Annual Community Event Encourages Heart Health, Features Panel of Clinical Speakers
Carthage Area Hospital kicks off its 2018 Community Engagement Series on Wednesday, Feb. 28, with its annual Heart Luncheon that features a provider discussion aimed at maintaining heart health.
The always popular luncheon is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Carthage Elks Lodge, 511 Fulton St. The event is free and open to the public and includes a complimentary lunch of baked chicken Parmesan, whole wheat pasta, garden salad, fresh fruit and beverages.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States with more than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2015 occurring in men. February is American Heart Month with similar events occurring across the country to raise awareness of heart disease.
“About 630,000 Americans die from heart disease each year — that’s one in every four deaths nationwide,” said Emmylu Royer, Carthage Area Hospital population health coordinator. “The figures for Northern New York are just as staggering as a percentage of our population. That’s why we encourage all members of our communities to join us in learning effective ways to maintain a healthy heart.”
Through the Community Engagement Series, Royer said, hospital officials hope to connect residents with providers in a casual setting where people can comfortably ask questions and engage more completely with clinicians. The heart luncheon is the first of nine free health education events slated this year.
“We have a wealth of resources to share that can help people on a path to better health and wellness,” she said. “All events are free and interactive with opportunities to talk to providers.”
The hospital is pleased to introduce four highly qualified speakers from its team who will talk about a range of heart-related topics, including: heart attack and coronary disease prevention, nutrition and heart health, effective medication choices, and physical activity and exercise.
Dr. Mirza Ashraf, hospital Medical Director and Board-Certified Cardiologist, will present “Heart Attack and Coronary Disease Prevention and Risk Factors;” Susie Ray, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, a Board-Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, will present “Nutrition and Heart Health: Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too;” Cheryl Tousant, PT, DPT, Carthage Area Hospital’s Director of Therapy Services, will discuss how to manage heart risk and coronary disease through physical activity and exercise; and Clinical Pharmacist Christopher Bradley, PharmD, MBA, will share effective medication choices to manage heart conditions and hypertension.
Space is limited. Call 315-519-5907 to reserve your seat today or register online at carthagehospital.com/heartlunch. The deadline to RSVP is Friday, Feb. 23.
Speaker Information:
Topic: Heart Attack and Coronary Disease Prevention and Risk Factors
Bio: Dr. Mirza Ashraf is a doctor of internal medicine and cardiology who has practiced in Carthage since 1975, serving in private practice and in positions of increasing responsibility on the medical staff at Carthage Area Hospital. He was appointed Medical Director at the hospital in 1993. Dr. Ashraf completed undergraduate studies and medical school in Pakistan before an internship in Bronxville, N.Y., and a residency in internal medicine at the former St. Vincent’s Hospital, Staten Island. He later completed a cardiology fellowship at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn. Dr. Ashraf is certified by the American Board of Cardiology, the American Board of Nuclear Cardiology and the American Board of Critical Care Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.
Topic: “Nutrition and Heart Health: Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too”
Bio: Susan “Susie” K. Ray is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Board-Certified Nutrition Support Clinician who joined the Carthage Area Hospital’s Clinical Nutrition team in January 2017. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She earned a Master of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University. Susie is a Denver, Colo., native who moved to the North Country in 2016 with her husband, Dr. Damian Ray, a family medicine physician who practices in Watertown. She provides nutritional services in the hospital and the community. Outside of work, Susie enjoys gardening, animals, traveling, cooking and baking and has a knack for arts and crafts.
Topic: Managing Heart Risk and Coronary Disease Through Physical Activity and Exercise
Bio: Cheryl Tousant, PT, DPT, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Director of Therapy Services at Carthage Area Hospital. She graduated from Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y., with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Doctor of Physical Therapy. She joined Carthage Area Hospital in 2009 and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association. She is a Geriatric Certified Specialist and specializes in care for older adults (ages 65-plus), including interventions and education for fall risk reduction and reconditioning. She is an advocate for Evidence-Based Practice, which combines cutting edge assessments using standardized outcome-based measurements and functional interventions. She is a firm believer in patient-centred care.
Topic: Effective Medication Choices to Manage Heart Conditions and Hypertension
Bio: Dr. Christopher Bradley is the Clinical Pharmacist at Carthage Area Hospital. A Watertown native, he joined the hospital team in 2015. He graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2010 and earned a MBA from Endicott College, Beverly, Mass., in 2012. While a pharmacy student, he trained extensively at Albany Medical Center in various units. He specializes in antibiotic therapy, medication reconciliation, provider/patient education and new treatment guidelines. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and their two corgis.
About Carthage Area Hospital
Carthage Area Hospital was established as a not-for-profit rural community hospital in 1965. It operates today as a fully accredited 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, serving approximately 83,000 residents in Jefferson, northern Lewis and southern St. Lawrence counties. The hospital formed a clinical affiliation with Crouse Health, Syracuse, in 2017.
The hospital also operates a network of community-based clinics, including its Family Health Center, Pediatric Clinic and Women’s Way to Wellness and provides a range of specialty care, including general surgery, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgical care, physical therapy and behavioral health.