November Health Programs

At Danbury Hospital

DANBURY — Chronic kidney disease, prenatal diagnosis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be discussed in November at Danbury Hospital Medical Town Meetings.

“Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease” will be the topic for discussion at the free educational program on Tuesday, November 1, at 7 pm.

The featured speaker is Howard Garfinkel, MD, chief of the section of nephrology and hypertension at the hospital. He will address the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease, and why it is so important for people to control obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol.

A second Medical Town Meeting in November discusses “Prenatal Diagnosis — Then and Now,” and takes place on Thursday, November 10.

Christopher Sullivan, MD, director of maternal-fetal medicine at Danbury Hospital, will provide an overview of the advances in genetics, ultrasound, and invasive technology that allows health care experts to more accurately assess the fetal condition. Howard Blanchette, MD, chairman of the hospital’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, will serve as program moderator.

“What You Need to Know About Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)” will be discussed at the third Danbury Hospital Medical Town Meeting on Tuesday, November 15.

Featured speakers will be Douglas Kahn, DO; Michael Walker, MD, chief of thoracic surgery at the hospital and medical director of its Lung Cancer Program; Marianne Mitchell, an advanced practice registered nurse and “Quit Now” smoking cessation program instructor at Danbury Hospital; John Chronakos, MD, a specialist in pulmonary diseases; and Leeann Losee, a respiratory therapist. They will address the diagnosis, management, and treatment of lung cancer and COPD.

Frank Salvatore, manager of respiratory services and neurophysiology at Danbury Hospital, will facilitate the evening program.

There also will be a free pulmonary function screening from 6 to 7 pm on November 15 in the hospital’s auditorium foyer. The pulmonary function screenings are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Danbury Hospital Medical Town Meetings takes place in the John C. Creasy Center for Health Education auditorium at Danbury Hospital from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Park free in the Blue Visitor’s parking lot, Hospital Avenue entrance.