bullying Prevention, presented by Macedonia FACE, brings a signature workshop of this dynamic community agency to educate students on identification, response and reporting incidences of bullying.
HIV/AIDS 101, presented by Educating Teens, discusses HIV/AIDS, encouraging an open dialogue about how HIV/AIDS is spread. Abstaining from risky behaviors that promotes the spread of the virus and learning more about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS will be a key focus of this session.
Obesity: Don’t Take It Lightly, is presented by Journey to Medicine 9th Grade Students to promote understanding the importance of making healthy food choices and being active. You have the power to choose so make sure your choices are healthy ones.
About Gateway Medical Society promotes public health and the general welfare of the community through professional development, networking, and community education. This membership organization whose membership is comprised of physicians and health care professionals from throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, raises awareness among minority and disadvantaged populations through strategic outreach and education initiatives. Gateway Medical Society connects experts with audiences who can benefit from health care knowledge, access to education, and aspiring to careers in health care professions. Celebrating its 50th year, Gateway Medical Society has a membership based representing a broad constituency of providers and patients.
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Editors: Speakers photos and bios will be provided on request prior to or following the event.
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