Veterans possess a wealth of experience, discipline, and leadership qualities. Their ability to adapt, their problem-solving skills, and their dedication to teamwork align perfectly with any company’s core mission. And every year, according to the Department of Labor, approximately 200,000 men and women leave military service and return to civilian life.
Our veterans have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms. In June, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which reminded all of us how much we owe to our brave soldiers. It is the right thing to do to, in return, provide opportunities for them to thrive in their post-military careers.
By hiring veterans, we not only honor their service but also enrich our teams with their diverse experiences and perspectives.
“On this National Hire A Veteran Day, I urge my fellow business leaders to consider the incredible value veterans can bring to their organizations,” Asner said. “To all veterans, I thank you whole-heartedly for your service and your courage. All of us must be committed to supporting our veterans by recognizing the unique strengths they offer to any employer.”
About Scott Asner Scott Asner is a longstanding Kansas City, MO investment manager and Founding Principal of Eighteen Capital Group (18CG). Having earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at the University of Pennsylvania and his law degree from Stanford University, Scott practiced law for two decades before turning to the investment management profession. As a Principal of 18CG, Scott specializes in diverse real estate investments and leads a core team of 25 employees from 18CG’s corporate headquarters in Leawood, Kansas. Scott oversees the private equity-financed acquisition of properties nationwide –more than 7,000 apartment units at 33 properties in 15 states. He is a long-term holder of most of these properties. For more information about Scott Asner, please visit https://scottasner.com/.
“Cecilia’s appointment as CEO of LifeLong Medical Care showcases her dedication to transforming healthcare. Her journey from trauma nurse to executive is inspiring. EWA is proud to support her as she continues to make a profound impact,” said Larraine Segil, Chair & CEO of EWA.
In a letter to the LifeLong staff, Board Chair John L. Jenkins expressed his confidence in Ms. Aviles’ abilities, stating, “Cecilia combines strategic and operational expertise with empathy and passion. She has a record of boldly reimagining the ways in which health systems operate to make better health even more accessible. The Board looks forward to collaborating with her to continue providing high-quality healthcare to our community.”
Ms. Aviles shared her excitement about her new role, saying, “Leading an organization with such a rich legacy of service is a profound honor, and I am inspired by the shared values and commitment to excellence that define LifeLong’s team. Starting my healthcare journey as a trauma nurse taught me that patients are our ‘why.’ As I transitioned into leadership roles to improve patient experience, access to care, and operations, patients’ needs remained my guiding principle.”
EWA is honored to include Ms. Aviles as one of our exceptional leaders and is confident that her vision for the future of LifeLong Medical Care will inspire and impact many. Her journey from a trauma nurse to a transformative healthcare leader is a testament to her dedication and passion for making a difference in the healthcare industry.
The Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA) is an invitation-only peer mentorship organization where high-potential, high-level Exceptional Women from across multiple industries are hand-selected and invested in, to grow, learn, share, and succeed. In addition to the achievement of significant success, the criteria for acceptance include character traits that are defining of the EWA Culture – Kindness, the Spirit of Generosity, Transparency, Gratitude, and Willingness to Share their Networks. The Foundation is a powerhouse of peer-to-peer mentoring that provides guidance, deep connection, and leadership, propelling each woman to sustainable success – one woman at a time. The lifelong program enables each leader to be connected as alumnae for life in the ever-expanding EWA global network, as their sisterhood of EWAs continue to move into positions of significance. Learn more at https://www.exceptionalwomenalliance.com/ Follow us on Facebook
About LifeLong Medical Care: Established in 1976, LifeLong Medical Care is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing medical, dental, mental health, and urgent care to underserved communities in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties in San Francisco’s East Bay region. For more information, visit LifeLong Medical Care.
Located blocks from the Texas Capitol in Downtown Austin, the new location provides a comfortable space for veterans to discuss their legal matters and connect to a variety of resources. “We have been representing Texas veterans for decades, but we want to make a bigger investment in the state and its people,” said Eric Gang, managing attorney and founder of Gang & Associates. “By having a physical presence in Austin with a managing attorney on the ground, we can better serve our large list of current Texas clients and reach new veterans who need support.” “Texas has one of the largest veteran populations of any state in the country, and many veterans there are struggling to access the disability benefits they deserve,” added Castano. “I am proud to help veterans in my home state and be a part of Gang & Associates’ expansion.” In addition to the Austin office, Gang & Associates has satellite locations in Washington, DC and Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The firm is headquartered in Hackettstown, New Jersey and represents U.S. military veterans and their families worldwide.
About Eric Gang: Eric Gang is an award-winning lawyer with a national law practice focused on appeals on behalf of U.S. veterans wrongly denied medical and disability benefits. He has litigated some 1,000 appeals and recovered millions of dollars on behalf of disabled veterans. His book, “Betrayal of Valor: An Exposé of a Horribly Flawed Veteran’s Administration,” was published by Sutton Hart Press in fall 2022.
About Gang & Associates, LLC Founded by attorney Eric Gang, Gang & Associates, LLC is an accomplished team of legal advocates fiercely and exclusively dedicated to representing U.S. military veterans nationwide and abroad. The firm has helped thousands of veterans and their dependents win challenging cases in VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
“Jessica’s innovative approach to wellness and mindfulness has established her as a change agent and her successful transition from the fashion world to the wellness industry has been truly inspiring,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. “A true creative powerhouse, we look forward to having Jessica’s entrepreneurial, ‘can-do’ spirit as part of our Advisory Board. Her longstanding support of the Summit as well as the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), and her unwavering commitment to driving meaningful change in the wellness industry is profound.”
BUDHAGIRL and its iconic All Weather Bangles have had a wide-reaching, global impact since their launch in 2013. The company represents “mindful glamour,” exemplifying the importance of ritual in daily life, blending contemplative practice with evidence-based science and has, ultimately, become a thriving and growing brand that prioritizes its customers’ wellbeing.
“Joining the GWS Advisory Board is a privilege and a joy,” said Jesse. “It provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with visionaries in the wellness industry, drive impactful change, and shape a healthier, more sustainable future for all. As a past Advisory Board member of GWS’s nonprofit sister organization, the Global Wellness Institute, I’m excited to contribute my insights and passion to this transformative journey once again.”
Jesse continued: “My first immersive introduction to GWS was at the Mexico City Summit in 2015. I was captured by its mission of promoting evidence-based wellness across every sector. Today, with all the ‘noise’ around wellness, I feel that the GWS’s mission is more relevant than ever, as is the strategic and thoughtful guidance it offers to business leaders.”
Under Jesse’s leadership, BUDHAGIRL is now branching out into new markets, such as sparkling wine, tea, eyewear, beauty, and events, expanding its reach and influence. In an age where wellness and mindfulness have taken center stage, Jesse’s unique approach—blending contemplative practice with science—has resonated deeply with consumers and pushed boundaries in sectors that may have previously overlooked wellbeing and wellness in product development.
About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $5.6 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference held at a different location around the globe, GWS hosts regular in-person and virtual gatherings, including an annual Wellness Real Estate & Communities Symposium, and a series of Wellness Master Classes. GWS also produces the Global Wellness Conversations podcast and The Doctor is INclusive webinar series. The organization’s annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness that are oft-quoted in the media. The 18th annual Summit will be held in St. Andrews, Scotland, November 4-7, 2024.
Darena Solutions recognizes the importance of advanced decision support systems that comply with regulatory standards and optimize clinical workflows. Darena’s (b)(11) solution is designed to exceed the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) requirements, providing EHRs with a reliable, production-focused solution that meets all certification criteria.
“We are thrilled to introduce this groundbreaking solution to EHR developers,” said Wayne Singer, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Darena Solutions.” Our (b)(11) DSI solution marks a significant advancement in health IT, offering a ready-to-implement solution that ensures compliance and boosts the functionality of EHRs.”
KEY FEATURES OF DARENA’s (b)(11) SOLUTION
*Plug-and-Play Integration*: Simplifies the process for EHRs to rapidly incorporate and support the wide range of DSI interventions into their systems, reducing development time and effort.
Enhanced Decision Support: Meets the expanded requirements of the HTI-1 Final Rule, including support for 13 attributes for evidence-based DSIs and 31 attributes for predictive DSIs. The advanced capabilities help improve clinical decision-making by providing timely and accurate interventions.
Certification Compliance: Exceeds the stringent ONC (b)(11) requirements, ensuring that EHRs stay ahead of regulatory demands. It also includes the ongoing Conditions and Maintenance of Certification requirements.
EHRs seeking a (b)(11) DSI solution to comply with the new HTI-1 mandates before December 31, 2024, can contact us to learn more.
ABOUT DARENA SOLUTIONS Darena Solutions simplifies healthcare interoperability and regulatory compliance for EHRs, providers, and payers. Our flagship product, MeldRx, offers a fully managed, scalable, FHIR-first backend as a service. It supports standalone apps, SMART on FHIR apps, multiple EHR integrations, and consumer-mediated data exchange. Its flexibility makes MeldRx an ideal fit for use cases ranging from internal projects to developing new apps. Darena also helps EHRs stay on top of regulatory requirements for the Cures Act, HTI-1, and MIPS, and enhance their offerings with FHIR. By opening data-sharing channels and boosting EHR capabilities with custom apps – including AI apps, DSI apps, CDS hooks, and more – Darena empowers healthcare organizations to achieve true interoperability and gain insights to improve patient outcomes. For more information, connect with us on LinkedIn or visit our website at http://www.darenasolutions.com.
A safe, fun and educational environment where kids can learn the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
MONROVIA, Md., July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Urbana Academy is thrilled to announce the launch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) classes designed specifically for children. Located in the heart of Monrovia, Maryland, Urbana Academy aims to provide a safe, fun and educational environment where kids can learn the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
A New Era of Martial Arts Training for Kids
Our BJJ classes for kids focus on teaching the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in an engaging and supportive atmosphere. These classes are perfect for children of all skill levels, from beginners to more advanced practitioners. Each session is designed to build confidence, improve physical fitness, and develop self-discipline.
Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not only a martial art but also a comprehensive system for self-defense. It emphasizes technique and leverage, making it accessible and effective for people of all sizes and strengths. For children, BJJ offers numerous benefits, including:
Improved Physical Fitness: BJJ training promotes overall physical health and wellness.
Enhanced Focus and Discipline: The structured environment of BJJ classes helps children develop better concentration and self-control.
Increased Confidence: Learning and mastering new techniques builds self-esteem and confidence.
Social Skills Development: BJJ classes provide a community where children can make new friends and learn important social skills.
Join Us for a Free Trial Class
Urbana Academy is offering a free trial BJJ class for children: https://www.urbanaacademy.com/all-classes/kids-jiu-jitsu- This is an excellent opportunity for parents and children to experience the benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu firsthand.
Class Schedule and Enrollment Information
Classes will be held weekly at Urbana Academy’s state-of-the-art facility located at 11791 Fingerboard Rd, Monrovia, MD 21770. For more information on class schedules and enrollment, please visit our website at https://www.urbanaacademy.com or call us at 301-529-6289 or email us at [email protected]
About Urbana Academy
Urbana Academy is a premier martial arts gym in Monrovia, MD, dedicated to providing high-quality training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and other martial arts disciplines. Our experienced instructors are committed to helping students of all ages and skill levels achieve their personal goals in a supportive and challenging environment.
Already an ACA board member, Haag has been active in the association’s efforts to educate legislators and regulators, at both the national and state levels, about the potentially unintended consequences of medical debt regulations on both healthcare providers and patients. Working with ACA’s political action committee and legislators of all political persuasions, Haag was recently invited to the White House to meet with special advisors to the President to discuss the connection between medical debt credit reporting and provider reimbursements as well as access to excellent healthcare.
It is important to note that Haag’s father, Tom, State’s late chairman and chief executive officer, served as ACA President in 1995. This unique achievement makes the Haags only the second family to have both father and son serve as ACA President, a testament to the company’s rich history of industry leadership.
“Tim is an exceptional leader, stewarding his family legacy, not only at State but also with ACA,” said Scott Purcell, ACA International’s chief executive officer. “We appreciate his willingness to share his knowledge with the entire industry and influence change that will benefit the whole industry, the creditors it serves, and the consumers that benefit from access to credit at affordable prices. We’re also grateful for his continued leadership in operating with integrity and excellence.”
Haag’s term will run until July 2025.
About State
State improves the financial picture for healthcare providers by delivering increased financial results while ensuring a positive patient experience. Rooted in a tradition of ethics, integrity and innovation since 1949, State uses data analytics to drive performance and speech analytics with ongoing training to ensure patient satisfaction. A family-owned company now in its third generation of leadership, State assists healthcare organizations with services spanning the complete revenue cycle, including Pre-Service Financial Clearance, Early Out Self-Pay Resolution, Insurance Follow-Up and Bad Debt Collection. To learn more, visit: www.statecollectionservice.com.
Vitchoff has dedicated his life’s work to helping people of all walks of life including US Olympic Athletes take back control over stress and anxiety. Vitcohff’s patented and trademarked “33 Method ” Mental Training and Performance Program was developed through years and years of working with some of the worlds’ best athletes. Vitchoff’s “33 Method” incorporates Hypnotherapy, Sports Psychology and Brain Wave Technology to help elite athletes remain calm, relaxed and laser focused despite being thrown into a virtual pressure cooker where they must perform to the best of their ability or be eliminated from competition. Vitchoff learned through his work with Olympic athletes that the body’s natural, “fight or flight” response could potentially become an athlete’s worst nightmare and he has dedicated his life’s work to helping athletes learn how to use their minds to “over-ride” the body’s natural fight or flight response.
Many athletes rely on sports psychology techniques such as visualization and imagery to stay calm and focused, however, these techniques are not always enough for athletes to perform flawlessly under pressure as is required to win Olympic Gold. Vitchoff explains, “to win Olympic Gold, an athlete needs to be able to perform consistently at such a high level even though the entire world is watching and you know that all of your hard work, determination and practice can be completely undermined within less than 5 seconds because of something as simple as “a slip” or taking a breath at the wrong time.”
Vitchoff believes that it is a sign of the times that we are now having real conversations about anxiety and mental health concerns among Olympic Athletes. He also believes it has been a long time coming and even though he was ahead of the curve, he is happy that the organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics are making it a priority to address the mental health needs of Olympic Athletes. Vitchoff has been using his “33 Method” Mental Training Methods and Techniques with Olympic Athletes since the preparation period of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Vincent Hancock credits much of his success to the work that he has done with Dan Vitchoff on Mental Training and Performance Coaching. He became the first person to win 3 Gold Medals in Men’s skeet after winning Gold in 2008 in Beijing, 2012 in London and 2020 in Tokyo. Since the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Vitchoff’s athletes have won 5 Olympic Gold Medals, 1 Olympic Bronze Medal and numerous World Cup Championships. They have also broken several Olympic World Records and continue to call on Vitchoff to train their brains to remain relaxed, confident and in control while performing at such a high level.
Over the last several years, Dan Vitchoff’sPittsburgh based, PA Hypnosis Center has become a hot spot for athletes and non-athletes alike who are looking to make positive and significant developments in their lives and/ or career. Vitchoff’s “33 Method” helps his clients “train their brains” to eliminate anxiety and achieve success. Whether his client’s goal is to win Olympic Gold, make the High School Basketball Team, Improve Sales Performance, Reduce Anxiety, Pass the Nursing Exam, Lose Weight or Quit Smoking; Vitchoff’s Nationally Acclaimed “33 Method” Mental Training Programs can help them “re-wire” their brains for success just as naturally as it is for their lungs to breath and their heart to beat.
Prof. Simon Michaux has produced a new study and webinar for the Geological Survey of Finland which shows that on a global scale, he estimates that some 800,000 new non-fossil fuel power stations would be required for Net Zero 2050; the non-fossil fuel power plant fleet was only 46,423 in 2018.
This brings into question the quality of Mark Carney’s math and his grip on the practical realities and costs of decarbonizing the future with ‘green’ tech or reaching Net Zero at all, says Friends of Science.
Media outlets around the world have been blaring that the “hottest day on record” occurred on July 21st, 2024 in terms of the global average surface air temperature. Now it’s the hottest days on record with 2 days in a row!! On a closer look, the Copernicus records only go back to 1940. The 1930’s are deemed to have been much hotter than today as explained by Tony Heller. Friends of Science Society’s president, Ron Davison, P. Eng., has put together a series of colorful charts showing how the earth is actually cooling over time.
While there has been a perceptible bump in global warming this past year, most scientists attribute this to the astounding volume of water vapor from the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption injected into the stratosphere; this effect is projected to last for the next five years. Water vapor is the most influential greenhouse gas, as explained in the Friends of Science Society’s “Climate Science Essay.”
The World Bank reports on their carbon pricing dashboard the near global adoption of carbon pricing, but people feel confused paying a carbon tax on the promise by politicians that this will reduce global warming and stop extreme weather.
According to Roger Pielke, Jr., climate policy analyst of many years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) does not ascribe extreme weather events – neither flooding nor wildfires, to human-induced climate change or concentration of carbon dioxide.
Torontonians have just experienced significant flooding and now politicians from Prime Minister Trudeau to Mayor Olivia Chow are blaming climate change, despite the fact that data shows a downward trend in precipitation. Urban flooding is more a function of failing, aging infrastructure, paved over landscapes and population growth, according to Robert Muir, P. Eng. Good public policy must be based on objective evidence as Muir details in this paper.
‘Hottest year ever’ headlines create fear of a climate apocalypse in young people, like Just Stop Oil activists. This ended up with the “Whole Truth Five” being sentenced to 4 and 5 years in jail in the UK for conspiracy. Friends of Science took a closer look at these events in this explainer video.
In Canada, “Last Generation” plans to participate with activists in 8 different countries with similar civil disobedience at airports. Their June 14, 2024 ultimatum letter demands a 50,000 strong national firefighting agency and that Canada commits to a legally binding signatory status to Tzeporah Berman’s “Fossil Fuel Non-proliferation Treaty.”
About Friends of Science Society is an independent group of earth, atmospheric and solar scientists, engineers, and citizens that is celebrating its 22nd year of offering climate science insights. After a thorough review of a broad spectrum of literature on climate change, Friends of Science Society has concluded that the sun is the main driver of climate change, not carbon dioxide (CO2). Friends of Science Society PO Box 61172 RPO Kensington Calgary AB T2N 4S6 Canada Toll-free Telephone: 1-888-789-9597 Web: friendsofscience.org E-mail: contact(at)friendsofscience(dot)org Web: climatechange101.ca
Dr. Jordan Graff is a board-certified ophthalmologist at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center who specializes in retina and vitreous surgery and treatments. On July 22, 2024, he became the first surgeon in the United States to perform the recently FDA-approved ocular implant for the treatment of people in the United States (U.S.) with wet, or neovascular, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
“As a surgeon and clinical research scientist, I am honored and privileged to have participated in the Susvimo clinical trials, and it is so gratifying to see this treatment option become available for my patients in need of sight-saving care,” says Dr. Jordan Graff. “I’m very thankful for my amazing team in surgery, the research team, and to my practice for their support of this endeavor.”
About Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition that affects the macula, the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision needed for activities like reading. It is a leading cause of blindness for people aged 60 and over in the U.S. Wet, or neovascular, AMD is an advanced form of the disease that can cause rapid and severe vision loss. Approximately 20 million people in the U.S. have some form of AMD; of those, about 1.5 million have late-stage AMD, including wet AMD.
Wet AMD is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels, also known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV), into the macula. These vessels leak fluid and blood and cause scar tissue that destroys the central retina. This process results in a deterioration of sight over months to years.
Not all patients will be eligible for this product, and those who are should discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery and other possible complications with their retinal specialist.
For more information about Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center and our expertise in retinal care and Susvimo procedures, visit http://www.GoodEyes.com.
Visit How SUSVIMO® Works | wAMD Treatment to find out more about Susvimo from Genentech.
About American Vision Partners
American Vision Partners is one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing eye care physician services organizations. AVP serves communities throughout Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Nevada with more than 180 nationally recognized doctors and 137 locations. We partner with the most respected ophthalmology practices in the country and share a best-in-class management system, infrastructure and technology to provide the highest-quality patient care. Our partner practices, including Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center, Southwestern Eye Center, Retinal Consultants of Arizona, M&M Eye Institute, Abrams Eye Institute, Southwest Eye Institute, Aiello Eye Institute, Moretsky Cassidy Vision Correction, Wellish Vision Institute, West Texas Eye Associates, Laser Eye Center of Lubbock, and Vantage Eye Center have, on average, been in practice for more than 30 years. For more information, please visit http://www.AmericanVisionPartners.com.
About Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center
The doctors at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center are recognized leaders in providing state-of-the-art medical and surgical eye care in Arizona for more than 35 years. Doctors at Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center use the most advanced technologies and techniques to treat patients at all stages of life. Comprehensive eye health services are provided by nationally renowned specialists in multiple fields of ophthalmology, including cataract surgery, vision correction, cornea, retina, glaucoma, and oculoplastics. Patients can expect compassionate and convenient care from the doctors of any of the Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center clinics. For more information, please visit http://www.GoodEyes.com.
