Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Cancer Specialist Joins Sacred Heart Hospital
 (PENSACOLA, FL) – Dr. Silwan Chedid, a board certified cancer specialist who trained in oncology and hematology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is coming to Pensacola to join Sacred Heart Medical Oncology Group.
Dr. Chedid will join the practice at Sacred Heart Hospital of Dr. Thomas Sunnenberg, a credentialed physician with M. D. Anderson Physicians Network®.
Dr. Chedid earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at The University of Texas in Austin and medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. After medical school, he performed three years of residency training in internal medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, N.J. He subsequently completed three more years of fellowship training in oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, one of the world’s most respected cancer centers devoted exclusively to cancer care, research, education and prevention.
He has conducted research related to breast cancer treatments, chemotherapy, colon cancer and cord blood transplantation.
Before moving to Pensacola, Dr. Chedid lived in Boston and worked as a cancer specialist at hospitals in Lawrence, Mass. and other communities near Boston. “I enjoy working in a faith-based hospital,” said Dr. Chedid. “I am looking forward to leaving the cold weather and living in a place where the people are as warm and friendly as the weather.”
Born in Australia, Dr. Chedid came to the U.S. in 1979 and spent most of his formative years in Houston. He enjoys swimming, jogging and bicycle riding.
Dr. Chedid will practice at the Medical Oncology Group office at 5375 N. Ninth Ave., Pensacola. For more information or an appointment, call 416-6933. For more information on Sacred Heart Health System or its cancer center, please visit online at www.sacred-heart.orgLabels: Cancer, M. D. Anderson, Specialists
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Awareness Campaign Focuses on Deep Leg Clots
PENSACOLA, FL, March 12, 2007 – Sacred Heart Hospital is joining a national effort to raise awareness of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious, yet preventable condition that can lead to potentially fatal complications.
DVT refers to blood clots that form deep in the legs. These clots can become killers if they break off and float into the lungs – a condition known as a pulmonary embolism. Many people suffer DVT after spending long periods without moving, such as passengers on long-haul airline flights.
Awareness of the problem was heightened last week at the start of Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month when Vice President Dick Cheney developed a blood clot in his leg. Cheney visited his doctor's office after feeling minor discomfort in his calf. An ultrasound showed a deep-vein thrombosis in his left lower leg.
NBC news correspondent David Bloom died in 2003 of a pulmonary embolism after spending days on end in a cramped military vehicle while covering the invasion of Iraq.
According to the American Heart Association, DVT affects up to two million Americans annually. Of those Americans who develop a pulmonary embolism, up to 200,000 will die each year—more than from breast cancer and AIDS combined. Yet, most Americans are unaware of DVT according to a national survey sponsored by the American Public Health Association.
“DVT Awareness Month is a great opportunity to educate the public about this preventable and often silent killer,” said Sacred Heart spokesman Mike Burke. “We are pleased to support this national campaign to increase awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of DVT.”
In 2003, Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola developed an innovative program to help prevent blood clots and pulmonary embolisms in hospital and post-surgical patients, both of which are high-risk groups. The program was adopted by a major pharmaceutical company and a number of hospitals across the country.
About Deep-Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
DVT occurs when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in one of the large veins, usually in the lower limbs, leading to either partially or completely blocked circulation. If left untreated, this clot has the potential to move into the lungs and block circulation to this vital organ creating a life threatening condition – known as pulmonary embolism (PE) – requiring immediate medical attention. Up to 600,000 Americans are hospitalized each year for DVT and its primary complication, PE. Fatal PE may be the most common preventable cause of hospital death in the United States.
Certain individuals may be at increased risk for developing DVT; however, it can occur in almost anyone. Additional risk factors include, but are not limited to restricted mobility, cancer, certain heart or respiratory diseases, major surgery, such as hip or knee replacements, advanced age, oral contraceptives or hormone therapy. It is important to consult your healthcare provider about the signs and symptoms associated with DVT. For more information, visit www.preventdvt.org.
Osteoporosis is Topic of Seniors' Seminar on March 21
Sacred Heart Hospital’s Senior Services program will present a free seminar on osteoporosis in Pensacola on Wednesday, March 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Greenhut Auditorium on Sacred Heart’s Ninth Avenue campus.
The seminar will be presented by Dr. Ziad Mamish, a board-certified endocrinologist with Sacred Heart Medical Group. The seminar will help attendees understand the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis, as well as prevention and methods of treatment and management of the disease.
Osteoporosis is characterized by weak, brittle and porous bones. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans already have osteoporosis and 18 million more have low bone mass, which places them at an increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Eighty percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women. In fact, the Osteoporosis Foundation says one in two women and one in eight men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.
Registration is required and seating is limited. To register, call (850) 416-1620 or 1-877-416-1620. This seminar is part of the monthly series of free health education programs sponsored by Sacred Heart SeniorSpirit! Sacred Heart SeniorSpirit! is a free program for persons 55 and older. Benefits include free screenings, seminars, special in-patient benefits such as a free daily guest meal ticket and newspaper delivery, a monthly calendar of events detailing all SeniorSpirit! events, and a quarterly newsletter containing health and event information.
For more information on osteoporosis or Senior Services at Sacred Heart Hospital, visit online at www.sacred-heart.org.
Joint Replacement Seminar will be held March 23 at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Health System will present a free Joint Replacement Seminar titled “Total Knee Replacements: The Gender Specific Knee and Minimally Invasive Surgery Techniques” in Pensacola on Friday, March 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Greenhut Auditorium on Sacred Heart’s Ninth Avenue campus.
The seminar will be presented by Dr. Joseph Dennie, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. The seminar will help attendees understand the different causes of knee pain and surgical treatment options, including knee replacement surgery.
Dr. Dennie, a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, specializes in minimally invasive procedures of the shoulder, hip and knee.
Representatives from the Sacred Heart Joint Replacement Center and Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Services also will be on hand to answer questions before and after the program.
Seating is limited and reservations are required. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information or to make a reservation, please call 850-416-1600.
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