July 17, 2017
Montefiore recently achieved Baby-Friendly status simultaneously at two hospitals, making it NYC’s only health system to do so.
"ACHIEVING THIS IMPORTANT RECOGNITION IS TESTAMENT TO THE TIME AND RESOURCES MONTEFIORE DEDICATES TO EDUCATING AND ENCOURAGING NEW MOMS TO BREASTFEED."
—Dr. Deborah Campbell
Montefiore is New York City's only health system to have two hospitals simultaneously awarded the Baby-Friendly designation from Baby-Friendly USA. Both Wakefield and Weiler Hospitals have achieved this distinction, doing more for mothers and babies in their communities. The program, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), recognizes excellence based on results of a rigorous on-site survey and demonstrated adherence to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. This protocol includes having breastfeeding policies in writing, consistently training staff on policy implementation, and informing all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding. “I am extremely proud and thankful to the extensive team of providers and staff who work tirelessly to support expectant and new moms and promote well-woman and baby health,” said Deborah Campbell, MD, FAAP, Chief, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, and Professor, Clinical Pediatrics, and Associate Professor, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Einstein.
Learn more about Baby-Friendly at Montefiore at www.montefiore.org/baby-friendly.
From left to right: Fred Dedrick, President and CEO, National Fund for Workforce Solutions; Dana Politis, Director, Community Workforce Programs, Montefiore; and Peter Strange, Chairman, Board of Directors, National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions recognizes Montefiore as a 2017 Young Adult Employer Champion, joining Starbucks and Walgreens as one of only seven organizations in the country to earn this distinction. The National Fund promotes economic opportunities, and created this program to honor employers who provide high-quality jobs and successfully hire and retain 18- to 25-year old adults who are unemployed or underemployed.
"Along with Phipps Neighborhoods, Montefiore is doing more to help young adults in the Bronx to rise above poverty by providing education and career support," says Alfredo Cabrera, System Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Montefiore. “It’s an honor to be recognized by The National Fund for these efforts.”
Discover more about The National Fund for Workforce Solutions at https://nationalfund.org/ and Phipps Neighborhoods at www.phippsny.org.
Researchers from Montefiore Urology and Einstein launched a collaboration with physicians in Nigeria to study aggressive forms of prostate cancer prevalent in the Nigerian population and African American men in the U.S. Evan Kovac, MD, Attending Physician and Assistant Professor, Urology, Montefiore and Einstein, who is a co-investigator on the research, traveled to Nigeria with his Einstein colleagues, Ilir Agalliu, ScD, MD, and David Lounsbury, PhD, to train urologists and residents at University College Hospital (UCH) in the use of guided ultrasound to detect prostate cancer.
Dr. Kovac and residents simulated a prostate with a hard-boiled egg, which is similar in size and shape, to practice using the trans-rectal ultrasound machine.
"WE CAN LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM OUR COLLEAGUES IN NIGERIA, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO INNOVATION, SIMULATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT."
—Evan Kovac, MD
Montefiore and UCH participate in the Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) Consortium. This multi-national group is searching for a genetic marker for high-risk prostate cancer. Dr. Kovac instructed his Nigerian colleagues in how to set up and use the TRUS (trans-rectal ultrasound) guided biopsy device, providing informal teaching to the residents. He also gave a grand round talk on prostate cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment to the entire surgical department.
Impressed with the high-quality care UCH physicians provide despite limited resources, Dr. Kovac remarked, “They do a lot with very little and it was an honor to work with such dedicated physicians. We can learn a great deal from our colleagues in Nigeria, especially with regards to innovation, simulation and resource management.” He is also establishing a partnership with physicians in the Caribbean as part of his research.
Rhonda Graves Acholonu, MD, FAAP
Vice Chair of Education
Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Melissa Laudano, MD
Attending Physician, Urology
Juan Lehoux, MD
Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon
The BxMpowerment Project was developed for young, gay, bisexual men who have sex with men (YGBMSM) and trans-women. The mission, to reduce HIV-related risks and infections and increase HIV testing, addresses the reality that men who have sex with men are disproportionately diagnosed with HIV in the Bronx. Young men are being hit hardest. The program focuses on increasing HIV testing and decreasing sexual risk behavior among these populations who do not know their HIV status. The project builds community among these young men, providing a safe place for weekly meetings, promoting safer sex education, increased access to healthcare and essential services, and access to vocational and employment opportunities. The project is run by a core group of 10 to 15 young men from the community, supported by staff from Montefiore’s HIV Prevention Program. The team visits locations frequented by YGBMSM, holding peer-led meetings, creating social recruitment events, and running an ongoing publicity campaign.
Discover more about how Montefiore is helping men at risk for HIV by calling the BxMpowerment Project hotline at 347-949-0636.
Important changes are coming regarding Montefiore’s password policy. Please watch for emails from “Email Administrator” in the coming weeks that will provide details and instructions regarding these changes. No action is required at this time.
Women between the ages of 18–45 are needed for a research study looking at a vaginal ring (a flexible ring that is put inside the vagina) containing an experimental drug that may prevent HIV infection.
Women will be asked to wear a vaginal ring that has the experimental drug in it or will wear a vaginal ring without any drug in it.
Nine or 10 visits will be made to the Clinical Research Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The study involves pelvic exams, cervical biopsies, blood draws, and questionnaires.
Women who volunteer for this study must not have HIV and must be on birth control, NOT pregnant, and NOT breastfeeding.
Please contact Jenny, call or text 347-835-7842, email: microbicide@einstein.yu.edu.
The Montefiore Healing Arts Program and Human Resources offers a three-day residential workshop for caregivers at a nearby retreat center. The Healing Loss program is a powerful experiential and educational event led by facilitators in a safe, supportive and confidential setting. Participants are able to work through the grief, trauma and other changes that often occur in caregivers’ lives. The program allows caregivers to release some of the emotions that build up over time, and learn how to better care for themselves, as well as others. Participants also acquire new tools for resilience and healing to help maintain balance. Up to 24 Continuing Education (CEU) credits are available. Workshops are limited to 25 participants and registration is required.
Wednesday through Friday, October 18–20, 2017
Wednesday through Friday, April 4–6, 2018
Stony Point Conference Center, Stony Point, New York
Thursday, November 2
Forchheimer Building, Robbins Auditorium, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Join us as we celebrate 50 years of the Rose F. Kennedy Center and explore the topic, "Looking Forward Toward the Next 50 Years of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research."
Featuring keynote speaker Timothy P. Shriver, PhD, Chairman, Special Olympics
