To strengthen its mission to educate and inform, the Men’s Health & Wellness Center is pleased to announce MoMENtum 2008: A Men’s Health Gala on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Mason Murer Gallery of Fine Art in Atlanta. The dinner-dance event will recognize superior leadership and innovation in men’s health issues with the presentation of the 1st Annual Apollo Award to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Emory University.
MoMENtum guests will be greeted during a reception in the art gallery beginning at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner and the presentation of the APOLLO award. The Center is inviting healthcare and business leaders as well as patients and cancer survivors.
“We are excited about the growth of the Men’s Health & Wellness Center,” said Nikhil L. Shah, DO, MPH and President of the Men’s Health & Wellness Center. “MoMENtum is an opportunity to celebrate men and their partners who have made the commitment to live life to the fullest. This event is for men who are overcoming health challenges, looking for better lifestyle choices and taking a pro-active role in their personal wellness,” continues Dr. Shah.
Seating for the September 20th event is limited. Anyone interested in attending or sponsoring MoMENtum 2008 should contact Renee Sevy, Executive Director before August 15, 2008. Tickets for the event are $125 per person and sponsorships start at $500. More information can be found at www.menshealthga.org or by calling 404.851.5670.
Background: About the Men’s Health & Wellness Center
Based on a belief that the achievement of overall health and wellness should include more than just medicine, a vision was born. The Men’s Health & Wellness Center at Saint Joseph’s, opened in 2007, provides men, and their partners, with education and support for lifestyle changes as well as components necessary to develop and sustain emotional and spiritual well-being.
With initial funding from Saint Joseph’s Mercy Foundation, Nikhil L. Shah, DO, M.P.H. founded, and serves as President of, the Men’s Health & Wellness Center. An independent nonprofit organization, the Center is designed to offer specialized complementary care to men and their partners as an integrated part of their treatment before, during and after cancer and other serious illnesses.
It is commonly accepted that good nutrition and exercise enhance a patient’s overall health and well-being. But, many physicians are now promoting emotional support for the changes that occur as a result of a man’s treatment for cancer and other serious health challenges. “While many men regain sexual function following treatment for prostate cancer, for example, intimacy often remains an issue,” says Dr. Shah. “Learning to communicate about intimacy and sexuality is an important step toward maintaining a close relationship with one’s spouse so these changes can be successfully faced together.”
The Center offers comprehensive, coordinated programs and services that feature individual consultation and group classes on nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and spiritual well being through yoga and meditation. The Center also provides workshops for couples to help bridge the gap in communication about issues of sexuality and intimacy.
“We have brought together professionals from the cancer care community – the best of the best,” says Dr. Shah. “We are proud to partner with Saint Joseph’s to offer men receiving cancer treatment or facing other health issues a truly comprehensive approach to their care and well being.”
About Dr. Shah
As director of Saint Joseph's minimally invasive and robotic urology program, Dr. Nikhil L. Shah currently serves as a researcher and clinician. He acts as a proctor for robotic surgery and has traveled internationally to present papers and teach robotic surgery. In addition, he has played an active role in medical leadership and policy related issues with the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Urologic Association (AUA). He continues to remain active and currently serves on the AMA’s Coding and Reimbursement Committee. Throughout his training, Dr. Shah developed patient and spouse prostate cancer support groups in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition, he has received federal funding to investigate patient and spouse interactions and satisfaction with prostate cancer treatment. He is continuing his clinical research efforts at Saint Josephs and maintains an active role in local, national and international medical relief organizations for underserved people.
Dr. Shah is a gifted speaker and a published author. He is available for interviews and presentations on topics related to men’s health and robotic surgery.
For More Information
Questions and inquiries about the Men’s Health & Wellness Center and MoMENtum 2008 may be directed to Renee Sevy, LMSW, Executive Director of the Men’s Health and Wellness Center. She may be reached at 404.851.5670 or rsevy@sjha.org.
