Women's health festival to focus on prevention

Women in Central Virginia might want to set aside April 7 as a day just for themselves. That's the date of the Women's Health and Wellness Festival, to be held at the Boar's Head Inn. Organized by the Women's Place of the U.Va. Health System, the event will include lectures, demonstrations and health screenings focusing on prevention of major medical problems for women from midlife on up. Alternative and complementary medicine also will be covered, including seated massage.

Preregistration, which costs $25, is required by March 12.

The festival will feature Ann Webster of the Harvard Mind/Body Medical Institute giving the keynote address, as well as speakers from different areas of the Health System, talking about topics such as depression in women, vision changes that come with advanced years, different types of surgery and new procedures. In other sessions, women can learn about healthful cooking, stress reduction and preparing for elder caregiving.

"We picked the major areas of health and disease amenable to prevention for women — bone health and prevention of osteoporosis, GI problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, prevention and detection of colon cancer, prevention and diagnosis of heart disease and issues in aging and sexuality," said Dr. Jo Ann Pinkerton, director of the Women's Place.

To sign up for programs, call 243-2618 for a brochure. To inquire about specific programs, call Helene Ramos, marketing director for the Women's Place, at 924-1262.