St. Joseph Mercy Oakland to Honor Ex-Lions Coach Forzano

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will honor former Detroit Lions head coach Rick Forzano, Sr., at its annual Fall Spectacular fund raiser 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010, at The Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend St., Birmingham. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the hospital’s cutting edge technology in its new Surgical Pavilion.

Founder of Rick Forzano Associates, Rick Forzano, Sr., will receive the hospital’s Mercy Legacy Award at the Fall Spectacular.  The award is presented to individuals who support the SJMO mission and charitable causes and volunteer their time in the community.

For many years, Forzano has been an advocate of SJMO and its mission.  He also is the past president of SJMO’s McAuley Club and has recruited many other individuals to provide support to the hospital.

Forzano coached for more than 25 years, prior to starting his agency in 1978.  His coaching career began at the elementary and high school levels and continued at the College of Wooster and Kent State University, both in Ohio; at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and at the University of Connecticut.  He also coached the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals.  During his career, Forzano was a football color analyst with ABC-TV and NBC radio.

Celebrity Chair is Mike Tirico, Monday Night Football play-by-play commentator and ESPN radio and TV announcer.  Guy Gordon, WDIV-Local 4 news anchor is the celebrity emcee.

Honorary Co-Chairs are Richard and Connie Dauch and Dr. Kirit and Malti Patel.  Benefit Chairs are Pam Boutrous, Lynne Portnoy and Nancy Smith.

The 50,000-square-foot Surgical Pavilion opened in fall 2009 with eight state-of-the-art surgical suites and a cystoscopy room.  Hallmarks of the new pavilion are patient care and safety, advanced technology and the incorporation of green processes to reduce waste and water and energy usage.  The Pavilion, which has space to accommodate 12 surgical suites, also will have an enhanced family waiting area scheduled to open this fall.

SJMO has raised more than $2.6 million for its signature community programs and the Surgical Pavilion from the past four Fall Spectaculars.

Dinner will be served, and there will be a dessert afterglow.  The public is invited.  For details and reservations, contact SJMO Donor Relations Manager Joyce Russell at 248-858-6146.

SJMO To Present Free Orthopedic Seminars in May

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will continue its series of free, monthly, orthopedic community seminars throughout 2010.  The one-hour seminars are held at 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.

SJMO orthopedic specialists will conduct the seminars, speaking on a wide range of orthopedic procedures and joint replacement.  Dates, speakers and topics include:

• May 25:           Shivajee Nallamothu, DO, “Total Joint Replacement”
• June 22:           Matt Bahu, MD,  “Shoulder”
• July 27:            Bill Kohen, MD, “Birmingham/Total Hip Replacement”
• Aug. 24:          Jignesh Patel, DO, “Knee”
• Sept. 28:          Richard Bartholomew, DO, “Minimally Invasive Shoulder”
• Oct. 26:           Christopher Tisdel, MD, “Foot and Ankle”
• Nov. 16:          Safa Kassab, MD, “Total Joint Replacement”.

“SJMO has won numerous awards for orthopedic and joint replacement excellence,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO.  “Every day, our skilled physicians, surgeons and medical staff provide exemplary care and outstanding outcomes for the patients they treat.”

The hospital’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating spine, hand, shoulder, hip and knee disorders.  They provide comprehensive care before, during and after surgery.  Among the orthopedic services SJMO offers are:

• Award-winning, nationally recognized Joint Care Center,

• Artificial ankle replacement and correcting and treating postural and post-traumatic deformities, diabetic conditions and arthritis,
• Cutting edge procedures such as kyphoplasty and minimally invasive, patient-specific surgery,
• MRI and custom-fit technology for total knee replacements, the first in Michigan do to so,
• Around-the-clock acute trauma care at the SJMO Emergency Center.

The seminars are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available on the north side of the hospital, adjacent to the Franco Center and Medical Office Building.

Registration is required.  To register, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 800-372-6094.

SJMO Breast Cancer Support Group to Meet

Pontiac, MI.—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) announces the next meeting of its Breast Cancer Support Group will take place 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010, in the Alice Gustafson Center waiting room, 115 Fulton, Pontiac, on the hospital campus.

Andrea Briefs-Ferris, SJMO’s new breast cancer nurse navigator, leads the breast cancer support group, which is open to all breast cancer patients and survivors.  The support group meets the third Thursday of each month at the same time and location and focuses on addressing the body, mind and spiritual needs of breast cancer patients and supporting each other.

Free parking is available.

Pre-registration is preferred, although drop-ins are welcome.  For more information about the support group or to register, call 248-858-3962.

SJMO Receives State Grant for Minority Health Month

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) received a Minority Health Month grant of $8,000 from the Michigan Department of Community Health to fund a series of free activities focusing on minority men’s health. Minority Health Month will be observed in April.

The observance will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at SJMO’s Franco Communications Center with a motivational rally featuring Pete Thomas, former contestant from NBC-TV’s “Biggest Loser”; SJMO President and CEO Jack Weiner and Dr. Tom Rifai, Medical Director of SJMO’s Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management program.  During the rally, attendees will be invited to participate in a six-week SJMO men’s weight loss competition. They also will receive information on weight management, prevention of chronic disease, nutritional meal planning and the importance of exercise and physical fitness.  At the end of the six-week period, prizes will be awarded to individuals losing the most weight and /or inches.

During Minority Health Month, health screenings and health education activities will focus on chronic health conditions, including cancer (colorectal and prostate), cardiovascular disease (blood pressure and cholesterol) and diabetes (blood sugar and BMI).  Appropriate and timely follow-up will be provided for individuals with abnormal screening results. Informational brochures will be provided in English and Spanish.

Locations for the screenings include: Antioch Baptist Church, Elam Family Barbershop, Catholic Social Services Hispanic Outreach and the North Oakland YMCA.

Part of the observance will focus on National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, April 20-26, to bring attention to the issue of health disparities in minority communities.

Other activities include: the Lighthouse Walk, Cinco de Mayo healthy Mexican foods party at SJMO’s Mercy Place Clinic and a closing rally, at which winners will be announced.

“We are delighted to receive this grant,” said SJMO’s Weiner.  “It allows us to extend our efforts to improve the health of people in the community who might not otherwise have access to basic health care.”

Objectives of this year’s Minority Health Month observance are to increase the knowledge and awareness of minority men’s health issues, individual and community factors that affect health, culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches to men’s health improvement and the importance of regular preventive health visits and screenings.

All activities are free of charge.  The public is encouraged to participate.

To participate in the SJMO men’s weight loss competition or for more information, call Tatyanna Coleman, RN, at 248-333-0840, ext. 231. 

Objectives of this year’s Minority Health Month observance are to increase the knowledge and awareness of minority men’s health issues, individual and community factors that affect health, culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches to men’s health improvement and the importance of regular preventive health visits and screenings.

 

All activities are free of charge.  The public is encouraged to participate.

 

To participate in the SJMO men’s weight loss competition or for more information, call Tatyanna Coleman, RN, at 248-333-0840, ext. 231.

SJMO Encourages Everyone to have a Advance Directive

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) is encouraging patients, associates, physicians and the public to prepare advance directives to help their families or guardians make health care decisions for them when they are incapacitated and can’t make such decisions for themselves.

This effort is in observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), Friday, April 16. SJMO will have a display, messages in internal newsletters and hospital-wide emails addressing the importance of having an advance directive.  Select associates will wear stickers with the message, “Ask me about advance directives,” to help those who want more information about this important legal document.

Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO, said having an advance directive “not only provides patients with the comfort of knowing that their wishes will be followed, but also is a profoundly thoughtful gift to those who might have to make difficult decisions for them one day.”

An advance directive can reduce the sorrow and frustration that occur when a person’s wishes are unknown, and allows healthcare providers to follow the wishes of the patient, even when he or she cannot participate in decision making.

SJMO is one of more than 700 national, state and community organizations participating in NHDD.  This year’s theme is “Leading by Example.”

“It is our special goal this year to encourage all SJMO associates to complete their own advance directives so that we will be better equipped to answer questions and assist patients in completing theirs,” Weiner said.

For details about advance directives, visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

SJMO to Present Free, Monthly, Orthopedic Seminars

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will continue its series of free, monthly, orthopedic community seminars throughout 2010.  The one-hour seminars are held at 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.

SJMO orthopedic specialists will conduct the seminars, speaking on a wide range of orthopedic procedures and joint replacement.  Dates, speakers and topics include:

• March 23:  Paul Lewis, DO, “Shoulder”
• April 27: Bruce Henderson, MD,  “Arthritis and Back Pain”
• May 25: Shivajee Nallamothu, DO, “Total Joint Replacement”
• June 22: Matt Bahu, MD,  “Shoulder”
• July 27: Bill Kohen, MD, “Birmingham/Total Hip Replacement”

“SJMO has won numerous awards for orthopedic and joint replacement excellence,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO.  “Every day, our skilled physicians, surgeons and medical staff provide exemplary care and outstanding outcomes for the patients they treat.”

The hospital’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating spine, hand, shoulder, hip and knee disorders.  They provide comprehensive care before, during and after surgery.  Among the orthopedic services SJMO offers are:

• Award-winning, nationally recognized Joint Care Center,

• Artificial ankle replacement and correcting and treating postural and post-traumatic deformities, diabetic conditions and arthritis,
• Cutting edge procedures such as kyphoplasty and minimally invasive, patient-specific surgery,
• MRI and custom-fit technology for total knee replacements, the first in Michigan do to so,
• Around-the-clock acute trauma care at the SJMO Emergency Center.

The seminars are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available on the north side of the hospital, adjacent to the Franco Center and Medical Office Building.

 Registration is required.  To register, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 800-372-6094.

SJMO to Present Free Orthopedic Seminars

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will continue its series of free, monthly, orthopedic community seminars throughout 2010.  The one-hour seminars are held at 6 p.m. in the hospital’s Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.

SJMO orthopedic specialists will conduct the seminars, speaking on a wide range of orthopedic procedures and joint replacement.  Dates, speakers and topics include:

• Feb. 23:  Safa Kassab, MD, “Total Joint Replacement”
• March 23:  Paul Lewis, DO, “Shoulder”
• April 27: Bruce Henderson, MD,  “Arthritis and Back Pain”
• May 25: Shivajee Nallamothu, DO, “Total Joint Replacement”
• June 22: Matt Bahu, MD,  “Shoulder”
• July 27: Bill Kohen, MD, “Birmingham/Total Hip Replacement”

“SJMO has won numerous awards for orthopedic and joint replacement excellence,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO.  “Every day, our skilled physicians, surgeons and medical staff provide exemplary care and outstanding outcomes for the patients they treat.”

The hospital’s board-certified orthopedic surgeons specialize in treating spine, hand, shoulder, hip and knee disorders.  They provide comprehensive care before, during and after surgery.  Among the orthopedic services SJMO offers are:

• Award-winning, nationally recognized Joint Care Center
• Artificial ankle replacement and correcting and treating postural and post-traumatic deformities, diabetic conditions and arthritis,
• Cutting edge procedures such as kyphoplasty and minimally invasive, patient-specific surgery,
• MRI and custom-fit technology for total knee replacements, the first in Michigan do to so,
• Around-the-clock acute trauma care at the SJMO Emergency Center.

The seminars are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served. Free parking is available on the north side of the hospital, adjacent to the Franco Center and Medical Office Building.

 Registration is required.  To register, call St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, 800-372-6094.

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland to Hold Free Educational Seminar

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO), in partnership with the Michigan Bariatric Institute (MBI), will host a free educational seminar focusing on bariatric surgery options at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, in the SJMO Franco Communications Center Auditorium, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.

 Entitled, “A Minimal Surgical Approach to Treating Obesity,” the seminar will feature an overview of the bariatric surgery program and the types of procedures it offers, as well as a question and answer session.

 Speakers include Tallal Zeni, MD; Jacob Roberts, DO; and Paula Magid, MBI program director and former bariatric patient. 

Surgeons at MBI are experienced in advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques, including laparoscopic gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding.  Laparoscopic bariatric surgery results in minimal pain, less scarring, shorter hospital stay and recovery time.  Weight loss of about 70 percent of excess body weight can be anticipated within the first year and maintained.

Dr. Roberts recently joined the St. Joseph Mercy Oakland medical staff as a general and minimally invasive bariatric surgeon.  He will perform surgeries at SJMO and at St. Mary Mercy Livonia, both Saint Joseph Mercy Health System member hospitals. 

Dr. Roberts received his medical degree at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and was chief resident at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Oakland Center in Madison Heights, Mich.  He completed his fellowship training at the Chicago Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Ill.  Dr. Roberts also is board certified in General Surgery.

Dr. Zeni, director of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia and MBI medical director, received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he completed his residency in General Surgery.  He completed his fellowship in Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, Ill.  He is board certified in General Surgery.

Since the program’s inception in 2005 at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, MBI has performed more than 500 bariatric surgeries to date. 

The MBI program provides a comprehensive approach to the bariatric surgery experience, including

• Medical director
• Program director
• Team of specially trained registered nurses, registered dieticians, behavioral specialists and exercise physiologists to assist the patient through the process
• Free educational seminars
• Comprehensive pre-surgical classes
• Post-surgical follow-up visits
• Monthly support group

 To register for the educational seminar or for more information, call 877-Why-Weight.

SJMO Joins With Shir Tikvah Sisterhood For Women’s Expo

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will join with Congregation Shir Tikvah Sisterhood for a Women’s Health Expo on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at Congregation Shir Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Pkwy., Troy. 

The expo will begin at 5:30 p.m. with simple blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol  screenings, conducted by the hospital’s Community Health Promoters, who also will provide health education materials.  SJMO Faith Community Nurses will be on hand to give blood pressure screenings and offer health information.  SJMO Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management will offer weight management information, healthy food samples and a schedule of future seminars and classes. A Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management representative will be on hand to answer questions.  The Michigan Bariatric Institute also will provide information on bariatric surgery options.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. and feature SJMO physicians and health care professionals.  Speakers and their topics include:  obstetrician/gynecologist Ethan Goldstein, MD, women’s OB/GYN concerns:  SJMO Medical Director of Oncology Services/Cancer Committee Chairwoman Judie Goodman, DO, women and cancer; SJMO Clinical Director, Neuroscience Services Connie Parliament, RN, MSN, CNRN, women and stroke; Internal Medicine specialist Varsha Revankar, MD, wellness; clinical psychologist Yobany Pardo, PhD, stress, anxiety and depression; and cardiologist Nitin Doshi, MD, women and heart health.

Dr. Goldstein earned his medical degree at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at Beaumont Hospitals. In addition to his Obstetrics and Gynecology training, Dr Goldstein was trained in the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System for robot-assisted gynecological surgery.  He joined the SJMO staff in 2009.

Dr. Goodman earned her medical degree at the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA.  A specialist in Hematology and Oncology, Dr Goodman completed her internship and residency at Botsford General Hospital and held a Hematology fellowship at Oakland General Hospital and an Oncology fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital.  She joined the SJMO staff in 2006.

Ms. Parliament earned her LPN degree at Mid-Michigan Community College in Harrison, MI.  She received her RN degree from Gateway Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., BSN from Madonna University, CNRN from Arizona State University in Phoenix and MSN from the University of Detroit Mercy.    She joined the staff of SJMO in 1997.

Dr. Revankar earned her medical degree at the B.J. Medical College at the University of Poona, India.  She completed internships at the Rural Training Center, Shirur, Poona; Kirkee Cantonment Hospital in Poona and at the University of Texas Southwestern Parkland Hospital, Dallas, Texas.  Dr. Revankar completed residencies at Sassoon General Hospital in India and at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.  She joined the SJMO staff in 2009.

Dr. Pardo earned his master’s degree and doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Detroit Mercy and a master’s degree in Theology and Pastoral Studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.  He is a mental health consultant to SJMO and workshop coordinator for the hospital’s Conscious Fathering workshops for SJMO’s Healthy Start/Healthy Families Oakland program.

Dr. Doshi is Chief of Staff and Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services and of the Coronary Care Unit and Heart Failure Programs at SJMO.  He is the former Chief of the Division of Cardiology and former Chair of the Department of Medicine.  He was graduated from the S.C.B. Medical College in Cuttack, India, and completed his internship at Wayne State University and residencies at the former North Oakland Medical Center (now Doctors Hospital) and at SJMO.  He completed a fellowship in Cardiology at SJMO. Dr. Doshi joined the medical staff in 1978.

SJMO President and CEO Jack Weiner will bring greetings from the hospital.  Shir Tikvah President Erica Peresman and Shir Tikvah Sisterhood President Patty Rehfus will bring greetings from the congregation and Sisterhood, respectively.

Following the panel presentations, there will be a question-and-answer session and a dessert afterglow.

The public is invited. Free parking is available.  Admission is $8.  Checks should be made payable and mailed to CST Sisterhood, 3900 Northfield Pkwy., Troy, MI  48084.

For details, call Patty Rehfus, 248-219-6615 or Heidi Press, 248-544-3488. 

SJMO to Host Nutrition Classes

Pontiac, MI—St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO) will hold a series of nutrition classes at 7:15 p.m. on the first and third Mondays in February and  March 2010 in the hospital’s Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward Ave., Pontiac.  Hosted by the SJMO Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management Program, the classes will be held Feb. 1 and 15 and March 1 and 15.

 Class topics include:

• · “The Essentials on Carbs:  How Do Veggies, Fruits, Legumes, Dairy and Whole Grains Compare?” Feb. 1
• · “Salt (aka Sodium): Pressure, Bones and Stones…Maybe Cancer Too?” Feb. 15
• · “The Facts About Fats: ‘Mediterranean Style,’” March 1
• · “Protein Power…and Risks,” March 15.

Tom Rifai, MD, Medical Director of the Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management Program at SJMO, will conduct the classes.  Dr. Rifai is Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and chief medical advisor to the Pritikin Longevity Center in Avenutra, Fla.

He is board certified by the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, which recently named him to a three-year, at-large position on its board of directors, and the American Board of Internal Medicine.  His specialties are nutrition, prevention of chronic disease, weight management, nutritional and medical management of insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity.

“With the increase in obesity in our country and community, it is extremely important that we educate individuals how to take better care of their health,” said Jack Weiner, SJMO President and CEO.  “These classes will guide people toward that end by telling them how to eat healthier and manage their weight.”

The fee is $75 per class.  Each registered person may bring a guest at no charge.  Free parking is available at the Franco Center.  The public is invited.

To register or for more information, call the SJMO Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management Program, 248-858-2475.

The Metabolic Nutrition and Weight Management Program at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is an integrated, educational medical program for those looking to control their metabolic issues related to insulin resistance and obesity through dedication to nutrition, physical activity and overall lifestyle change.

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