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Valleywide health news, May 21-27, 2015

UNLV FACULTY DENTAL PRACTICE OPENS

The Faculty Dental Practice at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine is open at 1700 W. Charleston Blvd., Building D, Suite 157.

In its fifth year, the practice offers a wide variety of professor-dentists seeing patients from the community, specializing or emphasizing practice in oral surgery, orthodontics, TMJ, oral pathology, periodontics, endodontics, aesthetic dentistry, implants, complex restoration, dentures and more. All doctors are Dental Board-licensed and engaged in teaching the dentistry they practice in the facility daily. As they are part of the university, they employ all of the latest clinical techniques using the latest, cutting-edge technology at fees similar to their colleagues in the community. Call 702-774-8000.

FAMILIES ASKED TO TAKE SUNDAY DINNER PLEDGE TO SUPPORT SENIORS

Bonnie Reppert, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City, is asking families to take the Sunday Dinner Pledge and commit to scheduling regular meals with senior loved ones. For every pledge made, the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels (up to $20,000) to help ensure that all seniors have access to healthy, nutritious meals.

Also included in the Sunday Dinner Pledge program is a year’s worth of healthy, easy-to-make recipes and shopping guides to help make family meals a positive experience for all generations.

Visit tinyurl.com/sundinnerpledge.

VOICES FOR A CURE EVENT FEATURING TERRY FATOR SCHEDULED

The Arthritis Foundation is set to host its annual Voices for a Cure benefit starring headliner Terry Fator at 7:30 p.m. June 4 at The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The event is to raise money to help improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and arthritis-related diseases.

A VIP reception is planned from 5 to 7 p.m. with food and cocktails. This year’s event features three honorees including 6-year-old Youth Honoree Janaya Cosio, who was diagnosed with systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 18 months; Adult Honoree Jesenia DeLaCruz, diagnosed with lupus as an adult; and Medical Honoree Dr. Christianne Yung, rheumatologist.

In addition, Clark County commissioners are set to proclaim June 4 as Terry Fator Day in Clark County.

VIP tickets are $200, and general admission tickets are $75. Visit voicesforacurelv.org or contact Crystal Schulz at the Arthritis Foundation’s Las Vegas office at cschulz@arthritis.org or 702-367-1626.

CANCER SUPPORT NONPROFIT TOUR SET TO COME TO VEGAS

Brides Against Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit that tours the country selling donated wedding gowns with the proceeds going to programs and services for people who are affected by cancer.

The Nationwide Tour of Gowns is set to make a stop on June 21 at Emerald Queensridge, 891 S. Rampart Blvd. Vendors, discounted gowns, swag bags, giveaways and more are planned. A VIP event is planned from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit tinyurl.com/vegasbridesagainst.

BLOODMOBILE DRIVES PLANNED ACROSS VALLEY

UBS Bloodmobile drives are planned at multiple times and locations around the valley. Call 702-233-9620. The locations include:

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22 at Jokers Wild, 920 N. Boulder Highway. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code jokerswild.

From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 22 at Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, 1750 E. Sahara Ave. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code glvar.

From 3 to 7 p.m. May 23 at Dollar Loan Center, 4700 Meadows Lane. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code DLC.

From 1 to 5 p.m. May 23 at Nevada Title and Payday Loans, Inc., 3280 Spring Mountain Road. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code nevadatitle>

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 24 and 25 at the Cannery, 2121 E. Craig Road. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code cannery.

From 6 to 10 a.m. May 27 at Tronox Inc., 8000 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code tronoxlv.

From 9 a.m. to noon May 28 at Las Vegas Solari Hospice Care, 5550 S. Jones Blvd. Visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter sponsor code solari.

BLOOD DRIVES PLANNED ACROSS LAS VEGAS VALLEY

The American Red Cross plans to host blood drives across the Las Vegas Valley. All blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative. To schedule a donation appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Upcoming donation opportunities are:

Las Vegas

From 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. May 21 at Go Wireless Inc., 9970 W. Cheyenne Ave.

From 1 to 5:30 p.m. May 22 at TitleMax, 5871 E. Lake Mead Blvd.

From 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 23 at the Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane, Suite 10

From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 26 at Summerlin Hospital, 657 Town Center Drive

From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 27 at Hyatt Place Las Vegas, 4520 Paradise Road

From 2 to 6 p.m. May 27 at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road

From noon to 5:30 p.m. May 28 at Magic Grand Prix Las Vegas, Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road

COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTEMPT TO BREAK WORLD RECORD

In observance of National High Blood Pressure Education Month in May, Carrington College’s 18 campuses nationwide are attempting to earn a Guinness World Records title for the most blood pressure tests given in an eight-hour period from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 21 at the college, 5740 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 14.

Carrington College’s Las Vegas campus encourages members of the community to get their blood pressure taken by students in the medical assisting program. No appointments are necessary for this complimentary test. Visit carrington.edu.

WE HEART MAGGIE TOURNAMENT SET

The seventh annual We Heart Maggie Golf Tournament supporting the Children’s Heart Foundation is planned May 23 at the Rio Secco Golf Club, 2851 Grand Hills Drive. Golfers and families from across the valley can come together for this family-friendly event. To register as a golfer or virtual golfer, sponsor or donate, visit weheartmaggie.com or call the Children’s Heart Foundation at 702-967-3522.

FREE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SEMINARS PLANNED

Free weight loss surgery informational seminars are planned at 6:30 p.m. May 21 and 10 a.m. May 30 at the Surgical Weight Control Center, 3802 Meadows Lane. Anyone considering weight loss surgery, including gastric sleeve, lap band or gastric bypass, or who would like to learn more about the various surgeries, is invited to attend an upcoming seminar presented by Dr. Jim Atkinson or Dr. Darren Soong. All surgeries are performed at Desert Springs Hospital. Registration is required by calling 702-313-8446.

STROKE AWARENESS OPEN HOUSE SET AT VALLEY HOSPITAL

A free Stroke Awareness Open House is planned from 9 to 11 a.m. May 28 at Valley Hospital, 620 Shadow Lane.

In honor of Stroke Awareness Month, the community is invited to an open house to learn about the many facets of stroke. Activities include blood pressure checks, stroke risk assessments, stroke education, healthy eating tips and understanding the connection between diabetes and stroke.

CROHN’S AND COLITIS COMMUNITY WALK SCHEDULED

The Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis community walk is set from 9 a.m. to noon May 30 Exploration Peak Park, 9700 S. Buffalo Drive.

The event is the major fundraiser for the nonprofit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America-Las Vegas Chapter. The walk and companion activities include live music, food, kids entertainment, vendor booths, educational materials and more. On-site registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk at 9:30 a.m.

Each year, the local Crohn’s and Colitis group recognizes a child or teen with one of the conditions to act as the event’s Honored Hero to inspire and be an example to others with digestive diseases or IBD. This year’s Honored Hero is 18-year-old Brittany MacDonald, who has been struggling with Crohn’s disease for seven years.

The event is free and open to the public. A $25 per person donation is encouraged. Registered team members and attendees who donate will receive a wrist band for free food and other refreshments.

Visit cctakesteps.org/lasvegas.

SUMMER HEALTH FAIR SET AT CENTENNIAL HILLS HOSPITAL

A free Summer Health Fair is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30 at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive.

In addition to dozens of vendors offering health and wellness information, free screenings will be available for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. Fasting is recommended for glucose and cholesterol screenings, and the line for cholesterol screenings is to end at 12:30 p.m.

Other activities include a Kids Corner with face painting and balloon fun, refreshments, giveaways, raffle prizes, a donation drive to benefit US Vets and a blood drive to benefit the American Red Cross from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To schedule a blood donation, visit redcross.org/blood.

MEDICAL SOCIETY ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR WINGED HEART AWARD

The Clark County Medical Society announced that it is accepting public and peer-to-peer nominations for the Third Annual Winged Heart Award, through May 31. Established in 2013 by former CCMS President Dr. George Alexander, the honor recognizes outstanding nurses and nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to improving health care in Southern Nevada.

Nominations are accepted at clarkcountymedical.org/nominations.php, or a form can be downloaded and sent to janice.poblete@clarkcountymedical.org. Nominees will be invited to attend the 60th anniversary Presidential Installation Dinner & Awards Ceremony June 27 at the World Market Center, 495 S. Grand Central Parkway, Suite 223.

POWER OF LOVE GALA TO BENEFIT KEEP MEMORY ALIVE

Keep Memory Alive’s 19th annual Power of Love Gala is set for June 13 to raise funds for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave. The event is set to feature Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and friends and include live auctions, wine and cocktails, and cuisine by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.

Tickets are on sale at keepmemoryalive.org/pol. Call 702-263-9797 or email events@keepmemoryalive.org.

HEALTH GROUP LOOKING FOR RESIDENTS’ INPUT

HealthInsight, a private nonprofit organization working to improve health care in Nevada hospitals, doctor’s offices and nursing homes, needs the public’s input to improve the health care experience.

The group is creating a Patient and Family Advisory Council to better understand the health care system from the patient’s viewpoint. Patients, families and caregivers participating in the council will share their personal stories and health care experiences.

People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Contact Gina Pirozzi at gpirozzi@healthinsight.org or 702-933-7326.

BETTER BREATHERS CLUB MEETS MONTHLY

The Better Breathers Club is set to meet the second Tuesday of the month at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive. This educational and social support group is for people with lung disease, their loved ones and caregivers. A light lunch and snacks are planned.

Call Henry Clay at 702-835-9898.

FREE STD TESTING AVAILABLE

Free weekly STD screenings are available at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada and the Richard Steele Boxing Facility. Visit snhd.info/sexual-health-clinic.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP PLANS MEETINGS

The Stroke Support Group is set to meet at various times monthly:

  • From 3 to 4 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive, 702-233-7061.
  • From 3 to 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive, 702-629-1309.
  • From 10 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of the month at the South Magna Conference Center, south of the Desert Springs Hospital main entrance, 2075 E. Flamingo Road, 702-369-7560. Recommended parking is off Bruce Street. Lunch is provided.
  • From 10 to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month on the fourth floor of Valley Hospital, 620 Shadow Lane. Call 702-388-8441 or 702-388-4619. Light refreshments will be served.

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS TO BE OFFERED FRIDAYS

Free blood pressure checks are set to be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at the Southern Nevada Health District’s main facility, 330 S. Valley View Blvd.

Visit southernnevadahealthdistrict.org.

SOUTHWEST MEDICAL ASSOCIATES TO HOST WEIGHT MANAGEMENT GROUP

The HEW/Weight Management Support Group is planned from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Mondays at the Southwest Medical Associates Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105. Discuss nutrition and exercise and get tips for weight loss.

To register, call 702-877-5356.

SUMMERLIN HOSPITAL TO HOST STROLLER STRIDES CLASS

A new Stroller Strides Fit4Mom class is planned from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays on the campus of Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 653 N. Town Center Drive.

Stroller Strides is a total fitness program that moms do with their babies. Activities include power walking/jogging and intervals of strength and body toning exercise using exercise tubing, a stroller and the environment. The class is taught by certified fitness instructors with specialty training in the pre- and postnatal woman. Instructors weave songs and activities into the routine designed to engage and entertain the babies.

Registration is required. To enroll, visit lasvegas.fit4mom.com.

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