Thursday, June 21, 2012
Low-interest loans for medical students
YOUNGSTOWN
Application forms for low-interest student loans are available from the Mahoning County Medical Society Foundation. The deadline to apply is June 30.
Applicants must be residents of Mahoning or Trumbull counties and enrolled in medical school or school of osteopathic medicine or participating in the Bridge Program at the three-year level or higher with Northeast Ohio Medical University.
Interest on the loans is 1 percent below the prime rate at the time the loan is granted. Interest is forgiven if the recipient returns to Mahoning County or Trumbull County to practice medicine and becomes a member of the Mahoning County Medical Society. For information or to receive an application call 330-533-4880 or go on-line at mahoningcountymed@zoominternet.net.
St. E’s first in pelvic prolapse procedure
YOUNGSTOWN
The region’s first robot-assisted procedure to repair pelvic prolapse, a common condition among aging women, has been completed at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Pelvic prolapse occurs when weakened pelvic muscles allow a woman’s uterus, bladder or rectum to slip out of their normal anatomical positions.
Traditional treatment for pelvic prolapse includes a large incision across the abdomen and pelvic organs. This surgery requires four to six weeks for recovery. Robotic surgery using the da Vinci surgical system, a ground-breaking platform that employs tiny surgical instruments that have a greater range of motion than the human wrist, and high-definition, 3-D vision, enables physicians to perform more precise, minimally invasive procedures resulting in less pain, quicker recoveries, less blood loss, less scarring and shorter hospital stays for patients who often resume normal activities within a week.
Surgeons at St. Elizabeth have completed more than 850 robot-assisted gynecological, urological and general surgical procedures since the da Vinci System was introduced here in 2007.
Cancer program accreditation
Alliance
The Commission of Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted accreditation with commendation to the Cancer Program at Alliance Community Hospital. To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years. It is given only to facilities that voluntarily commit to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and undergo an evaluation process and review of their performance.
Farrell’s Vascular Institute has moved
FARRELL, Pa.
The UPMC Horizon Vascular Institute, formerly located at 705 Brookshire Drive, Hermitage, Pa., has been moved to 2000 Memorial Drive in Farrell behind UPMC Horizon’s Shenango Valley campus. It shares a building with the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Horizon. The office telephone number is 724-983-8882.
Athletic training aide workshop offered
PITTSBURGH
High-school students interested in exploring a sports-medicine career or who would like to enhance their athletic training-room skills are invited to attend the 15th annual Student Athletic Training Aide Workshop offered by UPMC Sports Medicine from July 31 to Aug. 2 at The Ellis School, 6425 Fifth Ave., Shadyside, Pa.
The fee for the program is $55 if paid by July 13 and $65 thereafter. Optional CPR and AED certifications cost an additional $10 total. Supervising certified athletic trainers are welcome to accompany the high school students at no charge. Free parking will be provided by The Ellis School. For information or to register, call the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine at 412-432-3770.