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Home and Family: Marriage / Relationships

ServeMinnesota Starts Innovative Infant, Toddler Project for Childcare Settings — PNC Foundation provides $700,000 grant

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ServeMinnesota is partnering with Early Learning Corps, an AmeriCorps program that trains and supports community members to provide extra learning and developmental support to our youngest learners. Early Learning Corps members will use “Serve and Return” strategies that have been championed by the Harvard Center for the Developing Child for their role in supporting healthy brain development in infants. AmeriCorps members will also use culturally responsive learning techniques designed to support children and foster a positive self-identity as early as possible. The program is designed to align the additional capacity and training of the AmeriCorps members with existing childcare providers as they provide young children with a warm, supportive, and enriched learning environment.

“Extensive research indicates that the returns on investment in high-quality early education and school readiness initiatives are significant and long-lasting – impacting our children, our society, and the health of our economy,” said Kate Kelly, PNC regional president for Minnesota. “We’re excited to support ServeMinnesota’s innovative approach to early childhood education and look forward to seeing this program in action.”

ServeMinnesota Chief Executive Officer Julia Quanrud said, “We’re delighted to be partnering with PNC and Early Learning Corps as well as with the team at Wilder Child Development Center to bring this program to life. With 90% of brain development happening by age five, it’s critical to boost community and caregiver resources to maximize care. This program includes the latest research on early brain development as well as guidance from our Community Advisory board of parents, childcare providers, and others. The result is an AmeriCorps program that really amplifies the high-quality care young children already receive by providing one more caring adult with the tools, training, and support to help children thrive.”

Why “Serve and Return” Strategies

The Infant and Toddler Initiative will add resources in nonprofit early childcare centers to engage children in “Serve and Return,” a proven strategy to strengthen neuron development at the very earliest ages. “Serve and Return” works like a game of tennis or volleyball between child and caregiver. The child “serves” by signaling readiness for interaction with eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, babbling or touch. A responsive caregiver returns the serve by speaking back, playing a game, or sharing a toy. It’s simple and powerful. Children and caregivers already interact this way, but when done repeatedly and with caring adults who are sufficiently supported themselves, it’s how the brains of young children really flourish. Healthy brain pathways form, children develop a positive sense of agency, and they strengthen their relationships with caring adults. Early Learning Corps members will build on the strengths of the caregivers, parents, and community to integrate this proven approach within a unique, culturally specific environment.

About PNC Foundation

The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through PNC Grow Up Great®, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life. For more information, visit http://www.pncgrowupgreat.com.

About ServeMinnesota

As a catalyst for positive social change, ServeMinnesota moves research to practice and deploys the people power of AmeriCorps to meet critical needs in Minnesota. It recruits and supports thousands of individuals to improve the lives of Minnesotans by offering transformative service opportunities that focus on education, affordable housing, employment, the environment, addiction recovery, and police-community relationships. ServeMinnesota’s commitment to evidence-based practices, continuous program improvement, and strong community partnerships ensures national service is positioned to make meaningful contributions to our state. For more information, visit www.serveminnesota.org.

Media Contact

Joanne Henry, PR for Good, 1 612-280-4833, [email protected]

SOURCE ServeMinnesota

Health

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secures $5 Million NIH Grant for Cutting-Edge Cancer Target Discovery and Development Center

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The Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy and the Icahn Genomics Institute (IGI) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have been awarded a $5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health to establish a state-of-the-art center dedicated to the discovery and development of cutting-edge targets for cancer therapy. The new Cancer Target Discovery and Development Center aims to find better ways to fight cancer and advance the field, bringing hope to patients and their families. Leveraging the expertise of the newly created Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, the Center will harness cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into potential clinical therapies.

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy and the Icahn Genomics Institute (IGI) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have been awarded a $5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health to establish a state-of-the-art center dedicated to the discovery and development of cutting-edge targets for cancer therapy.

The new Cancer Target Discovery and Development Center aims to find better ways to fight cancer and advance the field, bringing hope to patients and their families. Leveraging the expertise of the newly created Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, the Center will harness cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into potential clinical therapies.

Key objectives of the Center include:

  •     Identifying and validating novel cancer targets
  •     Developing innovative therapeutic approaches, including immunotherapies
  •     Advancing the understanding of cancer biology through comprehensive genomic analysis
  •     Collaborating with industry partners to accelerate the translation of discoveries into clinical trials

The project will be led by Principal Investigators Brian Brown, PhD, Director, IGI, and Associate Director, Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute (PrIISM); Miriam Merad, MD, PhD, Director, PrIISM, and Chair, Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy; and Robert Samstein, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, all at Icahn Mount Sinai.

“Cancer target discovery research has traditionally concentrated on pinpointing genes that facilitate cancer cell growth and survival. In contrast, our Center will emphasize understanding how cancer cells control the tumor environment to shield themselves from the immune system and develop resistance to immunotherapy medications,” says Dr. Brown. “A distinctive aspect of our work will be identifying the genes that enable cancer to establish an immune-suppressed tumor, hindering the effectiveness of immunotherapy for many patients.”

To uncover how these genes actively influence the microenvironment within real tumors and to pinpoint the specific cellular process changes that key genes use to control tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion, the team will evaluate candidate genes in preclinical models in different aggressive cancers, including ovarian and pancreatic cancer.

This analysis will be performed using a pioneering spatial functional genomics platform called Perturb-Map, developed at Icahn Mount Sinai by the Brown lab. The tool enables scientists to knock out dozens of genes simultaneously and study their function at a high resolution. It allows them to see how cancer genes affect not only cancer cells but also the immune system within tumors. This helps them design better treatments, find markers for patient response, and improve therapy combinations.

“This grant represents a notable achievement in our ongoing mission to combat cancer through immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Our Center will empower us to explore new avenues for treating cancer, with the ultimate goal of enhancing patient outcomes and advancing our understanding of this complex disease,” says Dr. Merad. “In the long run, our understanding of cancer gene function will pave the way for highly personalized treatments, novel drug development, and innovative immunotherapy strategies targeting these genes and the key processes they influence.”

Co-investigators include Luc G.T. Morris, MD, MSc, FACS, Associate Director, Immunogenomics and Precision Oncology Platform, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Also from Icahn Mount Sinai are Alex Tsankov, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences; Diego Chowell, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncological Sciences; and Thomas J. Fuchs, Dr.sc., Dean for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health.

The Center will be part of the NCI’s Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD2) Network, a functional genomics initiative that bridges the gap between genomics and the development of effective therapeutics. The Network aims to understand tumor development, heterogeneity, drug resistance, and metastasis to develop optimal chemotherapy combinations with immunotherapy. Other CTD2 centers are at Harvard, Columbia, Stanford, the University of California San Francisco, and other sites.

The title of the NCI grant is “Spatial functional genomics to identify regulators of the tumor microenvironment and cancer immunity (grant number 1U01CA282114-01).

The Mount Sinai Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy is a leading research and clinical entity within the Mount Sinai Health System, dedicated to advancing the field of immunology and immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and patient care, the department is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and therapeutic development.

About the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is the sole academic partner for the eight- member hospitals* of the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic health systems in the United States, providing care to a large and diverse patient population.

Ranked 14th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and among the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Icahn Mount Sinai has a talented, productive, and successful faculty. More than 3,000 full-time scientists, educators, and clinicians work within and across 44 academic departments and 36 multidisciplinary institutes, a structure that facilitates tremendous collaboration and synergy. Our emphasis on translational research and therapeutics is evident in such diverse areas as genomics/big data, virology, neuroscience, cardiology, geriatrics, as well as gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

Icahn Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, and Master’s degree programs, with current enrollment of approximately 1,300 students. It has the largest graduate medical education program in the country, with more than 2,000 clinical residents and fellows training throughout the Health System. In addition, more than 550 postdoctoral research fellows are in training within the Health System.
A culture of innovation and discovery permeates every Icahn Mount Sinai program. Mount Sinai’s technology transfer office, one of the largest in the country, partners with faculty and trainees to pursue optimal commercialization of intellectual property to ensure that Mount Sinai discoveries and innovations translate into healthcare products and services that benefit the public.

Icahn Mount Sinai’s commitment to breakthrough science and clinical care is enhanced by academic affiliations that supplement and complement the School’s programs.
Through the Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the Health System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization of medical breakthroughs made at Mount Sinai. Additionally, MSIP develops research partnerships with industry leaders such as Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and others.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is located in New York City on the border between the Upper East Side and East Harlem, and classroom teaching takes place on a campus facing Central Park. Icahn Mount Sinai’s location offers many opportunities to interact with and care for diverse communities. Learning extends well beyond the borders of our physical campus, to the eight hospitals of the Mount Sinai Health System, our academic affiliates, and globally.

  • Mount Sinai Health System member hospitals: The Mount Sinai Hospital; Mount Sinai Beth Israel; Mount Sinai Brooklyn; Mount Sinai Morningside; Mount Sinai Queens; Mount Sinai South Nassau; Mount Sinai West; and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.

Media Contact

Karin Eskenazi, Mount Sinai, 332-257-1538, [email protected], mountsinai.org

SOURCE Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Health

American College of Lifestyle Medicine announces 2023 award winners for advancement of lifestyle medicine in health care

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Among the awards presented were the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Trailblazer Award, the President’s Award and the Special Recognition Awards.

“ACLM is delighted to honor the 2023 award winners for the dedication, expertise and passion they have contributed to the rapidly growing field of lifestyle medicine,” ACLM President Beth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, said. “Thanks to these leaders’ remarkable achievements, more health professionals are using evidence-based therapeutic lifestyle medicine to treat and sometimes reverse chronic disease, individuals worldwide are embracing healthier lifestyle habits, and more health systems and policymakers are recognizing lifestyle medicine as a solution to the epidemic of lifestyle-related chronic disease. ACLM is grateful for their service.”

Lifetime Achievement

ACLM awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Hans Diehl, DrHSc, MPH, FACN. Dr. Diehl, a visionary in the field of lifestyle medicine who dedicated his career to helping people live healthier and longer, died Aug. 2. His wife, Lily Pan Diehl, along with his children and grandchildren, accepted the award on his behalf.

This award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in the field and is the highest honor ACLM bestows. It recognizes a significant body of work over a significant span of time that has advanced the field of lifestyle medicine, and, in the process, paved the way for others to follow.

Dr. Diehl, founder of the Lifestyle Medicine Institute and the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP), was a clinical professor of preventive medicine at Loma Linda University and a founding member of ACLM and its Board of Advisors. He was also the first research and education director at the Pritikin Longevity Center, where he aspired to make better health accessible to the masses. The over 85,000 participants and clinical results published in 45 peer-reviewed scientific journals are a testament to Dr. Diehl’s passion and legacy.

Trailblazer Award

The 2023 Trailblazer Award recipient is James Rippe, MD, founder and director of Rippe Lifestyle Medicine, a professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and founder and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

The Trailblazer Award recognizes an individual who is currently providing leadership in the field of lifestyle medicine, helping strengthen the foundation laid by others, while advancing it through innovation.

In the past 25 years, Dr. Rippe has established and operated the largest research organization in the world exploring how daily habits and actions impact short- and long-term health and quality of life. That organization, Rippe Lifestyle Institute (RLI), has published hundreds of papers that form the scientific basis for the fields of lifestyle medicine and high-performance health.

President’s Award

Dr. Frates presented the 2023 President’s Award to Sami Bég, MD, MPA, MPH, FACLM, an ACLM member since 2008 who founded digitalLM as a one-stop, turn-key digital health agency that helps lifestyle medicine clinicians succeed online with professional website development, SEO and more.

The President’s Award is given in recognition of exceptional dedication to ACLM as an organization in advancing its vision and mission as well as service to the field of lifestyle medicine through exemplary contributions to ACLM.

Dr. Bég was elected to ACLM’s Board of Directors in 2012, when he also served as founding chair of ACLM’s Business Development Committee. He chaired the ACLM Awards Committee from 2015 to 2022 and helped Dr. Frates establish the Donald A. Pegg Student Leadership Award in support of Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups (LMIGS) and student leaders. He also served for many years on the ACLM Fellow Review Panel.

Special Recognition Awards

ACLM awarded Special Recognition Awards in four categories:

Health Systems
Koushik Reddy, MD, DipABLM, FACC, FACLM, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Intensivist, is a foremost champion of lifestyle medicine at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VA) in Tampa, Fla., where he serves as an interventional cardiologist. He has tirelessly promoted ACLM’s complimentary 5.5-hour CME/CE accredited Lifestyle Medicine and Food as Medicine Essentials course locally and throughout the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Graduate and Undergraduate Education
Michelle Tollefson, MD, DipABLM, FACOG, FACLM, a professor in the Health Professions Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver, created and oversees the nation’s very first bachelor in lifestyle medicine program, enabling students to “major” in the field of lifestyle medicine.

Clinics/Business and Innovation
Cliff Morris, MD, DipABLM, and his team at the Morris Cardiovascular and Risk Reduction Institute in Chester, Va., have enthusiastically integrated lifestyle medicine into their cardiology practice, embracing various initiatives such as facilitating group medical appointments, prescribing dietary recommendations, and allocating office space for an on-site gym where patients can exercise under the guidance of a medical fitness specialist.

Health Policy and Government Affairs
The United States Air Force Lifestyle and Performance Medicine (L&PM) Working Group was chartered in 2019 with 20 core members. From this working group, the Lifestyle and Performance Coalition of the Interested (COI) was created as a grassroots effort to reach Department of Defense-affiliated healthcare professionals with a mission to infuse L&PM into every aspect of the Military Health System.

The award was accepted by: Air Force Colonel Mary Anne Kiel, MD, FAAP, FACLM, DipABLM; Retired Army Major Kati Monti, DMSc, PA-C, DipABLM; Air Force Major Jeff Smith, DSW, LCSW, BCD; Air Force Captain Matt Diotte, PA-C, DipACLM; Air Force Second Lieutenant Kevin Puri, OMS-4; and Former Air Force Flight Surgeon Regan Stiegmann, DO, MPH, DipABLM, FACLM.

ABOUT ACLM
The American College of Lifestyle Medicine is the nation’s medical professional society advancing lifestyle medicine as the foundation for a redesigned, value-based and equitable healthcare delivery system, leading to whole-person health. ACLM educates, equips, empowers and supports its members through quality, evidence-based education, certification and research to identify and eradicate the root cause of chronic disease, with a clinical outcome goal of health restoration as opposed to disease management.

Media Contact

Alexander Branch, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, 19719835383, [email protected], American College of Lifestyle Medicine

SOURCE American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Society: Christianity

Congress Must Mitigate Forthcoming Medicare Reimbursement Cuts

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As a result of the finalized rule, certain office-based specialists will again be cut by another 6 – 7% in 2024 alone. These year-over-year cuts are being implemented without regard to patient outcomes, actual PFS provider resource needs, or any other rationale policy.

Physician payments under the MPFS = RVUs (relative value units) * conversion factor. H.R. 3674 addresses ongoing RVU cuts due to the clinical labor policy and other policies which have been the main source of office-based specialty cuts in recent years.

USPA has endorsed the Providing Relief and Stability for Medicare Patients Act of 2023 (H.R. 3674), introduced by Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29), Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-3), and Rep. Danny Davis (IL-D-7).

Together with the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474), which addresses ongoing conversion factor cuts, H.R. 3674 will prevent major disruptions to care while addressing concerns about the future of Medicare physician payments.

Dr. Mark Garcia, USPA board member and CMO for American Vascular Associates, said, “It’s utterly shocking that CMS continues to go down this road of implementing Medicare cuts year over year because it is adding up to be a disaster for seniors. Specialized care provided in community settings is a vital component of our country’s healthcare system. In its absence, we would see a spike in healthcare costs and a decline in the standard of care provided. The dramatic year-to-year swings are causing chaos across our healthcare system. We need Congress to right this wrong by passing H.R. 3674 by the end of the year.”

Media Contact

Grant Herring, United Specialists for Patient Access, 2022802554, [email protected], https://uspaccess.org/ 

SOURCE United Specialists for Patient Access

Health

Blue Aqua, SCD Probiotics Partner to Build Manufacturing Plant in Singapore

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Matt Wood, founder, and CEO of SCD Probiotics, shares in the excitement: “Our mission at SCD Probiotics is to reduce chemical and antibiotic use, worldwide, by replacing these with beneficial, probiotic technologies. Partnering with Dr. Shishehchian and Blue Aqua, we can make a significant impact in the region and provide probiotic alternatives to farmers that benefit both the health of aquatic life and the health of the eco-system.”

The Blue Aqua International and SCD Probiotics partnership marks a significant milestone for both organizations and signifies a substantial step forward in the advancement of sustainable aquaculture practices worldwide. The manufacturing facility is anticipated to commence operations in early 2025, with a resolute commitment to ongoing research and development, ensuring the continuous enhancement of probiotic and enzyme solutions across diverse applications.

About Blue Aqua International:

Blue Aqua International is a one-stop solution provider for the aquaculture industry worldwide. The group provides cutting-edge solutions for the management of the culture environment and the optimization of animal nutrition. Specialized in aquaculture technology and farming – the group transfers its expert solutions to over 4000 customers worldwide and operates farms in Singapore and Indonesia. For more information, visit www.blueaquaint.com

About SCD Probiotics:

SCD Probiotics is a global leader in probiotic and biochemical solutions, devoted to enhancing health and performance across various sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, and human health. The company specializes in pioneering probiotic products and solutions designed to address the burgeoning demand for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. For more information, please visit www.scdprobiotics.com.

Media Contact

Jessica Phetvorasack, SCD Probiotics, LLC, 1 8166685329 8166685329, [email protected], www.SCDProbiotics.com

LinkedIn

SOURCE SCD Probiotics, LLC

Health

Sedona Learning Solutions Unveils Learning Management System (LMS) to Streamline Healthcare Organization’s Learning Delivery and Management

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Key Features of Sedona Learning Solutions’ LMS:

  • Administrative Efficiency: Sedona Learning Solutions’ LMS focuses on functionality, eliminating the complexities of managing learning programs. It is a tool that empowers administrators to effortlessly assign, track, and manage training.
  • Effortless Course Management: Administrators can easily create, upload, and manage courses, providing learners with a structured and engaging learning experience. This flexibility allows for tailoring content specific to organizational requirements.
  • Automated Training Completion Tracking: The LMS automatically tracks and reports on training completions with clear total and percentage data – reducing the administrative burden.
  • Round-the-Clock Support: Sedona Learning Solutions offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring organizations receive assistance if needed.

The launch of this new LMS represents a significant step forward for Sedona Learning Solutions. It showcases the company’s commitment to delivering educational technology that meets the evolving needs of businesses and institutions in the digital age.

“Our new Learning Management System is an affordable solution for your eLearning training program needs. It offers a user-friendly and intuitive user interface for efficiently managing, assigning, and tracking your eLearning content.” Linda Privette, Sr. Clinical Informaticist at Sedona Learning Solutions said. “We believe learning management should not be complicated — assign it, learn it, track it… it should be that simple!”

Sedona Learning Solutions invites businesses, educational institutions, and organizations of all sizes to explore the possibilities of their newly released LMS. To learn more about the product and experience it firsthand, please visit https://www.iatric.com/sedona-learning-solutions.

About Sedona Learning Solutions:

Sedona Learning Solutions is a trusted leader in providing innovative eLearning educational solutions to organizations across various healthcare industries. With a passion for enabling efficient learning and development, they continually strive to offer advanced technology solutions that empower clients to achieve their educational goals. To learn more, please visit https://www.iatric.com/sedona-learning-solutions. Connect with Sedona Learning Solutions on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Kate Miller, Sedona Learning Solutions, 1 405-696-0029, [email protected], https://www.iatric.com/sedona-learning-solutions

SOURCE Sedona Learning Solutions



Health

Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing, & Electric and Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels: A Partnership of Purpose

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Jeremy Prevost, CEO/Founder of Tucker Hill, also commented on the partnership: “Giving back to the communities and families we serve is always one of our top priorities as a business. Lorraine and her team represent the good in the world that the Tucker Hill family strives to support.”

Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels is a non-profit organization that provides emotional and financial support to families affected by childhood cancer. They provide a variety of services, including financial assistance, emotional support, and educational resources.

Tucker Hill is a family-owned business that has been serving the community since 2021. They are committed to giving back to the community and have been actively involved in a variety of charitable causes.

The partnership between Tucker Hill and Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels has been rewarding for everyone involved. It has given both organizations a sense of purpose and has allowed them to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer.

Tucker Hill and Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels are proud to be working together to bring joy and support to families affected by cancer. Through their partnership, they are making a difference in the lives of those in need.

Media Contact

Ian Williams, Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing, and Electric, 1 6027148046, [email protected], tuckerhillaz.com

SOURCE Tucker Hill Air, Plumbing, and Electric

Health

AHN Announces Plans for New Full-Service Hospital in Washington County to Replace Canonsburg Facility

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Construction of AHN’s new, state-of-the-art Canonsburg facility is expected to begin in 2024, pending all necessary approvals, and will open in 2027. AHN will also develop the new clinical campus to accommodate additional planned facilities, including a medical office building and a potential future cancer center. The total investment to transform the medical campus is approximately $232 million.

AHN Canonsburg was established in 1904 and has operated at the current Medical Boulevard location since 1983.

The new hospital will provide an array of advanced clinical services, including primary, emergency, and critical care; state-of-the-art surgical capabilities; advanced cardiac, orthopedic, and neurosurgical care; and various multi-disciplinary programs including women’s health. The facility’s clinical programs and medical staff will be aligned with AHN’s leading Institutes across all disciplines, further expanding the reach of the network’s nationally recognized clinical expertise.

“The population served by our Canonsburg Hospital has grown over the years and we are excited to create a beautiful, modern facility and clinical campus that will enable us to better meet the diverse healthcare needs of the community and advance our living health model,” said Jim Benedict, President, Allegheny Health Network. “Our goal is to provide enhanced access to a much broader array of integrated, high-quality, comprehensive clinical programs that will enable more patients to stay close to home for the services they need.”

Washington County’s population, now approximately 210,000, has experienced minimal-to-moderate growth over the past decade; however, the communities around Canonsburg – including Cecil Township (↑12%), Chartiers Township (↑10%), North Strabane Township (↑8%) and Peters Township (↑4%) – have experienced considerably more growth, with continued population gains expected in the coming decade, according to projections from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.

Canonsburg Hospital’s service area also is home to approximately 115K Highmark members.

The new AHN Canonsburg Hospital is expected to create hundreds of additional permanent health care jobs when fully operational, as well as hundreds of construction jobs. Currently, there are approximately 400 employees at AHN Canonsburg, all of whom will be tracked to the same roles at the new facility.

“Designing an exceptional clinical environment for our physicians, nurses and other caregivers is essential to providing the best possible experience for our patients,” said Donald Whiting, MD, Chief Medical Officer at AHN. “As with all of our new facilities in recent years, we look forward to our caregivers playing a key role in helping us determine the look, feel and functionality of this new hospital to help us fulfill that promise.”

AHN officials expect to begin discussions with local municipal leaders and agencies to seek approvals for the construction plans in the coming days and weeks.

Over the past five years, AHN and Highmark Health have executed an unprecedented growth and expansion strategy that has significantly increased the scope and reach of its services throughout the western PA region. Those investments have included five new hospitals, six new cancer centers, five large-scale Health + Wellness Pavilions and other outpatient facilities, major emergency department expansions at three hospitals, significant expansion of women’s health services and facilities, and many other technological and infrastructure upgrades.

About the Allegheny Health Network:
Allegheny Health Network (AHN.org), is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving the greater Western Pennsylvania region. The Network is composed of 14 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, Health + Wellness Pavilions, multiple employed physician organizations, home and community-based health services, a research institute, and a group purchasing organization. The Network provides patients with access to a complete spectrum of advanced medical services, including nationally recognized programs for primary and emergency care, trauma care, cardiovascular disease, organ transplantation, cancer care, orthopedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, women’s health, diabetes, autoimmune disease and more. AHN employs approximately 22,000 people, has more than 2,600 physicians on its medical staff and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Media Contact

Nikki Buccina, Allegheny Health Network, 412-596-2679, [email protected], www.ahn.org

SOURCE Allegheny Health Network

Lifestyle: Self Help

Musely Enters New Era of “Look Good, Live Better” with Rebrand and New Treatments

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“At Musely, our brand DNA is woven with equal parts trust, clinical expertise, community, and approachability. We are extremely proud to present our rebrand which reflects these pillars of our brand ethos. Since our launch in 2019, our mission has been to create results that are not only transformative but accessible to all. Over time, our tagline evolved into ‘Musely Works’ — the resounding sentiment of our community of more than 600,000 patients who have experienced life-changing transformations from our treatments. Their stories, successes, and aspirations have fueled our commitment to expand our brand promise from ‘Look Good’ to ‘Live Better,’ says Musely Founder & CEO, Jack Jia.

With a commitment to enhancing both appearance and overall well-being, Musely is poised to enter the realm of Hormone Therapy (HT), offering treatments for perimenopausal and menopausal women, along with additional treatments that improve Musely’s patients’ overall well-being and livelihood. To usher in this new era that goes beyond surface-level beauty to address the core of well-being, the brand recently announced the addition of a renowned expert in women’s health, Dr. Lynn Westphal to its Office of Medical Directors who has served at Stanford University Hospital for 20+ years, and is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics.

“As Musely aims to empower women to feel their best at all ages, hormone therapy can add several benefits. I am excited to be part of this team that is improving access to treatments that help women live their lives to the fullest,” shares Dr. Lynn Westphal.

Musely’s new “Life Enhancer” collection is the debut assortment of treatments under the “Look Good, Live Better” banner. The treatments allow its patients to enhance their existing routines with treatments that promote overall well-being, livelihood, youthfulness & the divine feeling of being a woman. Within this collection are three new treatments: The Red Rescue, The Facial Hair Cream & The Aging Repair Cream.

The Facial Hair Cream is a topical prescription treatment formulated with eflornithine and other powerful ingredients to slow down the growth of unwanted facial hair. Musely’s dermatologists have formulated this treatment to offer an alternative to shaving or waxing for women who experience hair growth around the lips or under the chin. By slowing the growth of unwanted hair, women can step into their femininity and enhance their self-confidence without worrying about daily facial hair removal.

The Red Rescue is a topical prescription cream formulated with oxymetazoline and other powerful ingredients to treat redness and flushing caused by skin irritation and a skin condition called rosacea. It works by narrowing the blood vessels in the face, and it is intended to offer fast-acting redness relief. The Red Rescue can be paired with Musely’s existing rosacea treatment, The Red Set, which is designed to significantly reduce rosacea symptoms over time. The Red Rescue allows Musely’s patients to quickly reduce signs of rosacea during flare-ups, and boost confidence by going make-up-free in their day-to-day life.

The Aging Repair Cream is a topical prescription cream formulated with estriol and other powerful ingredients, offering Musely’s patients access to the next generation of skincare. Estriol is a bioidentical estrogen that can offset the natural decline in estrogen experienced by perimenopausal or menopausal women. This groundbreaking new estrogen anti-aging cream plumps the skin, restores elasticity, shrinks pores, and improves dryness and dullness. The Aging Repair Cream will revolutionize the way aging while allowing women to maintain their divine femininity and youthful glow.

For more information on Musely and their new Life Enhancer collection, please visit www.musely.com.

About Musely:

Musely is a prescription skincare company with a focus on accessible and effective telemedicine, offering personalized treatments for dark spots, rosacea, anti-aging, hair loss and more. With its revolutionary approach, Musely enables Board-Certified dermatologists & pharmacists to deliver the most effective & affordable prescription skincare treatments straight to your door. Since launching in May 2019, Musely has built a community of hundreds of thousands of loyal and enthusiastic patients and gathered over 700,000 real customer reviews on its website. Learn more at www.musely.com.

About Dr. Westphal:

Dr. Westphal, a renowned expert in women’s health, brings her wealth of experience and expertise to Musely, propelling the brand into an exciting new chapter. Dr. Westphal is double board-certified in OBGYN & Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and has dedicated decades of learning to improve women’s well-being. Dr. Westphal served at Stanford University Hospital for 20+ years and is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. She has held numerous national leadership positions, including President of the Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group, Director of Women’s Health at Stanford, and co-founder of the Stanford Center for Health Research on Women and Sex Differences in Medicine.

Media Contact

Christie Corso, Push The Envelope PR, 1 (732) 534-5132, [email protected]

Musely FaceRx, Musely, [email protected], https://www.musely.com/

SOURCE Musely

Health: Abortion

American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc. Introduces New Finance App CreditU as Mint Closes Its Doors

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“As Mint concludes its journey, CreditU emerges as a timely and advantageous opportunity for users seeking a comprehensive personal finance solution,” says Allen Amadin, President and CEO of American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc. “As a nonprofit credit counseling agency, we are committed to empowering individuals with innovative financial tools and personalized guidance.”

CreditU offers several useful tools, including budgeting, goal setting and tracking, and personalized financial education resources based on each user’s unique financial situation. Other tools include:

  • Debt-to-Income Analysis: Unlike Mint and Credit Karma, CreditU offers a sophisticated debt-to-income analysis, allowing users to make informed decisions about their financial obligations.
  • Credit Score: Users can view their credit score in the CreditU dashboard and get notified when their credit score changes. Users will also be able to access their credit reports, which can help them catch any issues or errors in their credit history before they apply for new loans or lines of credit.
  • Financial Calculators: CreditU incorporates financial calculators to empower users with the tools needed for accurate and personalized financial planning, such as retirement calculators to show users how much they need to save in their 401(k) or IRA to retire comfortably.
  • Debt Management Services: For users who are struggling with debt, they may be able to enroll in ACCC’s debt management program. In this program, debts are consolidated into a single monthly payment, which often has a reduced interest rate. ACCC makes payments to the creditors on the client’s behalf, ensuring that the client stays current with their payments.
  • AI Chat: CreditU’s AI chat can instantly answer user’s financial questions about credit, budgeting, debt, etc.

In light of Mint’s closure, CreditU stands as a positive alternative, offering Mint users a more advanced and feature-rich personal finance app. ACCC invites individuals to anticipate the launch of CreditU in early January 2024 to sign up now for the waitlist at CreditU.org and experience the next generation of financial management.

About CreditU

CreditU is a personal finance app powered by American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc., a nonprofit credit counseling agency with 30+ years of experience. CreditU’s holistic approach considers a user’s assets, debts, goals, and spending habits to create a personalized financial plan that enables them to flourish. The app provides a full financial overview, including income, expenses, savings, and credit, enabling users to make informed financial decisions. CreditU is set to launch in January 2024 on the App Store and February 2024 on the Google Play Store. Visit CreditU.org

About American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc

American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc is a non-profit 501(c)(3) credit counseling organization that is dedicated to helping consumers achieve financial management through various debt solutions, such as credit counseling, debt management, bankruptcy counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and financial education. With the goal of empowering consumers to reach debt relief, ACCC provides a wide range of free personal finance resources that cover topics such as budgeting, credit and debt management, student loan assistance, homeownership, identity theft, senior living, and retirement. By using ACCC’s tools, such as worksheets, videos, calculators, and blog articles, consumers can make informed decisions about their financial future. ACCC has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®). Visit ConsumerCredit.com to access free financial education resources and learn more about ACCC. Additionally, check out ACCC’s YouTube Channel @ACCreditCounsel for excellent video content.

Media Contact

Madison Block, American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc, 1 8007693571 5777, [email protected], consumercredit.com

SOURCE American Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc