An Association Focused On Women’s Health Concerns

By Shannon Hicks

A woman’s health and well-being deserves serious attention. For that reason, Women’s Health Alliance was formed to help area women find the specialists they need to meet to best address specific female health concerns. Based in Southbury, WHA considers itself a resource for information and referrals.

“We are gearing into different avenues now,” Jeana Shakra, the president of Women’s Health Alliance, said during a meeting of the group in April. “There are so many women in health fields. We are trying to take care of the lay person, and each other, by teaming up. I was debating about [starting WHA at all], but the more I see people continuing to step up to join us, the more encouraged I’ve become.”

Mrs Shakra is a specialist in radiology, mammography, ultrasound, diagnostic X-rays and echocardiograms, which is understandable considering she works out of the offices of Southbury Imaging PC, Home of the Breast Imaging Center at 800 Main Street South in Southbury.

Mrs Shakra helped co-found Women’s Health Alliance nine years ago. The group has developed, she said recently, “into a wonderful network.

“To refer [a patient to someone],” she continued, “it’s so much better when you know both the person you are referring someone to and the patient.

Vice President of WHA is Mary I. Miller, MD, an internal medicine specialist with her office at 1 Pomperaug Office Park, also in Southbury. Joann Altiero Price, who handles secretary and treasurer duties, is also an MD, and a specialist in gynecology and infertility issues.

One of the main projects of Women’s Health Alliance is keeping an ongoing list of members who are available to serve as speakers for other groups or organizations. These women are part of what WHA calls its Speaker’s Bureau, and their areas of expertise cover everything from holistic health, sonography, nutrition counseling, physical therapy and acupuncture to orthopedic surgery, psychotherapy, stress management, psychosynthesis (therapy combining psychoanalytic techniques with meditation and exercise), oncology, and more.

Meetings of WHA are held in the offices of Southbury Imaging, PC. Meetings are generally started with a brief update on membership standings, the group’s budget, and the introduction of new members. Guest speakers then follow with brief programs. A recent meeting included presentations by members of a local chapter of American Red Cross followed by members of Visiting Nurses Services of Connecticut. Both groups offered a look at what some of their special programs offer clients, as well as a heads-up on upcoming special programs the groups were hosting.

In April, Catherine Lavoie of Woodbury was a third guest speaker for WHA. Ms Lavoie, who has her office in Middlebury, is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in creative stress management.

Her presentation was an introduction to an unfamiliar, yet recognized, process called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR. EMDR, explained Ms Lavoie, is a psysiological method of therapy used within the context of psychotherapy. It is most commonly used in relieving symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. It can also be used to help people prepare for an event that has them nervous, such as an important business presentation, and it has been used by the military, explained Ms Lavoie.

By presenting her specialty to members and invited guests, Ms Lavoie was able to offer a brief overview of some of her services. It is this kind of presentation that offers members of WHA a first-hand look at the specialties of fellow members. From the brief presentation at a general meeting, members can contact each other in order to follow-up on details or one-on-one orientation. This allows members to refer their colleagues to patients with confidence.

For further information concerning Women’s Health Alliance, contact Jeana (pronounced like “Gina”) Shakra at Southbury Imaging PC?Home of the Breast Imaging Center, 800 Main Street South, Suite 116, Southbury, CT 06488. Ms Shakra can also be reached by calling 267-6797.