Keeping the Women we Love Healthy

Speaker will discuss diagnosis and treatment of common pelvic disorders and actions to support pelvic floor health Presents Scholar Recipient of the Cheryl A. Wilson Nursing Scholarship.  La Jolla, CA. -  August 2014 .-  The Doris A. Howell Foundation has invited Dr. Emily Lucacz to present the latest discussion on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the common pelvic disorders, incontinence and prolapse, including behavioral approaches and surgical options for women faced with these conditions on August 28.       According to the American Urogynecologic Society, one in three women suffers pelvic floor dysfunction.   Yet awareness support is not as evident as for other conditions.  “We support the efforts to create awareness of the latest research on pelvic health and are elated that Dr. Lucaz accepted our invitation to inform us the on alternatives of how to manage these conditions”, comments Pattie Wellborn, Chair of the How...

Dr. Banka and Dr. Colombo by Dr. Carole Banka Carmen Colombo was the 2013 recipient of the Howell Foundation’s Cheryl A. Wilson Nursing Scholarship. She is a 2014 graduate of the University of San Diego’s Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science with a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree.  Carmen is the Chief Nursing Officer of Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns. The Howell Foundation Scholarship provided funding for her research dissertation, “Fetal Heart Monitoring, Nursing Surveillance, and Cesarean Birth”. Dr. Colombo designed this study to determine the role nurses’ monitoring and interpretation of fetal heart rate during labor predicted a Cesarean section outcome. The importance of this study rests on the fact that in 2012, the most recent statistics available, one in three births in the US were by Cesarean section. Dr. Colombo will briefly discuss her findings supported by the Howell Foundation at the August luncheon. The Cheryl Wilson Nurs...

Aside from urinary incontinence, it seems that pelvic floor disorders don’t get much attention like other health conditions such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s – to name a few.   But according to the American Urogynecologic Society, one in three women suffers from pelvic floor dysfunction, a range of symptoms which include bladder and bowel problems as well as pelvic pain.   That means one of every three of us sadly pee when we laugh. Bottom line is women and men with pelvic disorders may suffer life-altering issues.  Considering that one in three women will have “leakage” problems and be embarrassed when laughing too hard or coughing, many just avoid uncomfortable situations altogether  -- anywhere from Depends and pads or reclusion from social events because of self-consciousness, to altering daily activities that may cause a whole new realm of physical and emotional conditions.  So what is Pelvic Floor Disorder?  ...

The Doris a Howell Foundation named its first Emeritus Board Member this year:  Dr. Beatrice Rose.  She however, is used to being ‘the first’ at many things.   Like few in her generation, she defeated the odds of becoming a physician while still listening to her mother, who at the time wanted Rose to be a teacher.  So she became both.   “I lived at a time and place where I was able to be the ‘first in many things’.  I just did what I thought would be a good idea at the time”.    She was the first woman to be appointed to the Oregon Board of Health in the State’s history.  She was also the first woman voted in as a Delegate of the Oregon’s State Medical Society and became the first recipient of the County Medical Society’s Award for Service to Public Health.  Her philosophy is simple:  do the best that you can or don’t even bother -- a belief that is shared with Dr. Howell, whom she met in 2004. “When I me...