LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and the Spirit of Women are hosting a program that encourages area women to be healthy and have fun.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education will present “Build Your Immunity, Boost Your Life” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette, IN.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education will present 'Build Your Immunity, Boost Your Life' at 6:30p on Thursday, Nov. 19 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette, IN

“Build Your Immunity, Boost Your Life” will include several presentations and door prizes designed to make the evening both fun and educational. The following events are currently scheduled:

• “Secrets of Women Who Don’t Get Sick” by Matthew Schwartz, M.D. a family medicine physician with Sigma Medical Group. Dr. Schwartz will speak on immune systems.
• “Flu Prevention Tips” by Laura Aschenberg, R.N., BSN, CIC, regional coordinator of Infection Control for St. Elizabeth Regional Health.
• “The Health Benefits of Moderate Wine Consumption” by Charles Thomas, M.D. Dr. Thomas is the founder and owner of Chateau Thomas Winery and also co-founder of the Indiana State Fair International Wine Competition. Dr. Thomas has also taught wine appreciation courses at IUPUI and Marian College. Dr. Thomas is a retired OB/GYN.

This event is co-sponsored by Main Street Cheese and Wine Cellar, which is providing the wine for the wine tasting during this program. Participants will have an opportunity to sample four wines, including a new “Slender” wine. Door prizes will be provided by Believing Heart/Nutrilite Health Supplements and Xocai, who are Spirit of Women business reward partners.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and St. Elizabeth Regional Health are members of the Spirit of Women, a national coalition of hospitals and health care providers that pledge to provide the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education and community outreach.

This program is free for Spirit of Women members or $5 for non-members, and registration is required. To register, please call the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133. For more information on the Spirit of Women, please visit www.ste.org/kwce and click on the Spirit of Women link.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and the Spirit of Women continue to offer new and expecting moms in the area an opportunity to learn in a relaxed environment.

New Mom Tea offers Greater Lafayette new mothers an opportunity to learn in a relaxed environment.

The New Moms Tea meets weekly at 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, located inside the Medical Arts Building at 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette, IN on the Home Hospital campus.

Upcoming topics and speakers for September through December 2009 include:

• Sept. 3: “Pretty as a Picture: Preserving Memories with Photos” by Annette Bahler, photographer and owner of Photography by De Lisa.
• Sept. 10: “Infant Massage” by Deb Baker, OTR, operations manger, St. Elizabeth Regional Health PT/OT.
• Sept. 17: “The Low Down on Breastfeeding” by Sherry Franscoviak, R.N., IBCLC, St. Elizabeth Regional Health.
• Sept. 24: “Finding Fitness as Part of Your New Lifestyle” by Erin Lunsford, DPT, St. Elizabeth Regional Health OT/PT.
• Oct. 1: “Music and Your Baby” by Rebecca Colby, MA, MT-BC, NMT, certified music therapist.
• Oct. 8: “The Baby Blues and Beyond” by Marcia Daehler, APRN, BC, St. Elizabeth Regional Health.
• Oct. 15: “Baby Seats, Boosters & Belts: Safe Travel for All Ages” by Shelly Tansey, child passenger safety technician, Kathryn Weil Center for Education.
• Oct. 22: “Your Baby’s First Year” by Deb Baker, OTR, operations manager, St. Elizabeth Regional Health PT/OT.
• Oct. 29: “How Hormones Affect Our Moods as New Moms” by Denise Seeger, Kathryn Weil Center for Education.
• Nov. 5: “Baby Talk: Speech and Language Development” by Glenda Chambers, St. Elizabeth Regional Health Speech Therapy.
• Nov. 12: “You Are What You Eat” by Renee Kidder, RD, CSP, St. Elizabeth Regional Health Food and Nutrition Services.
• Nov.19: “Just Be Yourself: Overcoming Feeling Overwhelmed” by Char Elle En, ACSW, Flowing With Life Coaching.
• Dec. 3: “Gestational Diabetes: Will it come back later?” by Jennifer Anderson, R.D, a dietitian with the St. Elizabeth Diabetes Center.
• Dec. 10: “Sex and the New Mom” by Catherine Sam, M.D., an OB/GYN with the Woman’s Clinic.
• Dec. 17: “Looking Ahead: St. Elizabeth East Women’s Center Services” by Pam Smith R.N., St Elizabeth Regional Health.

Following each educational program, moms will have an opportunity to discuss breastfeeding concerns with a lactation counselor from St. Elizabeth Regional Health.

The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and St. Elizabeth Regional Health are members of the Spirit of Women, a national coalition of hospitals and health care providers that pledge to provide the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education and community outreach.

All sessions are free, but registration is required and can be made by calling the center at (765) 449-5133.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Kathryn Weil Center for Education and Chili Blast Charities Inc. are accepting applications for the placement of AEDs (cardiac defibrillators) in area non-profit organizations. The organization must be located in Tippecanoe or Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Warren or White counties and may be tax-based. Applications are due by Tuesday, Sept. 1, and are available at the Kathryn Weil Center or online at www.ste.org/aed by clicking on the “Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open” form.

2008 AED presentation to Carroll County Sherrif's Department.

Area 501(c)3 organizations also are encouraged to apply to receive an AED through the “Revive & Survive” program offered by St. Elizabeth Regional Health. For eligibility requirements and to complete an application form, please visit www.ste.org/kwce and click on “Revive & Survive.”

The third annual Duke Smyser Chili Blast Open is set for Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 at the Ravines Golf Course, 8525 Division Rd., West Lafayette, with registration starting at 12:30 p.m. and play beginning at 1 p.m. A chili dinner catered by The Pub will be served at 6 p.m. For more information or to register for the Open, please visit www.chiliblast.org or sign up at the Ravines pro shop.

Proceeds from the Chili Blast Open are donated to the Kathryn Weil Center for Education and used towards the purchase of AEDs to be placed with non-profit organizations in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties. The Kathryn Weil Center for Education oversees the Revive & Survive program, as well as works with other groups who fall outside the Revive & Survive guidelines but are still in need AEDs.

The Chili Blast Open is named for Duke Smyser, who was a Lafayette banker for almost 30 years before succumbing to heart disease in 2006.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The second summer session for “Motion for Moms” will start at 5:00p on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education in Lafayette, Indiana.

Motion for Moms is a light exercise and fitness program for expecting moms, as well as for moms who have recently delivered.

Motion for Moms is a light exercise and fitness program for expecting moms, as well as for moms who have recently delivered and is sponsored by St. Elizabeth Regional Health’s Physical Therapy Department.

Motion for Moms will include traditional strengthening, stretching, endurance activities including yoga and Pilates, as well as resistive exercises to prepare the new mom for her childbirth experience and for caring for her newborn. An educational component will be a part of each section. Topics that will be covered will include nutrition, pain management during pregnancy, postpartum recovery, relaxation techniques, posture, foot care and safety information.

This session of Motion for Moms is set for 5:00p to 6:00p on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 4 and going through Sept. 10. Cost is $40 for the 12 sessions. Medical clearance from your doctor is required prior to participation. A release form can be obtained by calling the Kathryn Weil Center for Education at (765) 449-5133.

Classes will be held at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education, which is located in the Medical Arts Building, located at 415 N. 26th St., Suite 400 in Lafayette on the Home Hospital campus.

For more information or to register, please call the center at (765) 449-5133.

Sherry Franscoviak, RN, IBCLC, RLC

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Sherry Franscoviak, R.N., IBCLC, RLC, the outpatient lactation coordinator at the Kathryn Weil Center for Education and St. Elizabeth Regional Health, recently received the “2009 Breastfeeding Award of Excellence: Rookie of the Year” award from the Indiana Breastfeeding Alliance for her work and outreach to families.

She was honored for her commitment to developing the outpatient lactation consultant program and expanding services for patients and the community. Franscoviak has worked for St. Elizabeth Regional Health for eight years.