Health news

WalkAmerica April 25

BREWER – Maine first lady Karen Baldacci will be appearing at the March of Dimes Bangor-Brewer area WalkAmerica site.

Baldacci, who is currently the State Prematurity honorary chairperson for the March of Dimes, has been an intricate part of the prematurity campaign. She has given exposure to the issue of prematurity by making numerous appearances around Maine.

“All babies deserve the chance to have a healthy start,” said the first lady. “WalkAmerica provides the citizens of Maine with a wonderful opportunity to support research efforts for the prevention of prematurity. I urge young and old throughout the state to join in WalkAmerica.”

WalkAmerica walks will be held all over the country as part of the March of Dime’s biggest fund-raiser for the year. More then 1,000 communities participate in these walks in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Nationally the walk is expected to draw more than 7 million participants.

This year WalkAmerica will take place on Sunday, April 25, at the Brewer Auditorium. The Walk America program will include Sue Smith, an ambassador mother, as well as many other special guests. Sharon Versyp, who is currently the honorary chair of the Bangor/Brewer WalkAmerica site, also is expected to attend.

The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Brewer Auditorium. The walk itself will begin around 9 a.m. This is the 34th year of WalkAmerica.

Those interested in becoming part of the 34th annual WalkAmerica should contact the March of Dimes by visiting walkamerica.org or calling 1 (800) 525-WALK. Additionally, those interested in forming walk teams should contact the Northern Maine Division of the March of Dimes at 989-3376.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies.

Workshops for women

BANGOR – Caring Connections, a cooperative women’s health program of the YMCA and Eastern Maine Medical Center will sponsor three free information workshops Wednesday, April 21, on Medline Plus, the National Library of Medicine’s consumer health Web resource, at the YMCA.

The first workshop at 10 a.m. will focus on osteoporosis and bone health. The 12:30 p.m. session will focus on breast health and is open to breast cancer survivors. The 6 p.m. workshop will focus on general health.

The workshop presenter will be Michelle Eberle, consumer health information coordinator, of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, New England Region.

To obtain more information, call Caring Connections at 941-2808.

Diabetes management series

BANGOR – A three-part series on managing diabetes will be held 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, April 21 and 28, and May 5, at Grace Methodist Church, 193 Union St., Bangor.

The series is offered as a health ministry outreach by the church in partnership with Eastern Maine Medical Center’s Diabetes, Endocrine and Nutrition Center. The program is free and open to the public. To register, call 942-8320.

Pharmacy director

Elizabeth Dragatsi has been named director of pharmacy services at St. Joseph Healthcare. Until recently, she worked for the state of Maine as a pharmacist consultant.

As pharmacy service director, Dragasti oversees pharmacy operation, prescription medications for inpatient and outpatient clients and serves as supervisor to pharmacy staff.

Dragasti holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and has more than 20 years experience in the pharmacy field. She worked for many years as a pharmacist at a Canadian hospital where she was promoted to pharmacy manager of operations. She also was employed as a pharmacist at Aroostook Medical Center.