Leading physicians from the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center discussed strategies for healthy aging in skin care, sexuality and weight during a luncheon for members of the press that was hosted by the center and held at NYP/WC on Tuesday, April 17. The event was emceed by Dr. Sapna Parikh, medical correspondent for Fox 5 News.
The Iris Cantor Women's Health Center is one of the most comprehensive centers in New York City to offer an array of health-care services designed specifically for women. The center offers "one-stop shopping" for women as well as men by providing an integrated, multidisciplinary team approach from the center's many specialist physicians.
Introducing the speakers, Iris Cantor said, "During the past five years, we have brought you the latest info on health topics that we think are important to women, and this year is no exception. Today our very fine medical experts are here to tell you that you can still turn heads at 50 and you can maintain a healthy weight and sex life."
"NewYork-Presbyterian stands for one thing: to give the very best health care—substantially and interpersonally—to people who come here," said Dr. Herbert Pardes, CEO and president of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "Not only does the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center represent delivery of first-class health care, it's always leading the field in developing new treatments within the field."
Mrs. Cantor founded the center after having served on governance committees at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell for over two decades; she currently serves on NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's Board of Trustees.
"We thank Iris for being the wind beneath our wings; she is very much the inspiration for this center and it has been her persistence and perseverance that led to the development of the women's center," said Dr. Orli Etingin, director of the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center. "We are very proud of the medical care that we deliver to our patients and we pride ourselves on excellence in clinical care and advancing health."
Speaking about cosmetic surgery for women in a lecture titled "Nip, Tuck and Turn Heads" by Dr. Mia Talmor, assistant professor of surgery, Dr. Talmor discussed how the age range of women seeking cosmetic surgery has widened in recent years.
"In the past we've seen a broadening of patients interested in cosmetic therapies and this broadening is driving the rise in cosmetic surgical procedures in this country," said Dr. Talmor. Citing patients who are still healthy in their 80s, Dr. Talmor said, "Patients at older ages can tolerate these procedures—there is no longer an age limit for cosmetic surgery."
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology Dr. Barbara Bartlik spoke about sexuality for older patients in a lecture titled "Healthy Sex at Any Age."
"In an unprecedented way people are going to their doctors for help with their sexual problems and they expect to remain sexually active in their golden years," Dr. Bartlik said. To strengthen bonds between couples, she suggested marital techniques including regularly scheduling intimacy, giving feedback and using communication exercises to strengthen bonds between couples. If problems persist, they may be pharmacological or medical.
"Remind your doctor to test your hormone levels if they haven't done so already; people don't realize that medications and hormone supplements can have an effect," Dr. Bartlik said.
In a lecture titled "The Obesity Epidemic: More Than Meets the Mouth," Weill Cornell Clinical Professor of Medicine Dr. Louis Aronne discussed what is causing the current obesity epidemic and how physicians intend to treat the condition in the coming years.
"People look at obesity in a very simple way, but nothing could be further from the truth," Dr. Aronne said. "In the next five to 10 years, I believe many things that we've thought about this epidemic will be overturned and that we'll be looking at and treating obesity it in a different way."
Among these differences will be a better understanding of the endocannabinoid system, which may be partially responsible for a "forward-feeding" mechanism that speeds up when patients eat high-calorie, high-fat foods. According to Dr. Aronne, research has shown that obesity can contribute to more than 50 illnesses, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and arthritis. "As fat stores increase, metabolic systems get activated—between inflammation and the increased production of hormones, you end up with these related diseases," he said.
The luncheon was attended by Cheri Friedman and Nancy Eglander, members of the Iris Cantor Women's Health Symposium planning committee, and included members of the press from Fox 5 News, The New York Sun, Family Circle and Glamour magazines, The Hampton Sheet, Northeast Broadcasting, and the British Medical Journal.
Photography by Richard Lobell.