Contact Danielle M. Flores, Director of Marketing, if you wish to contribute additional funds to the AHA.

“Caring for the hearts of Atascosa County” was South Texas Regional Medical Center’s(STRMC) theme to celebrate this year’s National Heart Health Month. The festivities helped spread awareness of heart disease as well raise money for the American Heart Association.  Concluding the bevy of events was February Healthy Woman seminar titled “Matters of the Heart.”

The “Matters of the Heart” event provided an engaging opportunity for locals to become actively involved in their cardiac health. Dr. Chun Wang Tan, cardiologist from South Texas Heart Clinic in Jourdanton, presented the American Heart Association’s 2009 Go Red for Women Power Point Presentation. At the conclusion of his presentation, he called for Mary Labatt, Director of Practice Management at STRMC to take the floor. Labatt unveiled Atascosa County’s newest website, www.southtexasheartclinic.com. The website provides patients with an electronic connection to South Texas Heart Clinic at any time of the day or night. New patients can download forms, learn more about specific procedures or treatment options, as well as meet the staff. Supporting the clinic’s new on-line efforts were staff members and associates of his practice such as Carolyn Dowd, PA-C; Barbara Luna, Sara Montanez and Lisa Martinez. Thanks to South Texas Heart Clinic’s caring staff, free blood pressure screenings were administered during the seminar.

Guest presenter, William (Bill) Rodis, STR heart attack survivor, delivered a touching but sobering account of his life and death experience after suffering a massive, potentially fatal, heart attack. Rodis stressed to learn the warning signs of a heart attack and the emergency reactions that may save a heart attack victim’s life. “I thank God for my wife Becky, who had the knowledge and instinct to react quickly and take me to the Emergency Department at South Texas Regional when I was in denial that I was suffering a heart attack.”

April S. Smith, R.N, of South Texas Regional Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehab Department, concluded the event by presenting the Go Red For Women On-line Tools, which helps its users to better manage their cardiac health year-round.  

South Texas Regional Medical Center’s Director of Marketing, Danielle M. Flores comments, “We are so very fortunate to be able to enhance the quality of life for our patients and community members through our Healthy Woman program.” She announces, “We thank our employees and community members who helped us raise over $2,500 dollars in funds to support the American Heart Association.”

A ceremony is scheduled for mid-April to present the American Heart Association with a donation check from South Texas Regional Medical Center. To learn more about happenings at the medical center, visit the “News” icon at www.strmc.com.

Photo at below: April S. Smith, R.N.; and Sara Montanez give blood pressure checks before the presentation.