Beebe Healthcare Joins Community and “Goes Red” to Raise Awareness of Women and Heart Disease
To raise awareness of women and heart disease, Beebe Healthcare has joined the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement in Delaware to support “Go Red” activities throughout February, Heart Awareness Month.
As a highlight of the month, Lewes cardiologist Heather Raff, MD, will speak about “Women and Heart Disease” February 28 at noon at Beebe’s McCurry Conference Center located at the Beebe Health Campus on John. J. Williams Highway. There is no cost for the presentation. However, space is limited. Please RSVP to Shelley Tyrrell at 645-3300, extension 3295 by Feb 21. Seating is reserved. A light lunch will be provided.
Dr. Raff joined Cardiovascular Consultants of Southern Delaware in Lewes in November 2011. She is from Southeastern Pennsylvania and earned her B.S. degree in Biology from Lafayette College, where she graduated cum laude and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She earned her Medical Degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, graduating as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After medical school, she moved to Denver, Colorado for her internship, residency and cardiovascular fellowships at the University of Colorado.
Dr. Raff is board certified in Internal Medicine, Echocardiography and in Cardiovascular Diseases.
Beebe is partnering with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce throughout the month in promoting a community-wide Lewes Goes Red effort. Beebe has posted flyers around the Medical Center and placed the signature “Red Dress” logo on the front lawn. Red lights will illuminate the Medical Center in Lewes and Tunnell Cancer Center at the Beebe Health Campus on John J. Williams Highway. Participating Lewes businesses also are illuminating their buildings in red.
Beebe also is sponsoring several events at the hospital for employees and visitors, including a cardiovascular unit displays in the cardiology waiting room during the week of February 9.
The cafeteria will be serving red themed foods during that week. On Saturday, February 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Beebe Healthcare is holding its 2014 Health Fair at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. This free event, designed to promote healthy living for all ages, offers a variety of screenings, cooking demonstrations, educational materials and giveaways, a raffle, kids’ activities, light refreshments, and entertainment. There also will be presentations by local physicians and flu vaccinations provided by the state Division of Public Health.
In the United States, 1 in 4 women dies from heart disease. Coronary heart disease (CHD)—the most common type of heart disease—is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
The good news is that we can control many of the risks of CHD with diet, exercise, and preventive health screenings and care.
Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities we serve. It offers services throughout Southern Delaware including a 210-licensed-bed hospital, a cancer center, and outpatient facilities at multiple sites providing lab, imaging, physical rehab services and walk-in care. For more information, please visit us online at www.beebehealthcare.org
