The Colon has Arrived

Children, adults, seniors...check out the Colossal Colon in the North Lobby at Northeast Baptist Hospital. You can learn more about colon cancer and even crawl through a giant colon.

Colon cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the colon and/or rectum. Learn more about colon cancer.

If you would like to visit the Colossal Colon the exhibit is free and on display during business hours through Friday, April 3rd.

See pictures.

San Antonio Food Bank Honors George H. Gaston, III PhD

As part of the "Cover the Uninsured Week" series of events developed by the San Antonio food bank George H. Gaston, III PhD, Vice President of Ministry, Baptist Health System has been awarded the "Praise Be" award for his service in the community. See photos from the awards ceremony.

Read George's Bio Here
George Gaston III, Ph.D., has served as Vice President of Ministry for Baptist Health System (BHS) since 2003. During his tenure, Dr. Gaston has been instrumental in expanding and maintaining community-focused ministries aimed at improving the well being of individuals in communities throughout the greater San Antonio area. Specifically, Dr. Gaston was successful in facilitating a 289% in Baptist employee giving to United Way, initiated efforts to build 5 Habitat houses in partnership with ten San Antonio congregations, and established the Employee Crisis Fund (a program funded by Baptist employees that provides assistance to members of the Baptist Health System family in times of need). Dr. Gaston is actively involved in the United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, Habitat for Humanity, and is the founding Board Member of Faith Family Clinic (a clinic focused on providing a primary medical home for the working uninsured of San Antonio). Dr. Gaston received his Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion from Baylor University and, thereafter, earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Get Health Tips and Free Screenings at Southeast Baptist

Got a question for a doctor? Join me at the Southeast Baptist Hospital Health and Wellness Booth on Tuesday, March 31st in the hospital cafeteria. Dr. Ricardo Escamilla, board certified in Family Medicine, will be available to answer your health questions. Plus, get the health information you need and free health screenings. More Information.

Many Go Without Health Insurance

Did you know that there are 1.5 million children without health insurance in Texas and Texas has the highest rate of uninsured in the nation? Cover the Uninsured Week (March 22-28) is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many people are living without health insurance and as a means to bring about community awareness the San Antonio Food Bank will be hosting a series of events through March 28th. For more information call Patty Conchas at (210) 431-8308.

Our very own George H. Gaston, Ph.D., Vice President of Ministry at Baptist Health System attended a kick off "Cover the Uninsured Week" panel event at the food bank in his capacity as a founding board member of the Faith Family Clinic. The purpose of the Faith Family Clinic, due to open in early fall of 2009, is to provide low-income, uninsured San Antonio residents quality, affordable primary medical care. For additional information on how you can help or for more information please contact Landon Lawson or call (210) 297-1046.

Hispanic Heros: Tonight on Telemundo

Telemundo (Ch. 60) will be airing a story tonight at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., on the microtia ear repair surgery that Dr. Bonilla and surgery staff at North Central Baptist Hospital performed recently on a pediatric patient. The segment is called Hispanic Heros. Check it out.

Southeast Baptist will be at the Buena Vida Health Fair on Friday, March 20th

Stop by the Buena Vida Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Friday, March 20 from 10 am until 2 pm and get health information and a free gift at the Southeast Baptist Hospital booth.

You can also visit with Dr. Ricardo Escamilla who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m
Location: 5027 Pecan Grove
SA, Texas 78222

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Thanks to All Who Attended the Baby Expo

Thanks to everyone who attended the Healthy Baby and Child Expo this past weekend at the Alamodome. We hope you had as much fun as we did and that you found the information given to you helpful! If you need more information on the services we provide visit Women's Health at Baptist Health System online. If you are in need of a doctor you can call our physician referral service at (210) 297-7005 or search online. This service is provided to you for free and is available 24/7 in both Spanish and English.

See photos from the Expo. Check out the slideshow above.

Celebrity Chef Kicks Off Expo

Baptist Health System, H-E-B and Metro Health, sponsors of the 2009 Healthy Baby and Child Expo, welcomed Food Network celebrity chef Tyler Florence to San Antonio with a kick off book signing event at the H-E-B Plus store on Highway 281 North at Evans Road. Tyler's promoting his new line of organic baby food - Sprout - and will make a guest appearance at the Healthy Baby and Child Expo this weekend. Representing Baptist Health System were nursing leaders (see photo, from left to right)Renee Greer, Natalie Zamulinski, and Sylvia Ellington


Above, Tyler Florence signs books and gives interviews to local television stations.
Below, Karen May, Director of Communications, Baptist Health System, at the H-E-B Plus store.























From left to right, Natalie Zamulinski, Renee Greer and Kristina Gillen.

For more information visit http://www.babyexposa.com/.

Avoid the Rain this Weekend. Check out Baby Expo.

If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend and want to stay out of the rain check out the fourth annual Healthy Baby and Child Expo at the Alamodome. We've partnered with H-E-B and the SA Metro Health District to bring you a health expo with a difference. Last year 11,500 people attended and enjoyed free health screenings, educational seminars, food tasting, beauty makeovers, fashion shows, free giveaways and much more. This year's event will be even more spectacular. Meet celebrity chef Tyler Florence from the Food Network, Josh Davis, 5-time gold medalist, and Jeanie Syfu from Project Runway. I'll see you there.


Event Details:
The Expo will be held Saturday, March 14th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 15th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Alamodome. Admission cost is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under are FREE.

Making an Impact on Children's Health, Education, and Well Being

Cynthia Le Monds, CEO, of the San Antonio Youth Centers (SAYC) and Taryn Nasis invited me on a tour of the Dan Cook Youth Center and I was blown away by the facility and educational programs developed by the organization. The SAYC provides a safe haven for kids to learn and develop new skills after school. Health and fitness is important too and along with dance classes and a gym, physical education is offered in an effort to reduce childhood obesity and diabetes. More than 50% of children in San Antonio suffer from diabetes. In addition to the many programs offered like the Alamo City Youth Build, nutritious meals are served to all who attend and transportation is provided for those who need it.


The SAYC programs are free for those who qualify and continue throughout the summer when school is out. For more information call (210) 223-3131.




See more pictures from my tour, below.

Looking for a Medical Expert or Speaker?

At Baptist we have many experts available to speak on a variety of health issues including diabetes, heart health, high blood pressure, nutrition, sleep apnea to name but a few.

If your group or organization is searching for a speaker on a health issue, disease or health condition we are happy to help make this happen.

You can e-mail me at kgillen@baptisthealthsystem.com for more information or to make a request.

San Antonio Celebrates Women Today

I just got back from the 3rd Annual Celebration of International Women's Day at the Henry B.

Gonzalez Center. Hosted by the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women it truly was a fantastic event and an opportunity for women of all professions to meet and discuss important issues such as: women's health, education, employment and family safety
If you are a woman and would like information on your health visit Women's Health at Baptist online.
The luncheon kicked off with welcoming remarks by Nicole Greenberg who chaired the event.
Other speakers included Dr. Adena Loston, Commission Chair Sonia Rodriguez, Mayor Phil Hardberger (see photo), City Manager Sheryl Sculley (see photo), and Barbara Gentry from USAA. I sat next to Fort Sam Houston Garrison Commander Colonel Mary E. Garr and very much enjoyed meeting her. The highlight of the event was keynote speaker Marta Sahagun de Fox (see photo, below) who is the wife of Vincente Fox the former President of Mexico. She was both eloquent and passionate on women's issues and spoke of her experience in working with her husband on his presidential campaign and refusing to be called the "first lady" once he was named president. President Fox accompanied his wife and they both spent time after the luncheon meeting the attendees.

Women in Business

Yesterday morning the San Antonio Greater Chamber's Women's Opportunity Week (WOW) culminated with a breakfast event at Sunset Station and a chance to hear four of the six recognized women professionals discuss tips on leadership and how they made it to the top in business. WOW was founded by Brenda Vickery Johnson and promises to be even bigger and better in 2010. At Baptist we have many fantastic women in leadership roles including Karen Stiefel, PhD, Chief Learning Officer and Dean of the Baptist Health System School of Health Professions and Kay Harrell, PhD, Director of the Baptist Health System fitness and physical rehab center, HealthLink.

Optimism is High in Stone Oak

Today I attended my first Stone Oak Optimist Club meeting after learning about the group from club President, Gina Groomer. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at North Central Baptist Hospital in the education room located in the Atrium. This was my first involvement with the club and in addition to learning about face value characteristics from this month's speaker Joanna Antongiovanni I learned what the Optimist Creed is; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; to aid and encourage the development of youth in the belief that the giving of one's self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world. The next meeting takes place on April 1st, 2009 at 08.45am.

Make Your Heart a Priority

Last month (February) in celebration of Heart Health Awareness Month we partnered up with the City of San Antonio to provide educational seminars to city workers on heart health and blood pressure. A big thank you to Dr. Amy Gutierrez and Dr. Ayham Shneker for their involvement and time in giving these excellent and informative presentations.

See photos.

For more information on your heart health and heart disease visit baptisthealthsystem.com/cardiac or go to the www.americanheart.org.