Let’s Get Stronger Together

Art, Jazz, Food and Health Screenings at Health Fair May 3 and 4

My name is Kathy Kastan. I survived a bypass when I was 42.  I know the unique challenges faced by women living with heart disease, and I’ve made advocating for women’s health my passion. As the director of the Duke Women's Health Initiative, I share my passion with women across the region and beyond.

Women have unique health concerns, and need to work together to demand accurate diagnosis, proper treatment and exceptional care. That is why I encourage you to join me May 3 and 4 for an unprecedented series of events.

Stronger Together: Fighting Disparities and the Leading Causes of Death in Women will redefine what a health fair should be. It harnesses the power of creative energy to reach all your senses. We believe the combination of music, food, art, education and health screenings will be a powerful motivator for change. You won’t just leave with the results of your screening. You’ll leave with a plan. Healthcare professionals will let you know what next steps you should take.

On Friday, May 3, the Stronger Together: A Community Benefit Concert will feature:

Prominent leaders discussing healthcare reform and its potential impact on women's health. Sandra Dubose-Gibson, the first bald beauty queen, who will share her story of empowermentNnenna Freelon, a six-time GRAMMY-nominated international jazz artist performing with the Duke Medicine Orchestra and Choir.

The concert will take place at the Durham Convention Center from 6 to 10 p.m. Individual tickets are $125. Dinner and drinks are included.

On Saturday, May 4, Stronger Together: A Women’s Health Education Community Outreach Event will include:

Joe and Terry Graedon of NPR’s The People's Pharmacy, who will discuss Making Positive Lifestyle Changes. Duke’s Edna Ballard, MSW on Caregiving: Challenges and Opportunities for WomenAlice Cooper, RNC/OGNP on Caring for Women's Health: A Holistic Approach and Being Your Own Best Healthcare Advocate. Wellness screenings, performed by Duke providers, including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), HIV testing, depression, thyroid abnormalities and lipid profiles – a test that normally costs $100. (A lipid profile tells you your “good” and “bad” cholesterol levels.)30 vendors will conduct demonstrations ranging from healthy cooking to yoga and Pilates. Artwork from 12 regional artists will be for saleNnenna Freelon will sing a cappella during lunch, and Sandra Dubose-Gibson (Mrs. Black North Carolina) will be our keynote speaker. Anita Woodley, AKA “Mama Juggs,” will share how her family has coped with breast cancer, and transform how all of us view survivorship. An exciting raffle will end the day.

The event takes place at the Durham Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The $25 registration fee includes breakfast, lunch and an art show. Ten percent of proceeds will benefit Duke Medicine Women’s Health Initiative Community Outreach

To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit http://docme.mc.duke.edu/womenhealth/home.html

Kathy Kastan, LCSW/MA Ed, is director of Duke Medicine's Women's Health & Advocacy Initiative and is past president, emeritus of the board of directors of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. She is past chairman of the board of the Greater Southeast Affiliate of the American Heart Association. She recently accepted a board membership on the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate of the American Heart Association. She has been a national spokesperson for the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s The Heart Truth®/Red Dress campaign since 2003. Kastan is the author of From the Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Living Well with Heart Disease and is frequently invited to blog at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-kastan.                                    

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