April 5, 2021 – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has proven to be a useful tool for maintaining health and wellness. On April 16, the Alzheimer’s Association will host a free, virtual program on the additional benefits of telehealth for those living with dementia and their loved ones.
 
Featuring guest speaker Prerna Poojary, Ph.D., “Telehealth: A Gateway to Healthy Living” will also include a “Healthy Living for the Brain and Body” presentation from Alzheimer’s Community Educator Amanda Tatum, to be followed by a Q&A session with the speakers.
 
“Telehealth and telerehabilitation makes access to health care easier,” Poojary said, “leading to improved care of chronic conditions and improved overall wellness.” 
 
A clinical assistant professor in the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions Occupational Therapy Department, Poojary completed her Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences and technology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016. Her clinical work focuses on aging in place, community reintegration, mental health and wounds associated with lymphedema patients.
 
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and more than 11 million loved ones are providing them with daily, unpaid care. In Florida alone, there are 580,000 people battling the disease.
 
“Florida has the second-highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the nation,” noted Audrey Coachman, program manager for the Alzheimer’s Association. “As the health and safety of our constituents are always our top priorities, we at the Alzheimer’s Association feel it is vital that we continue to explore ways in which we can improve health care through innovation and technology to ensure the best quality of care.”
 
Sponsored in part by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Pasco-Pinellas Area Agency on Aging, the free program will begin at 1 p.m. EDT on April 16. To register, visit http://bit.ly/AlzTelehealth or contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900.
 
Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.
 


April 5 2021 – The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center is pausing to honor and recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launches a new campaign to promote military sexual trauma (MST) and invite Veterans who experienced MST into a community that listens, understands and believes in them. West Palm Beach VA Medical Center support goes beyond just the month of April- year-round our team is present.
 
This year, VA’s message for Sexual Assault Awareness Month focuses on VA’s support for MST survivors and confidence in their strength and resilience: “We believe you — and we believe in you.”
 
“We want MST survivors to know that we are here with free, private MST-related services that can help,” said Mr. Cory P. Price, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center Director. “It can be tremendously healing for survivors to learn that someone will listen, believes in them, and takes their experiences of trauma seriously. We are here to help Veterans through it, no matter how long it has been.”
 
VA uses the term MST to refer to sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service. Even though significant numbers of Veterans of all genders and backgrounds have experienced MST, many survivors feel alone, ashamed or unable to ask for help.
 
VA offers free counseling and treatment to Veterans for mental and physical health conditions related to MST. Veterans do not need to have a VA disability rating, have reported the MST or have other documentation of the experience to get this care. They may be able to receive services even if they are not eligible for other VA care.
 
VA encourages everyone to learn about MST to discover ways to foster the recovery of Veterans and help take practical action as part of the larger supportive community. Join the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center by taking part in the Virtual MST Informational Session on April 7, 2021 from 3 p.m.- 4p.m. For a link to the virtual session, visit https://www.westpalmbeach.va.gov/WESTPALMBEACH/calendar.asp
 
The panel will feature Ms. Janis Hoewing, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center MST Coordinator, and Angela Choice, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Claims Examiner Supervisor.
 
Veterans who have experienced MST and would like to learn more about VA support may call West Palm Beach VA Medical Center [561.422.6844] and speak with the MST Coordinator, Ms. Hoewing, or a VA health care provider. Information about MST and VA’s MST-related services is available at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/msthome.asp.
 
 
 
 
 
For more information about the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center’s health care system visit  www.westpalmbeach.va.gov.  
 


Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital Nationally Renowned for Providing Comprehensive Services to Victims of Sexual Assault 
 
April 5 2021 – Jackson Memorial Hospital, home to the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center (RTC), has provided emotional and medical services to almost 75,000 people since its establishment in 1974. Millions of individuals are the victims of sexual violence each year – an act that is defined as any sexual activity where consent is not freely given, with profound impact on an individual’s lifelong well-being. 
 
According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds, and every nine minutes, that victim is a child. One of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, while one in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Fifty five percent of sexual assaults occur at or near the victim’s home.In eight out of 10 cases, the victim knew the person who sexually assaulted them. Yet according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), it continues to be the most under-reported violent crime in the country.
 
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and every year, the staff at the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center raises awareness of sexual violence by hosting virtual educational outreach events. RTC is the only center of its kind in Miami-Dade County. It is named after women’s rights activist and Florida Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, Roxcy O’Neal Bolton. 
 
In 1971, Bolton lead the nation’s first "march against rape" and gathered 100 businesswomen, political leaders, activists, housewives and a few men, and led them through Downtown Miami to the courthouse. Throughout her lifetime, Bolton made a profound and long-lasting impact in Florida, Miami-Dade County, and at Jackson Health System.
 
“The work to help sexual assault survivors is an important one,” said program manager, Franchine Peters “We want sexual assault survivors to know what happened to them is not their fault. RTC is here to help survivors with medical treatment, advocacy, and therapy services including virtual access.”
 
The center provides support – in a completely confidential setting – 24 hours a day, seven days a week to victims ages 12 and over. All services are provided at no cost for all victims and their immediate family members, regardless of whether the crime is reported to the police. The assault does not have to be recent – it could’ve happened 20 years ago, and you can still receive help. Forensic and medical services are being done in person. Therapy and support group services are being done virtually.
 
The center also offers the following additional services:
•Confidential 24-hour helpline
•Forensic evidence collection and preventive treatments
•Crisis intervention
•Advocacy
•Information and referrals
•Community awareness
•Support groups
•Therapy
•Prevention/risk reduction education
RTC staff will host a virtual event for SAMM on April 9 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., for a free training to learn about sexual assault and sexual abuse, forensic evidence collection and testing, legal rights and laws in place for sexual assault survivors. The symposium will consist of guest speakers and group discussions, and interactive activities. To RSVP visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N6XSPSH 
 
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, or if you have questions or need help, call the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center’s confidential helpline at 305-585-7273 or visit https://jacksonhealth.org/rape-treatment/. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 


April 5, 2021 – Boca Raton resident Eleanor R. Baldwin made her second seven figure gift to Keeping the Promise…The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital.  Ms. Baldwin’s gift total is now $7.5 million, joining a list of Boca Raton’s philanthropic “Who’s Who” of seven- and eight-figure donors to the Campaign who have helped raise more than $193 million, thus far. 
 
“There is no way to characterize the level of gratitude we feel for Eleanor,” said Lincoln Mendez, CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. “She is another long-tenured member of our family at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. This campus-wide initiative and capital campaign will have a significant impact by her participation, by her investment in our future and mission, and by her love of the hospital.”
 
Ms. Baldwin values the sophisticated local care in the community provided by Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Her donation, a combination of cash and a planned gift, will be recognized by naming the Bistro in the new Gloria Drummond Patient Tower as well as on the new parking facility to be located across Meadows Road adjacent to the future Toby and Leon Cooperman Pavilion.
 
“Eleanor doesn’t simply make gifts to organizations, she is acutely aware of the services she is supporting and how they will be enhanced by her commitment,” said Stan Barry, co-chair of Keeping the Promise. “She is certainly not a passive donor, as we know from her history here with us at Boca Regional, and a myriad of other organizations she holds in high esteem.  She is a treasure and we heartily thank her for  her generosity and efforts.”
 
Ms. Baldwin is a retired educator, having taught for 34 years, mostly in Broward County high schools. She was a university supervisor of student teachers at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton and is President of the Baldwin Family Foundation. She was elected to the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University in 1995 and served until 2003.  She is currently a member of the Medical Affairs Committee of the Northwestern Board of Trustees and is a Northwestern Alumni Regent Emeritus for South Florida. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Smith College and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Northwestern University.
 
In addition to her generosity to Boca Raton Regional Hospital, she has also enthusiastically supported Florida Atlantic University and Northwestern University.
 
The $250 million Keeping the Promise campaign is the largest campaign in the hospital’s history.  It is supporting the most ambitious period of growth and expansion for Boca Raton Regional Hospital.
 
The campus redevelopment plans include at the centerpiece, the new Gloria Drummond Patient Tower where patients will be welcomed in the inviting new Louis B. and Anne W. Green Lobby with plans for retail, dining, meeting space, a sanctuary, outdoor courtyards and other conveniences for visitors. The new tower features all new surgical suites and all private patient rooms exceeding the latest safety standards for patient care. In the current hospital building, all existing rooms will be converted to private
 
in a comprehensive renovation of all patient units including maternity, oncology and orthopedics. An expansion of the Marcus Neuroscience Institute is well underway with emphasis on neurovascular/stroke, central nervous system tumors, spine, and epilepsy/seizure disorders. The recently opened 972-car Schmidt Family Parking Facility will be connected to the Marcus Neuroscience Institute once the new tower construction is complete. Also included in the plans is the new Toby and Leon Cooperman Pavilion, to be located across the street from the medical campus with an outpatient surgery center, physician offices and adjacent parking.  These investments are the initial steps toward an even broader vision for the campus with greater access points and even more specialties.
 
“It should be important to all of us in Boca Raton and the surrounding communities to have the best, most sophisticated care we could possibly have,” said Ms. Baldwin. “I trust our leadership implicitly as they chart our path for the future of medicine in our area”
 
 
 
About Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation
The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization for Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Boca Raton Regional Hospital is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 11 hospitals, nearly 23,000 employees, more than 4,000 physicians and more than 100 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.
 
 
Boca Raton Regional Hospital is supported by philanthropy to strengthen its mission to deliver the highest quality patient care, satisfaction and safety. If you would like to learn more about supporting the mission of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, visit our website at donate.brrh.com.
 
For more information, visit BRRH.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and  LinkedIn.
 


South Florida Science Center and Aquarium Announces Blockbuster Exhibit
 
April 5 2021 – No bones about it! The South Florida Science Center is announcing the fall blockbuster exhibit, Real Bodies: The Exhibition presented by the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation. Opening September 28, 2020, the exhibit will be on display until April 11, 2021.
 
Appropriate for all ages, Real Bodies goes beyond skin deep to reveal the mysteries of human anatomy, exploring the body through physiology, culture and emotion. Visitors will tour real, preserved human bodies, digging deeper into what it means to be alive.
 
This powerful exhibition, produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc., displays 20 real, perfectly preserved human bodies and more than 200 anatomical specimens throughout 11 galleries. Each of the specimens featured in Real Bodies has been carefully and respectfully preserved by a team of experts using a scientific method known as polymer preservation, or plastination. This revolutionary process uses liquid silicon rubber to prevent the natural process of decaying.
 
The exhibition pushes boundaries while blending art, science and emotion. When visitors explore different systems of the body, they will see the deeper connection between breathing, hunger, heart rhythm, love, motion and thought that makes each person unique. 
 
“We are thrilled to bring Real Bodies to Palm Beach County,” said Kate Arrizza, Science Center President and CEO. “We know our guests will love seeing the science beneath the skin and learning about human evolution through time. This is a rare opportunity to see the human body from the inside, which we hope will spark an interest in children to seek careers in science and medicine.”
 
The exhibition will also feature a new COVID-19 component, encouraging visitors to learn more about the pandemic’s impact on the human body. Designed by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. in consultation with emergency medicine physicians and epidemiologists with experience in emerging infectious disease preparedness, this new content showcases the latest science-based information about the novel coronavirus.
 
To continue with the theme of the historical, cultural and emotional context of the human body, the exhibit addresses efforts related to treating COVID-19 as well as the effects of the pandemic on human health and the healthcare system, including the challenges workers are facing in treating and preventing the virus. Interesting facts about how it affects each of the different body systems—from respiration to digestion to circulation—and other related topics will be found throughout the exhibition. Social distancing floor decals will continue the education as will a short film that illustrates the journey of the virus inside the human body. Visitors will also experience a dramatic display of dozens of 3-D printed virus models as part of the exhibition. 
 
“The human body is a magnificent machine capable of wonderful things, and the exhibition will showcase how amazing anatomy is,” said Kate Arrizza, President and CEO of the Science Center. “The new COVID-19 component is an excellent and timely resource that adds value to the educational impact.”
 
“I am excited to share with the public the amazing work that our team collaborated on to create and enhance the exhibition in an effort to answer everyday questions about COVID-19,” said CEO of Imagine Exhibitions Tom Zaller. “Our goal is to share with people the current findings about how this new virus affects the different systems of the body in an easy to digest form. The hope is that we all come out of the exhibition knowing a little more than when we went in.”
 
Real Bodies is presented by the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation and sponsored by Lew and Kathleen Crampton, Comcast, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Discover The Palm Beaches, Frances and Jeffrey Fisher, Gast Construction Group, Matthew and Helene Lorentzen, Northern Trust, Outfront Media, South Florida Science Center’s Board of Trustees, Christine and Robert Stiller and Tobacco Free Florida.
                              
The mission of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is to “open every mind to science” and the indoor/outdoor venue features more than 100 hands-on educational exhibits, a 10,000 gallon fresh and salt water aquarium, digital planetarium, Pre-K focused “Discovery Center,” 18-hole conservation-themed Mini Golf Course and quarter mile long outdoor science trail. The newest addition includes a $2.5 million permanent exhibit, “Journey Through the Human Brain” and features the most advanced neuroscience research and technology in the world. Safety guidelines like social distancing and mask wearing are enforced.
 
Admission to the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium during Real Bodies is $17.95 for adults, $13.95 for children ages 3 to 12 and $15.95 for seniors aged 60 and older.  Science Center members and children under 3 are free.  
 
For more information on Real Bodies or other Science Center programming, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org. Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram @SFScienceCenter.   
 
 
About Imagine Exhibitions
Imagine Exhibitions is currently producing over 40 unique exhibitions globally in museums, science centers, zoos, integrated resorts, and non-traditional venues, with millions of people around the world visiting our exhibitions each year. In addition to developing successful traveling exhibitions, Imagine Exhibitions designs, opens, and operates permanent installations and venues, and consults on building, expanding, and directing museums and attractions. With decades of diverse experience in the museum and entertainment industries, Imagine Exhibitions consistently develops exhibitions that educate and excite while exceeding attendance goals. For more information, visit www.ImagineExhibitions.com or find us on Facebook.