Contact:

Laura Blodgett

734-712-4536

Laura.Blodgett@stjoeshealth.org

February 14, 2018

The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce Professional Women’s Club of Michigan, St. Joseph Mercy Livingston, IHA and Michigan Heart will host the 5th Annual “Livingston County Goes Red for Women” event on Thursday, February 15.

This year’s program will focus on the heart-healthy benefits of plant-based nutrition. Robert Breakey, M.D., Shilpa Reddy, M.D. and Katherine Fata, R.D. will be part of a panel discussion about how a diet rich in plants can result in significant positive effects on overall health. Local health reporter Lila Lazarus will emcee the event, and lead this engaging panel discussion. Highlights of the luncheon will include a live cooking demonstration, health and wellness vendors, beautifully decorated tables with gifts donated by table sponsors, giveaways, networking and more.

Since February is heart month, attendees are encouraged to wear red. The event was first brought to Livingston County in February 2013, to reach out to the community about heart disease, early detection and prevention. – The event also recognizes the mission of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement that began in 2004, to raise awareness about women's heart health as a result of nearly 500,000 American lives lost annually to cardiovascular disease.

“We are honored once again to partner with St. Joe's, IHA and Michigan Heart to educate the women of our community about heart disease and how nutrition plays a big part in reducing the odds,” said Pamela McConeghy, president and CEO of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce. “Attendees always leave with great information on how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle and this year will be no different."

The event will take place on Thursday, February 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Crystal Gardens located at 5768 E. Grand River in Howell. The cost is $30 and includes lunch. For more information or to RSVP, please contact the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce at 810.227.5086 or brightoncoc.org.

About Michigan Heart

Michigan Heart is a nationally recognized leader in comprehensive cardiovascular care - setting the standard for excellence by providing high quality, patient-focused care with outstanding results. Michigan Heart has been serving the community for over 50 years and is recognized, respected, and sought on a national level. Headquartered on the campus of St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor with seven convenient locations serving southeast Michigan, state-of-the-art care is close to home. Michigan Heart is led by a dedicated team of cardiologists who offer a broad range of expertise covering all of the subspecialties of cardiovascular medicine.

Michigan Heart is a member of IHA, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and Trinity Health. Trinity Health is located in Livonia, Michigan, and is a leading Catholic health care organization in the United States. The Michigan Heart Administrative Office is located at the Michigan Heart & Vascular Building, 5325 Elliot Drive, Suite 201, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. Phone at 734-712-8000. michiganheart.com.

About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,553 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 15,300 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians. SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $2 billion and returns about $120 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs.

SJMHS is a member of Trinity Health, a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health operates in 22 states, employs about 131,000 colleagues, has annual operating revenues of $17.6 billion and assets of about $24.6 billion. Additionally, the organization returns almost $1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit www.stjoeshealth.org.

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