Several health disparities exist between African Americans and white Americans. Doctors are seeing diseases that you’d expect to see in older patients—heart disease, diabetes, stroke—in relatively young African Americans. While genetics may play a role in certain instances, socioeconomic factors have a significant impact on how African Americans are able to prevent and treat certain conditions.

Heart Disease

In general, diseases of the heart are the No. 1 killer of Americans. However, while the rate of heart disease has been steadily decreasing among white Americans since the 1970s, the rates are not decreasing as sharply among African Americans.

The data tells us that the issue isn’t that more African Americans have heart disease, but that this group’s chances of surviving a cardiovascular event aren’t as high as in other populations. In fact, African Americans aged 18 to 49 are two times more likely to die of heart disease than other Americans. The Affordable Care Act, which was passed by Congress in 2010, expanded access to healthcare insurance to all Americans. It appears that this access has improved cardiac care for African Americans, but a disparity still exists. In general, this population doesn’t receive referrals for potentially lifesaving treatments like cardiac catheterizations in a timely manner, leading to worse outcomes than their Caucasian counterparts.

Lisa Kohn was born in the Garden State, spent many years in New York City, and currently lives outside of Philadelphia (on the PA side), and would love to be included in Garden State Woman. In addition, with the general public so fascinated by cults, how prevalent cultish mentality is in society right now, and how much (I believe) we need a message of hope and love.

I have always loved to run! When I was younger, I played recreational and travel soccer. Whatever I may have lacked in size or skill, I made up for it with heart and SPEED. I would usually outrun most players on the field.

In seventh grade, I met a young track coach, John Downey, who had recently served in the Marines and was starting his coaching career as a high school cross-country and track coach. Coach Downey encouraged me to participate in his training programs geared for young athletes who had an interest in running.

Elizabeth Gavino of Lewin & Gavino in Hoboken, NJ has shared the following important Medicare information with Garden State Woman.  Lewin & Gavino provides customized employee benefit packages for businesses and financial solutions for individuals.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is coming up October 15th-December 7th. This is for those:

• Over 65, already on a plan and would like to change plans and insurance carriers
• 65 and older and are on Medicare and Medicaid
• Under 65 and disabled
• Just moved or are moving to another area

Lewin & Gavino can also assist those who are soon turning 65 and need to know what to do and their options for insurance. 

This article does not cover everything and there is a lot more information that people need to understand about Medicare as well as all the Federal and State Assistance programs that are available to them. If you have any questions, contact Elizabeth at 201-659-7170, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit their website.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to retired individuals, regardless of their medical condition. Here are some basic facts about Medicare that you should know.

One of my professors used to tell us that people read to know they aren't alone—that someone, somewhere, may have felt exactly what they are feeling. There's healing in being able to identify it, I think. Finding in the pages of a book, lyrics to a song, a way of understanding how it is you do feel. "I wouldn't have said it like that," or "I didn't have the words for it," but that's it. It's the piano solo, fading chords, the raspy cry in his voice, and you just want to listen to it over and over again. Because that's exactly how it feels. 

I've heard it said that we impress people with our so-called perfections, but we connect with people through our faults. And, if only we had the humility to be quick to admit our failure, our misjudgments—our faults. Maybe then there wouldn't be so many hurt, isolated people. G.K. Chesterton once wrote, "We're all in the same boat on a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty." I've been thinking about Chesterton's words for months now, reflecting on what it would mean for us to truly be in this together. 

There's a photograph I saw weeks ago of a track meet that keeps coming to mind. One sprinter fell down, after twisting her ankle, and couldn't get back up. Even if she had, the close race was over. The photograph was of two girls from the opposite team holding her up and walking her to the finish line. I just keep thinking: that's what it means to be in this together. It means giving up your own success, reaching for the weak, throwing their arm over our shoulder and telling them—time and time again—"come on, let's go." Because when we're all in this together, we grab hold of the hurt—those who have fallen behind, even if it sacrifices first place. 

It means stopping to look around you to see who can't keep up. It means encouraging your little brother, asking how your boss' family is doing, taking your mom out to lunch and listening to her talk. It's continually giving of yourself because no man lives to himself alone. We're all in the same boat.

July is National Blueberry Month, which makes it a great time for reminding ourselves of the many great ways they can be consumed. It’s also a great time to be reminded of the myriad reasons for making them a regular part of one’s diet. The more you know about these powerful little berries, the more you will want them to become a bigger part of your family’s life.

“Blueberries have been loved in this country since the beginning, really,” explains Chef Scott Jenkins, the executive chef at Arlington-based Extra Virgin restaurant. “They are delicious, versatile and healthy, so what’s not to love about a blueberry?”

According to the North American Blueberry Council, blueberries are a native American species. We produce roughly 90 percent of the world’s blueberries, making this country the leader in blueberry production. While blueberries are grown in over 30 states, with the harvest running from mid-April through October, the harvest peak is July.

Blueberries, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, are one of the fruits with the highest amount of antioxidants, which are important in helping to fight aging, cancer and heart disease. They are also high in dietary fiber, as well as Vitamins A and C.  Although they ripen in warmer months, they can easily be frozen and used throughout the year. For the best results, freeze them unwashed, in a single layer, in freezer bags. When you are ready to use them, take out just what you need and wash them.

Here are five ways that you can incorporate getting more blueberries into your diet:

All the forms had been filled out and I sat quietly with my paper jacket on hoping I didn't have it on backward while I waited for the technician to come in. The door opened and a very lovely young woman with a beautiful smile and happy eyes greeted me warmly. She settled me into the lounge type seat, adjusted my paper jacket, I did get it right, and began telling me how she was going to proceed with the test. It was fairly straightforward and nothing much required of me except to relax. She turned off the lights and as she clicked on her machine it purred into action and its small screen glowed with a soft light. She held something that looked like a small microphone in her hand and then placed it on my chest over my heart, after a few clicks on the machine she said "Look, there is your heart".

I know the word awe is over used, but there really is not another word to describe how I felt in that moment. A wave of emotion came over me, not unlike the feeling I had when I looked at the tiny face of each of my brand new babies. It wasn't just a heart, it was MY heart and I knew I would always love it. The young tech and I spoke quietly to one another as she showed my marvelous heart and explained just how it was working. I was fascinated. I thought about my marvelous heart and how, from the day it first fluttered to life in my Mother's womb announcing that I indeed was there, it has continued to beat, never stopping beating the rhythm of my life, unseen.
Having met my heart and watching her perform the ceaseless task of keeping me here, alive in my world, I made a new and deeper commitment to pay attention to and take excellent care of her. We take care of what we love, I love my heart.

I was flipping through an issue of Whole Living while enjoying the last sips of my coffee one morning, when I came across an article that captured me, "Wabi Sabi Your Life - Simple Strategies for Embracing Imperfection."

The concept is rooted in Zen Buddhism, particularly the tea ceremony, a ritual of purity and simplicity in which the master's prized bowls that were handmade, irregularly shaped, unevenly glazed and cracked, were believed to have beauty in their imperfection. The far reaching sense of wabi sabi is hard to define by words alone, however, loosely translated, wabi is simplicity either elegant or rustic, and sabi is the beauty of age and wear. It takes time, shifting perspectives and a good deal of appreciation to really understand the Wabi Sabi way of seeing that special kind of beauty.

I have a nativity set complete with the stable and its occupants sitting next to me in a very old cardboard box; it's waiting for the trip downstairs to co-star with the Christmas tree for its 50th year. My Mother gave it to Bruce and me for our first Christmas together. I really didn't like it - it was big, a bit tacky and came from Woolworths (not that there is anything wrong with that), and I just didn't see it fitting in with my version of a Hallmark Christmas. Each year as we got the large box out of the attic I thought, "I'm going to get a really nice nativity for next Christmas, something small and tasteful." But when the crèche was set each year up our children loved it.

It has a very small music box that still plays most of Silent Night, except for the last line. The Angel "Gloria" has a broken wing, the camel lost his head years ago but we put it back with a magical piece of duct tape. One of the Wise Men has to lean against the side of the manger because he has no feet and Joseph lost his staff long ago. Mary, baby Jesus, and the shepherd boy, along with assorted cows and sheep are chipped and fading... You guessed it, we love our wabi sabi crèche; not only do our grown children look for it each year, our grandchildren love it too. We take turns winding up the old music box and are thrilled if it still cranks out a few random notes to Silent Night. I get such a kick out of watching each new grandchild be introduced to our manger by one of my "kids," while listening to the stories they tell about how much seeing it means to them each year.

I have come to really love and treasure my Christmas visitors. At the end of the season each piece is carefully wrapped in new tissue paper then gently tucked back into its old cardboard box to stay safe and sound until next year.

Growing up in my Irish Catholic household found me as a little girl at confession on Saturday afternoons. I had 2 "sins" ready to go each week, laziness and selfishness. Not wanting to share the last piece of Chocolate cake with my little sister was sort of selfish; however I really LOVED chocolate cake. Day dreaming or getting lost in a good book when I could be doing something "productive" was just a bit lazy according to my Grandmother Mamie.

As I've grown older, I've gradually learned to redefine these words for myself -- I've come to see laziness and selfishness as "virtues".

As women in this day and age, we seem to hold ourselves to impossible standards; we've become Marge-in-charge of everyone else's comfort. Don't wait until the people in your life have what they want first -- you'll be waiting in the sun for a very long time.

It's time to allow ourselves to learn a new way of being. It's time for a new story, where the old definitions of laziness and selfishness are expanded to include these notions:

Relax
I love this one. Sometimes we just need to be "lax"! Lax is defined as loose, slack, not tight or strict or exact. Sounds like a winner to me! I need lots of practice, just saying.....

When I feel happy, it spills out all over. Those of you who know me, know that I love to chat!

I love connecting with people. Sometimes, it is just to exchange a smile or a nod as I pass someone on the street. Compulsive? Perhaps. Fun, fascinating, rewarding? Most definitely. If you have not yet tried it, I highly recommend the practice!

The Very Nice Lady
One of my favorite things to do is to pay someone a totally unexpected compliment, right out of the blue. It is so much fun to surprise someone with a"You look so lovely today" or "Thank you for bagging, you did such a nice job." I'm always rewarded with a big smile and a "Thank you!" Sometimes it turns out that we take a little time to chat. Other times, we just exchange some wonderful positive energy -- a lovely deposit to our emotional bank accounts.

I have come to listen to my intuitive "time to chat" sense even when it might seem inappropriate. Recently, I was edging down a crowded aisle of a plane. I could hear sighs of exasperation as progress down the isle became clogged to a standstill as it always seems to do. Never one to simply look straight ahead, I was enjoying the sea of faces of those already comfortably settled. Then I noticed an elderly lady sitting all alone.

Because of what I do, I always notice someone who has taken some time to look nice and put together.

The body is an amazing source of intelligence. It is always there for you, pumping blood, never skipping a heartbeat, digesting whatever food you put in it and maintaining homeostasis. Is this reliable, intelligent bio-computer making a mistake by craving ice cream or a hamburger or chocolate? Are cravings due to lack of will-power or discipline? I'd like to suggest that cravings are not a problem. They are critical pieces of information that tell you what your body needs.

The important thing is to understand why you crave what you crave. Perhaps your diet is too restrictive or devoid of essential nutrients. Perhaps you are living a lifestyle that is too boring or stressful. Your body tries to correct the imbalance by sending you a message: a craving. A craving for something sweet could mean you need more protein, more exercise, more water or more love in your life. The key to stopping the sugar craving is to understand and deliver what your body really needs.

No book or theory can tell you what to eat. Only awareness of your body and its needs can tell you. Of all the relationships in our lives, the one with our body is the most essential. It takes communication, love and time to cultivate a relationship with your body. As you learn to decipher and respond to your body's cravings, you will create a deep and lasting level of health and balance.

The next time you have a craving, treat it as a loving message from your body instead of a weakness. Try these tips to respond to your body:

• Have a glass of water and wait 10 minutes.
• Eat a healthier version of what you crave. For example, if you crave sweets, try eating more fruit and sweet or root vegetables.
• What is out of balance in your life? Is there something you need to express, or is something being repressed? What happened in your life just before you had this craving?
• When you eat the food you are craving, enjoy it, taste it, savor it; notice its effect. Then you will become more aware and free to decide if you really want it next time.
• Small changes, big difference!

Stephanie M. Shelly, CHC, MRP, AADP
b.healthy - health/nutrition coaching & medical reflexology
www.stephaniemshelly.com

Guide to Eating a Healthy Meal Based on Latest Science; Addresses Shortcomings in U.S. Government's MyPlate

Harvard Health Publications, in conjunction with nutrition experts at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), have unveiled the Healthy Eating Plate, a visual guide that provides a blueprint for eating a healthy meal. Like the U.S. government's MyPlate, the Healthy Eating Plate is simple and easy to understand—and it addresses important deficiencies in the MyPlate icon.

"Unfortunately, like the earlier U.S. Department of Agriculture Pyramids, MyPlate mixes science with the influence of powerful agricultural interests, which is not the recipe for healthy eating," said Walter Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition and chair of the Department of Nutrition at HSPH. "The Healthy Eating Plate is based on the best available scientific evidence and provides consumers with the information they need to make choices that can profoundly affect our health and well being."

View the Healthy Eating Plate.

Comparing the Harvard Healthy Eating Plate to the USDA's MyPlate shows the shortcomings in the government's guide. MyPlate does not tell consumers that whole grains are better for health than refined grains; its protein section offers no indication that some high-protein foods—fish, poultry, beans, nuts—are healthier than red meats and processed meats; it is silent on beneficial fats; it does not distinguish between potatoes and other vegetables; it recommends dairy at every meal, even though there is little evidence that high dairy intake protects against osteoporosis but substantial evidence that high intake can be harmful; and it says nothing about sugary drinks. Finally, the Healthy Eating Plate reminds people to stay active, an important factor in weight control, while MyPlate does not mention the importance of activity.

Drawing on three decades of experience as a successful chiropractor, Dr. Doug Main of Parsippany (morriscountylaser.com) offers new hope with a unique approach to pain management with two options: Laser and Decompression Pain Relief. If you have back, neck or disc problems, you may be a candidate for these advanced therapies.

Laser therapy helps neck pain, back pain and disc problems. Laser therapy stimulates healing, reduces inflammation, increases circulation and improves flexibility. The most advanced laser that Dr. Main uses is called K-Laser. Decompression Therapy is for spinal discs that are bulged, herniated, or degenerated. It helps back pain, sciatica, numbness, neuropathy, stenosis and failed back surgery. During decompression treatment deep traction is slowly applied and released with computer controlled equipment to relieve disc pressure and stimulate healing. Most patients have found Decompression to be painless, even "relaxing".

Testimonials from patients who have been helped by these treatments support the growing trend and interest in alternatives to invasive surgery. With the focus of health care moving toward prevention, increasing numbers of individuals are looking toward the benefits associated with chiropractic care.

Comments from people that Dr. Main has helped:

I had back and leg pain and two doctors suggested surgery. After laser and decompression, the pain is almost gone. Norman L.

I suffered with low back pain for years. An MRI showed 2 large herniations. After spinal decompression therapy my condition improved, allowing me to resume tennis and skiing, activities which I had been unable to do for years. Three years after my treatment, my back remains asymptomatic. A recent MRI showed no sign of the larger herniation and a significant reduction in the size of the second one. Two years ago I developed severe pain in my thumbs, and was diagnosed with arthritis. Dr. Main recommended laser therapy. After a few sessions my pain was almost gone, and the mobility in my joints was restored. The relief was lasting, and now six months later I continue to feel almost no pain, despite the constant abuse of typing. - Anca I.

Although available year-round, spring is the best season for fresh asparagus. Crops are harvested from late February to June, with April being the prime month. I love asparagus raw on salads, along side fish or grilled chicken, mixed with pasta, over brown rice, etc. In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with Asparagus!

Asparagus is super healthy for your body. It is loaded with B vitamins and choline for mental focus, filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties fighting off disease and supporting the immune system, metabolizes sugars and starches and is high in dietary fiber. Asparagus is also wonderful in supporting digestive health. Asparagus ranks high as one of the most healthy vegetables you can eat. I hope you enjoy the recipes below.

It is great to eat with the seasons for optimal health. Now is the time for asparagus! Enjoy!

Stephanie Shelly is a Certified Health Coach who creates a supportive environment that enables you to achieve all of your health goals. She has studied all the major dietary theories and uses practical lifestyle coaching methods to guide you in discovering which approach works best for you. Visit her website at www.stephaniemshelly.com.

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Recipes

Asparagus and Zucchini Crudi Recipe by Giada De Laurentiis

National Center for Creative Aging and life'sDHA™ Seek Inspiring Adults Age 55 and Over to Champion Importance of Lifelong Brain Health

The National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) has partnered with life'sDHA™ to seek nominations at www.beautiful-minds.com for adults 55 and over who are doing beautiful things with their minds without letting age be a barrier. Ten individuals will be selected to be featured in a national photo exhibit, "Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential," which will travel to multiple cities as part of an educational campaign designed to inspire all Americans to maintain better brain health. Submissions will be accepted through May 13, 2011. Launched in 2010, the "Beautiful Minds" campaign celebrates individuals who are keeping their minds beautiful throughout life, and raises awareness of the actions people can take to maintain one of the most vital parts of the body – the brain. The campaign focuses on the latest brain health research, specifically the four dimensions of brain health – diet and nutrition, physical health, mental health and social well-being.

"We are excited to showcase how adults 55 and over are using the four dimensions of brain health to do extraordinary things with their minds and bodies," said Gay Powell Hanna, Ph.D., M.F.A., executive director for the National Center for Creative Aging. "Our Beautiful Minds continue to be an inspiration to others, and we're looking forward to selecting ten more individuals who are positively influencing their brain health. This campaign is a wonderful way to show the potential of creativity in later life, which contributes to the health and wellbeing of older people and allows them to do the things they love, longer." "Research demonstrates that lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, as well as social, mental and intellectual engagement are important influencers on the aging brain. The Beautiful Minds campaign shines a light on people who are keeping their minds beautiful, and raises awareness of the actions others can take to better maintain their brain health," said Dr. Majid Fotuhi, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, Neurology Institute for Brain Health and Fitness, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and consultant to life'sDHA. Entries may be submitted by anyone 55 and over, or by anyone who knows someone 55 and over, who has done extraordinarily beautiful things with his or her mind in the second stage of life. Each nomination must be accompanied by either an essay (500 words or less) or a video (three minutes or less) describing what makes the candidate an exemplary beautiful mind. Examples include committing to a healthy lifestyle; maintaining a healthy diet; engaging in intellectual or brain power activities on a daily basis; taking measures to overcome serious illness through mind, body, spirit and nutrition; participating in high-impact physical activities such as running marathons; having a strong commitment to social well-being, or having volunteered to help or educate others. Complete rules, regulations and an entry form are available on www.beautiful-minds.com. All entries must be received by May 13, 2011. Entries can be submitted via the following:

Online: Complete the entry form and provide a written essay (or a video essay) and submit it with a photo of the candidate being nominated. www.beautiful-minds.com

Fax: Download and complete the PDF entry form located online at www.beautiful-minds.com . Fax the completed form, a written essay and a photo of the candidate (minimum size 4 x 6) to (202) 895-9483 to the attention of Liz Anderson Simmons.

Mail: Send the completed entry form, along with a written essay and a non-returnable photo to Liz Anderson Simmons, National Center for Creative Aging, 4125 Albemarle Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20016-2105.

 

I recently visited the Aurora DeJuliis M.D., European Medical Spa in Bloomfield, NJ because I was interested in learning what set it apart from other "health" spas. As I entered that front office, I found a comfortable relaxing setting – not unlike many doctors' offices I've been to over the years. But then I met Dr. Aurora DeJuliis with her gentle accent. The doctor was born and raised in Rome, Italy and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rome in Medicine and Surgery. She's been at the leading edge of her field for over 20 years and is a representative of the World International Society of Anti-Aging Medicine.

When asked about her medical training, Dr. DeJuliis said she was always interested in anti-aging. Her specialized training continued in Paris and Rome where she studied skin rejuvenation possibilities before it was available here in America. She learned that one's skin reflects their health and well-being. It is more than just "looking good" - in order to look good one has to be at a level of health that supports those looks. As a young woman she was drawn to more in-depth learning about anti-aging, its causes and skin care and realized how reflective the skin is of one's health. As a result, what she is offering at the European Medical Spa has a different slant than any other "spa" I have seen.

According to Dr. DeJuliis, very few health spas have a full-time doctor on staff and many are willing to "give an injection" and move on. They often don't have the artistic or professional capabilities to work with the patient to meet their expectations. Additionally, she acknowledges that as a woman in the same age category as many of her patients, she empathizes and clearly understands their goals.

Many men and women often come into her offices looking for a "quick-fix" before a bar mitzvah or wedding because they want to look younger and more energetic. During her initial consultations, she does an in-depth evaluation of the skin, evaluating its general health, color, thickness, oiliness, dryness and level of fragility. As a physician, she also examines the condition of the underlying muscles as well, looking for damage, wrinkles, scars, broken capillaries, rosacea, acnes, birthmarks or discoloration and discusses the individual issues with the patient to gain a good understanding of his/her feelings about their situation. Then, and only then, will she explore personalized recommendations for treatment options, rejuvenation and repair alternatives.

However, the doctor has more than skin care alternatives available for her patients. Only 5-10 years ago if we wanted to look younger there were few options beyond plastic surgery. But at the European Medical Spa one can find significant non-invasive options available.

Jeanette Bronee's Path for Life Center in NY City is a top nourishment resource center. Jeanette, who will be a presenter at Garden State Woman's 5th annual health conference on April 30, 2011 at the sanofi-aventis headquarters in Bridgewater, will inspire you to think differently about how you view nutrition and may potentially change your life.

Visit her extensive web site at www.pathforlife.com and blog: www.pathforlifefood.com to find great recipes in her monthly newsletters and learn how Jeanette, her team and her clients work together to:

• Understand emotional eating: "learn why you eat and how to make choices that support your mood, emotions, and energy. We teach you how you can change feelings of depression, low self-esteem, and lack of motivation with food and life-style choices. We work from a perspective of positive eating. One that allows you to find the joy in food and eating rather than deprivation."
• Learn about nutrition therapy including "food & health, balancing weight, depression & anxiety, digestive disorders, fertility & pregnancy and detox programs."
• Deal with cancer wellness: a testimonial from a Jeanette client: ""I started out calling Jeanette my "cancer coach"; I now call her my Wholeness Coach! This week I was given the great news that the cancerous tumors in my lungs, liver, and under my right arm have disappeared and that the original tumor in my left breast is reducing and the breast tissue is appearing healthier. Jeanette taught me that I was important and I shifted from being a Victim to being Victorious. I learned an enormous amount about my body's needs and abilities to heal itself and restore balance.

At Jeanette's Integrated Holistic Health Center there are also resources for habits shifting hypnotherapy and mind body nourishment that include connective healing, meditation, transition coaching and body therapies.

Jeanette, from Denmark originally, committed herself and her career to healthier eating when she lost both parents to cancer. That was her wake-up call. Today she has a thriving nutrition counseling practice on East 11th street in NY City. I just referred one of our special friends to Jeanette to help her deal with serious long-term health issues.

I met Jeanette through a very close friend of my husband's who has been going to Jeanette for almost a year to deal with health issues including Mercury poisoning primarily related to his being down at the twin towers on 9/11 and continuing to work in the area for many months after. John's doctor, unable to solve his serious, life threatening health issues referred him to Jeanette.

Attention Women: Do you believe you would recognize heart attack symptoms if you had them?  You are probably wrong because they are totally different from men's. 

HEART DISEASE IS THE #1 CAUSE OF DEATH IN U.S. WOMEN

Because too many of us don't know how to recognize women's symptoms of heart attack, the mortality rate in women from heart disease is rising, especially among older women.

As our lives parallel men's, heart attack and stroke death rates are on the rise among women.

RISK FACTORS THAT CAUSE HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES

The most common causes of heart attacks and strokes are:

This information has been provided by Jeanette Bronee of the PATH FOR LIFE self-nourishment center® Where Wellness is Nurtured and Habits Change for Good.

Read more about Jeanette here.

12 Most Contaminated / Buy These Organic

• Apples

• Bell Peppers

• Celery

Dr. Laverne Mensah of St. Clare's Health System is a Garden State woman whose work not only saves the lives of  women with cancer of the reproductive tract, but also minimizes the time they have to spend away from their daily lives for surgery and recovery.

As one of the first gynecologic oncologists to complete 20 surgeries using the FDA-approved da Vinci robot, Dr. Mensah is considered an innovator in gynecologic robotic minimally invasive surgery. The robotically-enhanced surgical instruments she uses allow for greater precision during operations, and, consequently, she is able to provide her patients with shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times, as well as less pain, risk of infection, and scarring. Treating and helping women is one of the biggest reasons Dr. Mensah went into the field of gynecology – and she loves every minute.

Patricia Korpos, a town clerk for Mine Hill, is one Garden State woman who benefited from Dr. Mensah's expertise and warmth. When Patricia started bleeding last November, 14 years past menopause, she was diagnosed with cancer and required a hysterectomy. Having watched her mother die of cancer, Patricia expected the worst. In fact, her daughter initially suggested going to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. But Patricia met with Dr. Mensah on her doctor's recommendation, and was so impressed with Dr. Mensah's kindness and expertise that she didn't want to go anywhere else. Her results supported her decision: Within a week, she felt well enough to think about going back to work. And, since she'd had a small surgery in the same area a few years prior and experienced tons of pain, she was shocked at how minimal the pain was following this surgery. She says she'd recommend Dr. Mensah to anyone.

Dr. Mensah earned her undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Wayne State University's Hutzel Hospital, and completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Sloan-Kettering. In addition to serving in several professorial roles, she has been a federal expert in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

Dr. Mensah is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, and the American College of Surgeons. She has received multiple honors, including the Teshima Award for Excellence in Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology Residency, and has served as a Galloway Fellow at Sloan-Kettering, and an American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Fellow.